— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
RAINY DAY S. 3, epi 17 Rain. Cool! (captures: yuko @rainstorm, Japan)
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Rain The Best Show 2011 Korea tour banners. This may or may not be in Daegu, seeing as the top one is advertising the Daegu EXCO (대구엑스코) concert. (images: DC / source site: The Cloud Photo Board)
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
Rain, his hair, the Crew, and the Clouds were all killing it during this KBS Music Bank comeback stage. Just killing it! *wolf howl*
Rain 100521 KBS2_Hip Song (1080P). (courtesy of manloverain8 @YT)
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
Full House’s “YoungJae” has grown up and is now Fugitive’s “JiWoo”. 🙂
110721 GTV綜合 – 城市英雄(逃亡者Plan B)預告片 [Comprehensive – City of Heroes (Fugitive Plan B) trailer]. (credit: GTV / courtesy of Cathy @Cloud Taiwan / IcomewithRain @YT)
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Aww, fans getting to meet and hug their idols. Sweet. 🙂
110721 三立 完全娛樂 – 以身相許回饋粉絲 零距離接觸不是夢(Rain Edit). (credit: SET entertainment / courtesy of Cathy @Cloud Taiwan / IcomewithRain @YT)
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
Baby Bi in Korean magazine Junior, back in March 2004. So fresh and so clean!
(Images: mimi2 blog / raincloudHK / source site: The Cloud Photo Board)
Aww. ♥ — ^@@^ You’re my everything Rain. (Credit and edit: lany68 @YT)
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
Based on what he’s wearing, Rain and Kolleen may have been at the CJ Foods world center opening ceremony… Lately, the world has been watching Kolleen as a judge on Korea’s Got Talent.
(Source: 29rain @Twitter, @Twitpic 7.25.11 / English translation by rain bird @rain-eu.)
29rain Ji hoon jung
12년만에 만난 저의 첫 노래 선생님입니다 그 작은 스튜디오에서 의자에서 항상 주무시다가도 낮이나밤이나 제자들을 가르쳐주시던 … http://twitpic.com/5vmi4eThis is my first song teacher whom I saw after an interval of 12 years, who taught [singing] to [her] disciples day and night even while she was always asleep on a chair in the small studio.
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
Thanks for sharing your hot-to-the-touch monitor screens, ladies. We like! And I do mean we LIKE. Haha! First up, we have…
Lluviakoreana, a.k.a. Yely. It’s raining, it’s pouring on her Google Search home page, but nobody’s snoring. Not even. YUM!
Mudare. This week, she has changed over to a shot from Rain’s photo spread in WKorea Magazine last year. (Anybody wishing they were a task bar right about now? Hush my mouth!)
Well, until next time, fans…
Keep those desktops Rained Out. Peace! ^@@^
≈
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
It doesn’t matter whether Rain is filming in Asia, or Hollywood, or anywhere, for that matter. The stories are always the same. Staff, Junior actors, senior actors, and world icons alike consider this Man an indomitable workhorse, a humble role model, and an unwavering friend and brother.
Kind of gives you the warm-and-toasties. 🙂
°
BNT News/Nate 7/25/2011 — [English translation by rain bird @rain-eu.]
Rain’s “Flight : Close to the Sun” costar ‘Lee Jong Seok’ gives thanks to him
With a picture showing him posing for a picture with Rain, actor ‘Lee Jong Seok’ put up some writings on website ‘Wellmade’s ‘Metoday’ on 15 July, “He is the man I really want to do the same thing as. He is a Real Man, ‘Ji Hoon’ hyungnim (Rain).”
In the picture, ‘Lee Jong Seok’ involved in movie “Flight : Close to the Sun”, is looking at the camera with a quizzical look on his face, holding up the V sign, while Rain is posing for a picture with a show of cordiality and a charismatic look, putting his arms round ‘Lee Jong Seok’.
Following, ‘Lee Jong Seok’ gave thanks to Rain, “Hyung (Rain) ! I’ve felt a bit shy to express my gratitude to you, but got up the nerve to say something to you. I give thanks to you for always encouraging and taking care of me even though I’m not good enough for you. You are a brother to me, and I am very grateful ! I believe that this movie will be a big hit !”
