Cloud USA

“When the people I know are proud of me. When people are praying for me. And when people remember my name after I’ve died. Yeah.”

— Rain, on life

(from TIME Magazine’s 10 Questions For Rain interview, 2008, his definition of being successful)

by Stephe ^@@^ @ Cloud USA

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ON ACCOMPLISHING A DREAM

“This is a dream come true.  But first, I’d like to thank my fans for everything.

I went through a lot of difficulties and had to challenge myself while I was filming the movie [Ninja Assassin].  When my name was called at the awards ceremony, I cried my heart out inside because I felt as if I was being rewarded for all the hard work I put into it.

To be honest, I did not expect to win.  I didn’t even imagine that I’d win. I thought being invited to the MTV Movie Awards was quite meaningful enough even if I didn’t win.  I feel like I’m dreaming right now, and I’m very happy to have won the award.

The other nominees are top Hollywood actors, and I think I won this award because of my fans’ votes.  This is an opportunity of a lifetime and I’m going to stop putting myself through hardships now that I’ve received an award that I’ve always dreamed of.  I probably won’t have another wish for the next ten years.  Instead of bearing things with clenched teeth, I’m going to let my teeth relax and try to enjoy my work.  I’d like to rest for now.  I’m overwhelmed with happiness.”

— At Incheon Airport in Korea, June 8th, when asked how he felt about being the first Korean to ever win an MTV Movie Award in the U.S.

ON THE MILITARY

“There’s something I’ve got to say. Sometimes when I’m driving around, other cars speed ahead of me or make me slow down. Right now, it’s like that. There’s a little bit of traffic here, but before you know it, this car will be speeding along again.” — September 25, 2011, at his final RAIN The Best Show Korea tour stop in Seoul, in an attempt to comfort his fans about his impending military enlistment on October 11.

“As a Korean man, I believe that it is only natural to be dutiful to my country and enlist into military service…I will go within the next year.”  — May 2010

HIS PERSONAL MOTTO

Endless effort, endless endeavor, endless modesty.

WHAT IS TRULY IMPORTANT

“My final goal is to be a good father.  I want to live happily with my family.”  — when asked what his lifetime goal is, on Cool FM Radio, 4/28/2010

“…I think winning the battle between cultures and minds is worth much more than winning a physical battle involving guns and knives.  It’s Game Over when you win over minds.”

“I won’t concern myself too much with success or failure.  I will simply do my best.  I will always stay humble.” — from documentary The 7 Rainmakers

“I hear there will be many famous people.  I’m most excited about the [US] Secretary of State.”  —on his way to Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People red carpet

HUMILITY

“Instead of being really handsome, it is better to have a face with character.”  —speaking about himself to Korean teens, during his Rainy Day Tour in Thailand

“No, no… please call me Ji-Hoon.”  —during an interview in his Six to Five brand showroom, preferring to not be called CEO nor Mr. Jung

“I just made clothes I would like to wear myself, not to be able to say I am the CEO…”

“I’m just the one who helps with the work.”  —concerning his role in the brand he built and designed

PERSEVERANCE, SELF-SUFFICIENCY

“I strongly believe that if you are afraid of failure, you will never taste success. As much as I go through failure, I think it’s just one step closer to my dream. It was like when I walked into Warner Brothers and watched the final version of Ninja Assassin for the first time. I went through hard times but I finally made it. I couldn’t believe I was there with my fellow actors and the staff, watching the film.” —at his Global fan meeting (on his birthday), June 2009

“There are times when I really feel lonely and don’t have the will to do anything. Whenever that happens, I look up negative articles about me. They give me a boost and I am up and ready for the day.”    —using the tabloids to his advantage, 2009 Global fan meet

“Really—the thought of wanting to quit came hundreds, thousands, millions of times.  [My boss] never gave me compliments.  He would always point out my weaknesses and say things that were emotionally scarring… but now that I look back, he never set a table full of food for me to eat.  Instead of giving me something to eat, he gave me a fishing rod and taught me how to catch and cook my own fish.  So when things get rough… you can’t quit or give up.  If you do, that’s it.  Nothing will come after that.”  —to Korean teens in Thailand, during his Rainy Day Tour

STUDENT VIOLENCE

“School violence should be eliminated.  I didn’t want to go to school back then [because of the violence].  I didn’t understand why I had to exist in such a place.  I had the wrong idea—if you bully me, I’ll bully you too.

Students should help and protect each other.” —concerning school years spent in anger

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