Corporal Rain (Jung Ji Hoon)

World star Rain (Jung Ji Hoon) performed in public on the day when he was promoted to corporal.

Corporal Rain or "Jung Ji Hoon" put a special performance at "Black Eagle Show With The People" held on 1 September. He performed as a soldier, not as an entertainer, but his passion and the cheers from the audience have not changed over the years.

Rain's starring in film "R2B : Return To Base" shot before his enlistment, provided an opportunity for him to perform at this air show. He showed a high degree of aerial action acting skill in the film, playing a fighter pilot who belongs to Black Eagle team and who flies a F-15K.

-Q &A between Sympathy Korea & Rain -

Q : Where do you belong? What have you recently done?

Rain : I've been fulfilling my military duty as a PR soldier belonging to the Defense Media Agency. That's all.

(But they say Rain is still popular as more than 300 fan letters are sent to him per week.)

Q : "R2B : Return To Base" starring you, is now playing at the theater.

What are the main points to ponder in this movie?

Rain : This is our country's first attempt at aerial action film. Indeed, there's often so much to take in.

Q : I've heard this movie is a remake of a 1960's movie called "Red Muffler" which had become very popular at that time. They say this movie is Korea's version of ”Top Gun". What do you think about this movie?

Rain : Thank you for comparing this movie with Top Gun, but I think it is our country's own aerial action movie. It's a Korean aerial blockbuster.

Q : I heard you had received a G-test drill for the movie. Wasn't it hard to be trained?

Rain : During the G test, a force that's over nine times my weight was applied to my body. Actually, it was too hard to bear, but I felt rewarded after doing it.

(It is said he was the first ordinary person to do it in Korea.)

Q : This movie got 4 and 2.5-star ratings from the audience and critics, each.

What do you think of the film?

Rain : I watched the movie when I had a vacation a couple of days ago.

To make a long story short, that was a very interesting movie.

Nothing in this world is perfect. I'd like to give it four out of four.

Q : If you were to choose between "Black Eagles or "Air Wing", which one would you rather prefer?

Rain : I like both of them. Soldier is soldier, does not matter whether I serve in "Black Eagles or "Air Wing" or the Army.

Q: Your flight suit went well with your sunglasses.

Have you regretted not joining the air force?

Rain : I tried to join the air force, but one thing came to another, and the opportunity arrived for me to join the army. But it was never meant to hate the army.

Q: There are lots of PR soldiers in the Defense Media Agency. Is there anybody you want to model yourself after?

Rain : There is nobody I want to model myself after. I've been serving in the army in my own way. I've been getting along with Sgt "Park Hyo Shin", Pfc "Kang Chang Mo", etc.

(Rain seems to hate it when he is compared with someone. He is still a very conceited individual, despite being a soldier)

Q : Recently, the department of defence made a military music video called "Cool Guy", and it was very popular with the people. You wasn't asked by the department to appear in the video, so didn't this offend you?

Rain : When the video was shot, I wasn't in the Defense Media Agency yet. I was serving as a teaching assistant at that time. I think good soldiers such as Sgt "Park Hyo Shin" successfully completed the work.

Q : If enemy planes show up in the sky over Seoul like a scene from the film, what should you do?

Rain : If I were a fighter plot, I would fly a combat plane and fight with those enemies, but I think I should boost soldiers' morales as I am a PR soldier.

Q : What will you do to do fine as a soldier?

Rain : I'll do everything I'm obligated to do. Personally I'm eager to be promoted to the rank of sergeant like every other soldier.

By having first hand experience of how hard soldiers have worked, I've realized their dedication is so admirable, and I'm so proud to be a soldier.

Credit to 공감코리아 (Sympathy Korea) http://news.nate.com/view/20120903n24236

English translation by 화니