Meanwhile, as Rain works with an all star cast including actress ‘Shin Se Kyung’, actor ‘Yu Joon Sang’, ‘Kim Sung Soo’, actress ‘Lee Ha Na’, actor ‘Lee Jong Seok’, etc. in his new movie ‘Flight : Close to the Sun’, the movie has been talk of the town in the film industry.
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
What can we say? Go, MBLAQ, go! Keep on doing it, and doing it well. 😀
Don’t you wish you could see some of the footage that will come from that KPop contest in Egypt? We sure do! That is going to be something indeed. Wow. Hopefully Arirang will be there.
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SOOMPI News 7/25/2011 — by thunderstix
2NE1, MBLAQ, and BEAST Sweep German Music Chart
Three of K-Pop’s biggest idol groups, 2NE1, MBLAQ, and BEAST, swept Germany’s “VIVA Clip Charts,” taking the top three spots of the list this week. 2NE1’s smash hit single, “I Am The Best,” ranked #1, followed by MBLAQ’s “Mona Lisa” and BEAST’s “Fiction” at #2 and #3, respectively. Even rookie group HIIT came in at #50 with their debut track, “Good Night,” making this week’s VIVA chart filled with popular K-Pop songs.
Today’s news came in after it was reported 2NE1’s collective music video views have surpassed 100 million times worldwide. Also, just last week, it was reported BEAST’s “Fiction” had debuted at #63 on VIVA’s “Top 100 Chart,” as K-Pop continues to make strides in the European region.
VIVA is a 24-hour German music and entertainment channel launched in 1999. Initially owned by a private German media group, it was later acquired by MTV Networks Europe. The “VIVA Clip Charts” is a weekly chart that ranks the most popular videos of the week. Other pop singers to make the chart in the past include Lady Gaga, Rihanna, and Jennifer Lopez.
» You can visit the VIVA Clip Charts music site in Germany HERE.
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HanCinema 7/20/2011 —
First K-Pop Contest To be Held in Egypt
The Middle East will hold its first ever Korean pop singing contest later this month.
The Korean embassy in Egypt says it will hold the contest on July 28th in Cairo, giving fans the opportunity to express their love for Korean pop music.
The embassy added, that since a large number of people want to participate, it will hold a preliminary round next Monday to pick the top 15 teams for the official competition.
The event is aimed at promoting Korean culture in Egypt and throughout the Middle East.
An embassy official says that if the competition runs smoothly, it will hold similar events in other Arab countries.
Source : www.arirang.co.kr.
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
Asia broadcast 7/23.
We finished up with the TIME Gala and being in a New York state of mind last week. Well before that, we were ADIEUing. So where oh where will we land now? Any guesses?
Ah! BEST Rain Macao, the third stop on Rain’s BEST concert tour of Asia! Okay. 😀
(Oh lord, it’s that shirt that drove me abso-freakin-lutely nuts because it cut Rain off at the hips and made him look stunted or something… but hey, that was then, I’m over it now, and he was as handsome and personable as ever while speaking to the Media at his press con, so no problema.) RAINY DAY spends only about three minutes on Rain’s Macao press conference before taking a station break and bugging out, and that’s just fine with me. As you may recall, the AP Article Shot Around the World stemmed from this event, you remember the one, where the writer claimed that not only was Rain being surly and evasive about his upcoming military enlistment (which made about as much sense as a dog flying under its own power) but that he also dissed America and planned a future only in Asia (which made about as much sense as a rock flying under its own power). Yeah. Somehow, the Rainiverse weathered the storm that the writer’s own conclusions produced, and went on about its business. These days, the less I think about that hot mess, the better for my health, frankly.
Moving on.
LOL! For a second there, with all the running going on, I had a Fugitive flashback. But I don’t think fashion plate “JiWoo” would be caught dead with a scarf on his perfect hair. (He beat some of Mafia Daddy’s guys down just for messing it up, remember.) Ah, we’re at a Macao rehearsal, and of course, Rain is horsing around… backstage, on stage, off stage. Heh. Remember when he tweeted those pictures?
