RAIN on CNN [Full Transcript]

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-Transcribed based on the dubbing-

LORRAINE HAHN: Our guest today is Korean Pop Sensation RAIN, a multi-talented artist known for his rich deep voice, stunning dance moves and acting skills. RAIN shot to stardom in his native country as the lead male actor of the Korean drama Full House. He made his musical debut 3-years ago with the hit song and album “Bad Guy” and broke into the mainstream Asian Market. Since then he’s won numerous awards throughout the region topping off the MTV Asia Grand slam this year.

LORRAINE HAHN: RAIN welcome to Talk Asia. It’s so nice to see you. Tell me, why did you use the name “RAIN”?
RAIN: Before I made my debut, I was talking to my producer about which stage name to use. He said that I get an impression of sadness when I’m done singing so I decided on the Chinese character “Bi” which means sadness and sad is rain pouring that’s why I chose this name.

LORRAINE HAHN: You’ve won a whole list of awards including the MTV grand slam that must be exciting!
RAIN: I’m extremely thankful to the fans in China, Hong Kong and Asia for the support. It feels like a dream.

LORRAINE HAHN: RAIN, you have 3 albums officially so far and one coming up, yet you have achieved in such a short span of time such an iconic status, did you ever think you could be so successful so early?
RAIN: The drama series was very influential and the fact that I'm also a singer made a difference, because in Korea when I started there wasn’t a trend where people chose to be both actors and singers. I was the first to do both. It was a great deal of work but I got a lot of support and love from my audience. And for me to receive that same treatment overseas, I felt that I was also very lucky.

LORRAINE HAHN: You’re here for some concerts in Hong Kong and you know I mean the ticket just went, just like that! I mean that must be exciting!
RAIN: I was extremely excited to hear the news and it really seems like a dream. I’m not an artist from Hong Kong and yet the fans gave me tremendous support all of which makes me very thankful. I do hope that the success of this tour will be the start of many more activities for me here in Hong Kong and throughout the rest of Asia.

LORRAINE HAHN: Did you have to tone down any of your dancing or anything to perform in China?
RAIN: Not at all. I always try to perform my concerts my own way. When asked earlier why the Chinese fans like my music and I believe it’s because I’ve showed them the type of concerts they haven’t seen before. There aren’t many performers there who would rip their clothes off on stage and I was the first to try this.

LORRAINE HAHN: You’ve toured a number of cities here in Asia, any favorites?
RAIN: Hong Kong and China. It’s the home of Andy Lau, Jacky Chan and other great Chinese actors whom I’m a big fan of. I would actually really like to meet them if I got the chance. Asian culture is really great so there’s no specific country. I like Asia and Asian culture as a whole.

LORRAINE HAHN: Now that you’ve made it in the Asian market, what is next?
RAIN: Oh it’s much too early to say that I’ve made it in the Asian market. The reason I’m active in Japan, Hong Kong, China and around Asia, is that I want to succeed here and then go on to be even more international. Because currently the United States has a dominant music market but I would really like to see is a top Asian artists emerge strongly from the Asian market and then go on to succeed in the US market. I’m not speaking only for myself but for any artist. I would be really happy for any Asian if he or she manages to do it. Although I still have a long way to go, I would like to become the pride of Asia. When another Asian artist enters the US market, I would like him to think there was an artist called RAIN who succeeds in the US market. This is my dream. I hope there will come a time when I step out into the global stage but until that time I need to put in a lot more work and I need to study hard especially different languages, so that I can become more international.

LORRAINE HAHN: RAIN what was it like to meet you know Will Smith and Mariah Carey at the MTV Video Awards in Japan?
RAIN: I wasn’t able to meet them in person but there is always something to learn from people who are passionate about what they do and who have succeeded. They are different from ordinary people so I’ve learned a lot just from watching them. I also learned at the awards that there are a lot of good things about Asian culture.

LORRAINE HAHN: What did they teach you?
RAIN: I learned that instead of relying on and imitating American music there is a better chance for an Asian artist to succeed if he or she follows his or her own culture. For example I incorporate Asian martial arts into my dancing. There is a hip-hop artist called Lil Kim, she’s a female rapper who loves Asian culture. Her boots might have a picture of a car and she might wear a jacket with a dragon design. So an important thing I’ve learned instead of following the US market we only need to follow our own cultural style.

LORRAINE HAHN: RAIN your fan based ranges from 4 to 50 not only in Korea but in the entire Asian region. Why do you think they come to see you, to listen to your music, to watch you move?
RAIN: If you are truthful, most people will like you. It is important to be able to say honestly if there’s something that you cannot do just like it’s important to acknowledge the things that you do well so that you can ask people to enjoy it with you. That what my approach and that’s why my fans like me.