And so the Man, the Men, the Women, and the Crew get down to the bidnez of putting the show together. “Everybody get ready… Me and my boys… smellin’, fellin’… you know how we do it—” There is a really nice energy on that stage. Looks like he was really ready for that show.
What the—? Hold the bus. One of the Women was really late for her cue and about broke her neck trying to get to the King and his throne. ROFL! I haven’t seen a woman move that fast since Flo Jo! Rain just about busted a gut laughing. LMAO!
Minute marker 7:20 starts one of those special Rain moments that only happens once in a blue moon: (hippity hoppity) “How you doing… yeah, it’s been a long time…” (hoppity skippity) “I luv you alllllllllllllll my fans…” Yadda yadda blah blah, this is rehearsal, make something up as I goooooo, just get down the damn staaaaage… ROFL
*scream* “One”, y’all! *scream*
After a bit more rehearsal time, we’re out. I really enjoyed this go-round. Nice job, JiHoon. ♥ See you next episode, fans, where I’m hoping we’ll get some of the real thing in Macao. Be here, or be square!
— Stephe @cloudusa.wordpress.com / www.cloudusa.org
(video credit: happyyyrain torrent / courtesy of ratoka @YT)
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
(All images as tagged, courtesy of the rainstorm blog, Osaka.)
Raizo’d Rain.
ZEPP Japan Rain.
Fashion photo shoot Rain.
SK Telecom Be With Aura Rain.
Full House era Rain.
Official Japanese fan site opening Rain. Getting his thoughts together.
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
As we recall, Rain was still sick as a dog and flu-ridden when he performed these Back To The Basic comeback stages on KBS Music Bank the last part of April 2010. And yet he still managed to look and sing like this. It’s amazing. His strength and determination have always been incredible to witness (when we weren’t wanting to strangle him for being so stubborn, that is). 🙂
One of the coolest things about this “Love Song” performance was: Every week, we would try to guess what color leather and Bling Rain was going to wear next, because he never wore the same Bling twice, and Purplezesty Katie was like (and I quote), “I do hope he does a red version, or red and black… it would be pure smex…” And BOOM—a day or so later, she got it! He showed up in exactly that. Haha!
Another cool thing was that he won Music Bank that week over HyoRi and 2PM with this “Love Song” performance. It was one of the final times we would see “Love Song” because the time had come for him to concentrate on “Hip Song” then, so the win was a sweet one. Double-thumbs up!
RAIN BI 비 Apr 30, 2010_널 붙잡을 노래 + Hip Song. (courtesy of biblueberry06 @YT)
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
We just can’t help wondering.
We’ve pondered that question ever since the RAIN: The Best Show 2011 images hit the Internet. They are nothing like his The BEST Rain 2011 Asia Tour images; in fact, they are about as far from that (and Back To The Basic) as they can get.
It’s almost like he’s holding something back. Keeping a secret. Shhhh… hush my mouth. Not gonna say. Not gonna tell. Heheh. What could it be? What surprise(s) could he have cooked up for these concerts in Korea, if any? A revelation of some kind? A preview, perhaps? (The way he unveiled “Hip Song” for the very first time at the Legend of Rainism Yoyogi encore show comes to mind. Hm.) Suddenly I’m trying to remember where I got the image below, because I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Rain concert poster with four languages on it before (Hangul, Japanese, English, and is that Chinese?) Is this official, or fan made? Hm!
Wouldn’t it be to die for if he pulled songs that he hadn’t done in forever out of his bag of tricks? Like “Quiz”? And his mom’s special song, “Can’t Get Used To”? What if he pulled out some of those GREAT collaborations like “Wanna Talk” or “Oh Yeah”? What if he performed songs that have only been heard on his albums, like “Even You”? And “Move On”? And “Slowly” and “No No No”? *scream* “Props In My Life”, and “Feel So Right?” Or the amazing “Turn Your Head”? Could you simply imagine something like that? HOLY smokes.
What is he not saying?
Could be nothing, really. Or could be something. Really. *shrug* I suppose we’ll all find out soon enough.
In the meantime, turn your heads now! 🙂
— Stephe @cloudusa.wordpress.com / www.cloudusa.org
Turn Your Head 고개 돌려 頭を回して 」Rain (비ビ）.wmv. (courtesy of miisukehiro @YT)
~Cloud Cover by Terri :-}, Managing Editor
{*Edited to Add: Go here for our Cloud USA » Rain’s The Cloud (Fansite) in South Korea: HOW TO JOIN INSTRUCTIONS… IN ENGLISH. A permanent link to this media blog page is also in our media blog side bar to your right, under PAGES. ^@@^}
…then call your local Korea tourism office!
Yep. That’s what one group of K-Pop fans did in Los Angeles. After being unable to navigate all of the Korean websites to buy tickets to their favorite group’s concert in South Korea (sound familiar, Clouds?), a group of Girl’s Generation S♥NEs petitioned the Los Angeles office of the Korea Tourism Organization for help. The result was that today (July 22) a group of 100+ S♥NEs arrived in Seoul just in time for this weekend’s SNSD concert. According to Arirang News, this is the “first time that American fans have traveled to the country en masse” exclusively to participate in K-Pop activities.
Go HERE to watch the news report on Arirang Global TV. (Note: You have to click on the play button on the video player image in the article to open up the player and to start the video.)
All I have to say, Clouds is this: If you have the resources to go to South Korea and to enjoy one of Rain’s concerts, and you’re having trouble getting tickets, don’t just sit back and whine. Instead, ask for some help. Contact a travel agent. Contact your local Korean consulate. Contact your local Korea Tourism Office.
Better yet, why don’t you register for The Cloud’s fan forum at http://rain-cloud.co.kr/ and check the English Talk Board for news about how and where and when to buy tickets. Coordinators on The Cloud are working really hard to help us overseas Clouds. There is an effort currently underway to assist overseas Clouds with getting VIP tickets for the Seoul concert. They are even planning to provide bus service for several of the concerts.
Rain is going to be away for a long time, and we haven’t a clue when the next chance to see him on stage will crop up–especially here in The States. So, if you want to go and if you can go, then by all means GO.
GO NOW.
Terri :-}
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
And we appreciate it. Thank you!
(Joonie would be the one who chose a female artist to work with. Heheh! And I about rolled when Thunder said he’d simply continue eating meat if he had a day off. LOL! Such great personalities, all of them. ♥)
MBLAQ’s interview with fan’s questions & Mcountdown stage. (Credit: Mnet / mnet @YT)
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
Taking your picture with a life-sized Rain cutout? Sounds like loads of fun to me! Haha. Try not to run off with “him”, though. LOL! “Security to the atrium… could we please have security to the atrium! There is a theft in progress!!”
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Mentholatum Rain appeared in Shanghai Hongyi Plaza
By: Siao Men @official MENtholatum on Weibo, 7/22/2011
English translation: Scorpiola @rain-cloud Photo Board
Images: mentholatum001 @weibo
#Rain代言曼秀雷敦#雨粉們發現，”Rain”出現在上海宏伊廣場一樓中庭。 7月22日至7月24日，小曼歡迎曼粉們前來與一比一高度的”Rain”親密合影，而且現場購買任意男士產品即送活炭深層潔面乳20g一份，很吸引，有木有？ ！那就快來吧~ @屈臣氏中國
Rain fans found that Rain appeared in the atrium on the first floor of Shanghai Hongyi Plaza. From July 22th to July 24th, Siao Men welcomes Mentholatum fans to come and take photos with the 1:1 ratio “Rain”. Also, purchasing any Mentholatum products on-site will get a free 20g bottle of Icy Charcoal Face Wash. Isn’t it attractive? Come! Hurry!