LORRAINE HAHN: You are very humble.
RAIN: [In English] Thank you.

LORRAINE HAHN: So it’s not your good looks.
RAIN: No. And I know that’s not the case because I remember going to auditions before my debut and I was rejected 12 times. I was told back then that the reason I was rejected was because my face was too ugly. I was even told to comeback after a cosmetic surgery. In fact I was told after one audition that my singing and dancing was great but I didn’t make it because I didn’t have double eyelids. How do you think I felt at that time?

LORRAINE HAHN: (RAIN were going to take a very very short break) When we comeback we’ll talk to RAIN about getting his first big break. (There’s lots more Talk Asia, so don’t go away)
[Showing clip of RAIN singing “Nan” from the Rainy Day concert in Korea]

LORRAINE HAHN: Welcome back to Talk Asia, my guest is Korean singer and actor RAIN. RAIN what were you like as a child? Were you very musical?
RAIN: I was very innocent and shielded as a child so I didn’t know a lot about music or dancing. When I was in primary 6, no one would participate in a talent show so I decided to go on. When the audience applauded me I felt euphoric and I started dancing right after that.

LORRAINE HAHN: Were your parents very encouraging?
RAIN: My parents were initially against it but they became supportive after a while. So there’s been no special obstacle in choosing this career.

LORRAINE HAHN: I read that you lost your mother at a very young age, that must been a very very difficult time for you. How did you deal with that?
RAIN: My mother was big part of my life. The mother-son relationship between us was very strong. In Korea you have to take a national exam to gain entry into University, around that time I was getting ready to take the exam her health is deteriorating very badly and she begun scolding me a lot. I was also going to puberty and all of these just put a strain on our relationship. We didn’t talk much and became very distant. Before taking this exam, it’s usual to receive a traditional Korean sweets and my mother bought me this sweet and gave it to me together with a letter. In the letter she said that she was sorry and when I read it I was heart broken. After a few months during which we still didn’t speak much to each other, she passed away. So this day I regret that I wasn’t once able to pick her a bouquet of flowers or buy her a meal. At the time I bowed in front of her picture that when I receive a major award it would be in her honor. I’m very happy that I’ve achieved this.

LORRAINE HAHN: I’m sure she’ll be very proud of you. Have you dedicated any songs in her memory?
RAIN: In this concert there is a song that dedicated to her. I used to cry a lot when singing this song but now I’m more in controlled of my emotions. I think it is because of her memory that I try harder and become more humble and because of her I try to be a good person and not to do bad things.

LORRAINE HAHN: RAIN your music career started with you being a back-up dancer and then you went solo. Was there a turning point when you really did decide to go solo?
RAIN: Working as a dancer has its limits because you are dancing the set moves. As a singer you have more variety and can reinvent yourself continuously, that’s why I make a decision to be a singer. And meeting J.Y. Park my manager was really the turning point.

LORRAINE HAHN: But it was a big risk right? You could have failed?
RAIN: I had faith. I believe that everything would turn out well in the end. But it was a struggle at first. At one point I didn’t eat for 4 days because I had no money. There was also a time when I was ill that couldn’t go to the hospital. It was hard but these events only made me more determined and they gave the strengths to overcome obstacles. I didn’t know then if it would take me 3, 4 or 10 years to succeed but I really believe it would happen someday. There were a lot of people who helped me a lot along the way as well. I think I was very lucky.

LORRAINE HAHN: RAIN you choreographed some dances but what about songwriting? Do you planned to do some of that?
RAIN: I planned to continue what I’m doing. I am an actor and a singer and although I’m interested in songwriting, I think that can come later. For the moment I just want to focus on being the best singer and the best actor that I can be.

LORRAINE HAHN: Now there’s so many young and up and coming talent here in Asia, how do you planned to stay ahead of them?
RAIN: When I’m working I don’t sleep more than 2 hours a night. My motto in life is to be humble and to endlessly persist and strive. I really believe that there is nothing that can be gained without effort. I know that there are many people out there who are better dancers, people who may have a great body and who can act well. However I feel that by practicing an extra hour everyday when everybody else is already sleeping I can better improve and excel.

LORRAINE HAHN: How do you whine down after a show? I mean how do you relax?
RAIN: There are two ways I relieve my stress. After a performance I usually read a drama script or go out for a meal with my staff.

LORRAINE HAHN: That’s not fun!
RAIN: (laughing) For me it’s enjoyable.