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
Wow. That’s what you call being a longtime friend of Rain’s. Thumbs up! 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing, Sangmi and SweetJal! (images: dancer Bae Sangmi / melody323232 @spic.kr / tip: sweetjal / source site: The Cloud Photo Board)
According to the actual tweet… Looks like someone was eating lunch at work today when the door opened and the rain came in. 🙂 (images: Lee 지애 / jjeaaa @Twitpic, 7/22/2011)
Fresh media images of Rain at CJ Food’s world center opening ceremony this week. Check out that hair! (images: as tagged / source site: The Cloud Photo Board)
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
YoungJae GIF! YoungJae GIF, compliments of the rainstorm blog. Lovely! 🙂
A few more really nice shots of Rain at the VIP movie premiere for The Beast this week. (images: as tagged, capped by ratoka @The Cloud Photo Board)
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
{*ETA 7/22: One of our commenters has given a tip that the Korean word 비상 (bisang) is associated with Chinese characters, and not only that, but the Chinese characters for “flight” are pronounced the same as the Korean word for “emergency.” Which, in my mind, explains why there are Chinese characters in the movie’s title (I’ve wondered about that for a long time), and also tells me that 비상 and 飛上 should be used together in order to convey the correct meaning in this case. Very cool.
Thank you, stacy09! ^^}
Yes, I am loving the way the SOOMPI writer calls Rain forever sexy, internationally renowned, and incredible. It makes me happy. I openly admit it. (Not to mention, s/he used a portion of one of artist Nao’s drawings in the post. Double thumbs up.)
AND another thing. I also appreciate the way the SOOMPI writer uses Emergency! throughout the post, seeing as that is what the movie title ACTUALLY TRANSLATES TO. Not just any old casual Flight: Close To The Sun, but an urgent, life or death situation. Let’s break it down, with Korean characters in blue, and Chinese characters in green.
비상 (飛上): 태양가까이
Emergency (Fly, Fly over, or on the Fly): Close To The Sun
At least someone (another writer, that is) out there gets it. Thank goodness.
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SOOMPI News 7/21/2011 — by singer
Rain Tweets “Emergency” Cast Photo
It’s an “Emergency”! Rain is eating with the cast…over. On July 21st, the forever sexy and internationally renowned star Rain tweeted an interesting photo of himself. It is find Mr. Precipitation Day in the following image! He is seen seated at a table with a group of people. Those people are his castmates in the upcoming movie entitled “Emergency: Closer To The Sun.” He along with his co-star Shin Se Kyung are enjoying a meal with everyone on set.
His soon-to-be released flick is a remake of the 1964 classic “The Red Scarf”. This time around, Rain portrays a military pilot, while Se Kyung transforms into a mechanic. Their director, Kim Dong Wan, will make their love story come to life on-screen.
What do you think of the “Emergency” cast photo? Besides the incredible Rain, can you spot any additional actors who are your favorites?
Credit: @29rain
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HanCinema 7/21/2011 —
Rain reveals pic “Top stars in one place”
Singer and actor Rain (Jeong Ji-hoon) released a picture worth a million.
Through his Twitter on the 21st around 11:12PM, he uploaded a picture with the post saying, “Our movie “Flight: Close to the Sun”, the cast and crew”.
The picture was of many stars that can’t even be compared with money.
Actors and actresses Kim Sung-so, Yoo Joon-sang, Lee Ha-na, Sin Se-kyeong, Lee Jong-hyuk, singer Se7en, Baek Ji-young and her boyfriend Jeong Seok-won were all in the picture.
Those who have seen the picture say, “All the stars in Korea have gathered”,, “This is an awesome picture”, “Everyone looks great” and more.
Source: news.nate.com/view/20…
Aww. ♥ (He did ask for most of it, though. Aww.) — ^@@^ Rain. (courtesy of xblackitty @YT)
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
Or perhaps, just meeting for a bit of fun. 🙂
(Source: 29rain @Twitpic, 7.21.11 / credits as tagged)
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
I remember being very curious about this song last year, while gathering information for a Rain discography, because at the time I only had a CD cover and not much else to tell me what it was. As time went on, it became clear that this motivational tune was the SBS-sponsored digital release that Rain recorded in 2006, for South Korea’s summer bid to be in the World Cup. And I finally got to hear the song itself.
So here is the catchy song that lit a fire under the soccer world in Corea/Korea five years ago, “Go Forward.”
Rain’s World cup song 2006-Go Forward. (courtesy of deppstar @YT)
He certainly has used it well throughout his career! (And if I have to explain what it is, you’re not paying attention.) 🙂 — ^@@^ BI Rain ~~ Fergalcious. Music: “Fergalicious”, Artist: Fergie (credit and edit: BiRain625 @YT)
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
Amazing fashion photographer Zhang Jingna (a.k.a. zemotion) gave a brief behind-the-scenes look at her participation in the new Anchor Beer campaign to come, featuring Rain.
And boy, do we ever appreciate it. Thank you for sharing, Jingna! 😀
(Source: Zhang Jingna / zemotion @Facebook)
It’s been a while since the shoot in Korea… now I can finally tell you guys what it was all about~
I was fortunate to be part of Anchor Beer’s regional campaign in Asia starring superstar Rain.
Chris Godfrey was the director for the TV commercial (an amazing, amazing man) and I shot the supporting print campaign as well as a series of behind the scenes photos (this is one of them :D).
The print campaign was pretty straightforward but the TVC set was nothing short of spectacular. For 3 days we had a 4pm-4am schedule with the first day’s shoot being an on-location night scene.
It was an incredible experience being able to see the making of and also be part of such a great project.
Thank you Anchor Beer and The Alchemy Partnership for having me along with your super amazing team, Conan Thai for being an awesome assistant and Lim Jooyeon for translating and assisting on location. ♥
(Image credit: Zhang Jingna / zemotion)
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
*Edited to Add 7/21:
Now we have this July 14 post to go along with the CJ Food World pictures, from 노희영 (Nohuiyoung) of CJ Labs, the executive director of CJ그룹 브랜드전략 고문 (CJ Group Brand Strategy Consultants), under his/her “With Celebs” blog category. Very cool.
An aside: Actually, what hinorecipe typed was Jung JiHoon nim (sir, 님), rather than Jung JiHoon ssi (Mr., 씨). It pretty much amounts to the same thing, referring to Rain respectfully, but they are different words. — ^@@^
(Post Source: hinorecipe @naverblog, 7.14.11 / English translation: rain bird @rain-eu.)
비 정지훈님과 푸드월드 방문
정지훈님 푸드월드 방문에 동행 했습니다. 정지훈님이 집중하고 계신건 다름아닌 프레시안의 신선한 햄과 베이컨 입니다. CJ푸드월드에 방문하시면 프리미엄 햄을 만나실 수 있답니다.
Bi (Rain) (born ‘Jung Ji Hoon’) and his visit to CJ Food World.
‘Jung Ji Hoon’ ssi (Rain) joined today in visiting ‘Food World’. What ‘Jung Ji Hoon’ ssi was focused on at that moment was (CJ) Freshan’s fresh ham and bacon. If you visit CJ Food World, you can meet premium ham.
—
ORIGINAL CHECK
As we understand it, Rain at CJ Foodworld. Where? (probably Seoul) When? They didn’t say. You know how that goes. 
(images: Naver / courtesy of shelley @The Cloud Photo Board)
°
GORGEOUS Rain fan art by Cerine a.k.a. Cerinaz, from her Rain Fanart blog. Beautiful! (posters credit: Cerine Zen)
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
Hi, fans.