LORRAINE HAHN: J-Pop, K-Pop; it just taken off here in Asia you know but so many people don’t even understand what they’re listening to, why do you think this is?
RAIN: Well, as I said earlier I think that anything that is sincere will get through to people. Showing everything without hiding anything that’s what I believe. When I see that people like my music even though they can’t understand the language, I’m convinced that it’s the sincerity that touches them and that they can relate to. It would be great If I could just study English and sing English songs. But there are so many other languages I need to learn. I need to study Japanese, Cantonese, Mandarin, Chinese, Tagalog (RB: RAIN said “Pilipin”). I’m a little worried about how I’m going to learn it all. But I will study hard and ill show my fans the improved me in the future.

LORRAINE HAHN: I was just gonna ask you, you were actually studying English?
RAIN: Yes

LORRAINE HAHN: Is it difficult?
RAIN: I’m studying a few words a day without fail but pronunciation is still very difficult. English is something I need to do consistently and I will work towards the day when we can hold this interview in English.

LORRAINE HAHN: (RAIN, will gonna take another very very short break) When we come back, we’ll ask RAIN which he prefers, singing or acting? Stay with us.

LORRAINE HAHN: Welcome back to Talk Asia, with me is Korean Pop Sensation RAIN. RAIN, I know you were sort of well known because you acted in the TV series Full House, how much did that change your life?
RAIN: I wouldn’t say it was life changing but it did helped me make inroads into the Asian market and it helped to make the name RAIN better known around the region. Most people who watched Full House liked it. It was a good show and lighthearted so I think a lot of people also enjoy it for many other reasons.

LORRAINE HAHN: And you have a new drama too. Tell me about that?
RAIN: The name of the new drama is called “Love to Kill”. It’s about a man who takes revenge on a woman who betrayed his brother and run away but then he ends up falling in love with this girl himself. You will see a whole new side of me in this drama.

LORRAINE HAHN: So it’s pretty challenging?
RAIN: He is a challenging character to portray. There’s a dual side to his personality when at the side when he is with his brother, but in the scenes with the girl he is completely cold hearted. It’s been challenging getting these two sides across. It is unclear whether the end will turn out to be warm happy love story or whether it will be bleak and sad.

LORRAINE HAHN: Do you have any movie projects in the pipeline?
RAIN: I don’t really want to do a very commercial movie, its not important for me to have huge audience ratings. Even if I’m offered a small budget movie, if it gives me the opportunity to show my acting skills and if it gives me recognition as a serious actor, I would be happy with that. I have no wish to become anymore popular or famous. There are actually plans for a movie next year so we’ll see what happens.

LORRAINE HAHN: So if Steven Spielberg calls you up tomorrow, you’ll do a movie?
RAIN: I would need to give up everything and focus only on learning English. (smiling)

LORRAINE HAHN: If I gave you a choice between acting and singing, which would you prefer?
RAIN: I get asked that question a lot and I feel that it’s similar to the question, who do you like better your mother or father? It’s hard to answer.

LORRAINE HAHN: So how do you strike a balance in your life? You don’t sleep, you hardly have time for any hobbies, what do you do?
RAIN: I believe that if you want to gain something you need to sacrifice something else. So if I want to enjoy hanging out with friends or have a girlfriend it would be better for me to give up the work I’m doing now because it would be really difficult to do everything well. But because I’m still young, I think it’s better to lay those things aside for now and concentrate on my work. Someone once told me, there will be plenty of time to sleep when you’re dead.

LORRAINE HAHN: What is the hardest part of this business?
RAIN: Relationships. It is hard to take care of the people around me when I’m working that I do feel the need to cherish the people around me. And I think my fans would like for me to do that as well.

LORRAINE HAHN: And where do you see your career going? I mean in the next couple of years. I know you have a new album out.
RAIN: I think the path I’m on now is exactly right for me. I’m not just another actor or singer from Korea. I want to be a representative of Asia and Asian people regardless of whether you are Japanese, Taiwanese, Chinese, Singaporean, Filipino. I think that Asian culture is great. Currently there are a lot of talented Asian people working in the US market and I think it is time for more Asian entertainers to emerge in that market. I would like to be able to do this in the near future and to become a person that all of Asia can be proud of.

LORRAINE HAHN: RAIN, good luck to you. Thank you very much.
RAIN: [In English] Thank you. Thank you so much.

LORRAINE HAHN: I’ve been speaking with Korean Pop Sensation RAIN. I’m Lorraine Hahn, let’s talk again next week.

[Showing clips of Rainy Day in Korea, It’s Raining MV, Before Rainy Day in Korea]