Several days ago, we were right on the verge of publishing those amazing 비상/Flight images from HIM (Honor & Indomitable Mind) Military Culture Magazine that showed up on The Cloud. I’m sure you’ve all seen them by now… they are so the absolute coolest thing since sliced bread. Wow. Well… as you can also see, we didn’t put them up. I’ll tell you why. (and I won’t yell, though this is pretty upsetting to me, though not to other people, obviously)
When we first saw them, we had to wonder why they were released to the public, seeing as in our minds they look a lot like a scene from the movie. It looks like Rain’s character “TaeHoon” has miraculously made it out of a deadly situation and back home, a bit on the worn, grimy side, and is greeting his woman to the cheers of his comrades. You can almost hear the triumphant Top Gun music, when “Maverick” made it back after saving “Iceman” and the MIGs were all destroyed, and Tom and Kelly’s characters reunited and made passionate love for the rest of their lives. And one thing in particular really kept nagging me—when you click to go to the pictures at HIM, via the link that was given on The Cloud, you don’t get pics. You get this:
Uh oh. Red flag.
I typed that into Google Translate, and this is what came out:
잘못된 주소이거나. 비공개 또는 삭제된 글입니다.
This is a wrong address, or private or deleted.
*sigh* *heartbreak*
If the pictures are indeed private or have been deleted, then THEY WERE A SPOILER and they shouldn’t have been taken from the magazine. I hope heads rolled when someone found out that they’d been shared with the public to begin with! This could greatly affect how Rain’s movie does at the box office! Rain fans will flock to the theater to see it because they’re Rain fans, but the general population won’t if they think they know a major plot point or how it might end, and Rain fan numbers will not be enough.
Hopefully, I’m wrong. But even with a detailed search, I cannot find these pictures on this site in any of their three issues. That link is the only page on the site that you can’t see.
And so, until we find out differently, we can’t in good conscience post those pictures here. Doesn’t matter that they’re on Rain sites all over the place now—we won’t be a party to anything that could spoil 비상 (飛上): 태양가까이(Flight: Close To The Sun), and in the process, Rain’s career. That might sound melodramatic, but it isn’t. You saw what happened to The Fugitive: Plan B when an unforeseen circumstance stepped in and spoiled the story. Despite brilliant acting from the cast and the amazing way Rain brought JiWoo’s character to life (he was right, we had never seen anyone like JiWoo before!), the ratings in Korea never recovered. 😦
Thanks for understanding, everyone. We’re not trying to be sticks in the mud. We are major Rain fans, just like everybody else. But when we’re in doubt, his career comes first and being fans comes second. Isn’t that the way it should be?
Thanks again.
— Stephe @cloudusa.wordpress.com / www.cloudusa.org
~Cloud Cover by Terri :-}, Managing Editor
Yep. There’s a hero inside of you. There really is.
So, go on. Find it, why don’tcha?
I double-dog dare ya.
Terri :-}
[Video courtesy of binombj on YouTube]
~Cloud Cover by Terri :-}, Managing Editor
This is a Cloud USA original article. If you share it, please do so in its entirety and with all credits intact. Thank you!
You never really forget those people who have made a difference in your life. Never. Not matter how far you travel. No matter how many years pass. No matter how long you live.
Sometimes, it’s just a kind word or a smile when you need it the most. Sometimes, it’s a couch to sleep on for the few weeks in between graduation and basic training. Sometimes, however, it a lot more—like the kindnesses a group of U.S. servicemen showed an ostracized, mixed-race girl while they were stationed in South Korea 38 years ago.
Insooni was 16 years old when she met Ronald Lewis and his buddies at Camp Casey, a U.S. Army post in the town of Dongducheon. The soldiers, boys themselves, were troubled by the teen’s circumstances, and so they reached out to her. “She was always sitting outside by herself,” Lewis recalled. “So a few of the soldiers brought her clothes and helped her as much as we could.”
In spite of the fact that her father was an African American U.S. soldier who had abandoned her and
her Korean mother, Insooni found herself comforted by the boys’ caring attitudes. “Before I met them, I had repulsion about Americans because my family background and home environment were difficult,” Insooni said. “But, after getting along with them, I came to feel all human beings are the same, and Americans are good.”
Insooni wanted to become a nurse. Lewis never even knew she could sing. Eventually, the boys’ tour of duty in South Korea was over and they all moved on. Everyone kept in touch for awhile, but eventually, their communications trickled to a halt.
Until now.
Despite their being continents apart from each other, Lewis and Insooni never forgot each other. The girl never forgot the consideration Lewis and the other boys had shown her. The boy never forgot how difficult the girl’s lot in life had been. Lewis “prayed for her continuously.” Insooni “never forgot his eyes.”
Because the guys used mostly nicknames, Lewis’s was the only name Insooni could remember. Last year, during a performance for U.S. military personnel in Seoul, Insooni happened to meet Major General Michael Tucker, The 2nd Infantry Division’s Commander. She told him about Lewis and the other American soldiers who had shown her such kindness all those years ago. She asked him to help her find them. Soon afterward, she and Lewis spoke by phone and he discovered that the little girl he had befriended so long ago had become a superstar.
You can read the original Stars and Stripes article about Insooni’s reconnection with Ronald Lewis HERE.
You can read The ChosunIlbo‘s coverage of the story and watch the video of their touching reunion in Delaware, HERE.
You can read Westport News.com‘s (Wilmington, DE) detailed write-up about the reunion event HERE.
There are two things in this world that never fail to touch my heart. One of them is watching someone live their dream. The other is discovering that someone’s prayers have been answered. This, my friends, is that rare tale of both.
Enjoy.
Terri @cloudusa.wordpress.com :-} / www.cloudusa.org
Sources (news & photos): Stars and Stripes-1; Stars and Stripes-2; The ChosunIlbo; Westport News; AP-Newsis
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
SixToFive photo shoot Rain, in the Philippines a couple of years ago. Time to hydrate. Cute! *cracking up because I can already see some people struggling to keep it clean hahaha* (images: yuko @rainstorm, Japan)
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Lovely fan art with Rain then and now. Wah. (credit: as tagged, @rainstorm)
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
From today, July 19. Other CJ-sponsored artists attended as well.
Whisker alert! 🙂
110718 TV Daily. Rain, Big Bang at CJ Foods World Grand Opening event. (credit: TVDaily / courtesy of Scorpiolabibi @YT)
(Images source: Naver / source site: The Cloud Photo Board)
(during the summer of 2009, Rain was featured in High Cut Magazine…)
» You can visit the previous Open Thread HERE. And of course, don’t forget that our Cloud USA Forum is a most excellent place for Rain love, fan communication, and self-expression.
By the way — have you left a message for JiHoon on The Cloud today?
» Our Project page for newbies on how to register for and USE the Official Cloud Rain Fan Club site in S.Korea is HERE.)
If you can, PLEASE follow Rain’s lead and give Japan a helping hand. Donate to the 7th Cloud’s Appeal-Donation for Earthquake Victims in Japan or to the charity of your choice. The Japanese people are still nowhere near out of the woods. » The 1400 children who lost one or both parents are one of the groups most desperate for help right now.
[2011 RAIN Korea Tour Schedule]
August 13, 14 (Sat, Sun) – Busan BEXCO
Sat 27 August – Daegu EXCO Priest
Sat, September 3 – Jeju Convention Center
Sat, September 17 – Gwangju (Location TBA)
Sun September 18 – Daejeon (KOTRA Trade Exhibition Center)
September 24 and 25 (Saturday, Sunday) – Seoul Olympic Park Stadium
Laters, everyone!
— Stephe ^@@^
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
This clip was a real treat for me because 1) I’ve loved PSY as an entertainer since I first encountered him, right when he finished his military duties, 2) he seems to be a really good hyung to Rain, and 3) I still remember him daring to Love Song ab-roll on stage with Rain at his (PSY’s) concert in Seoul back last year, in mid-May 2010. OMG, you talk about hilarious. I thought we’d never get over that. LOL!
Do enjoy this SBS Good Morning report from earlier today that strolls down memory lane. ROFL!
좋은아침 싸이(3678회)_03 (Good morning, Sy (3678 votes) _03). (Credit: SBS / entertainmentSBS @YT)
Cloud USA 
[Cloud USA announcements] 비 Yourself Open Thread for 7/26-8/1.
•July 26, 2011 • 66 Comments(Needs NO explanation, right? ♥ Didn’t think so.)
[2011 RAIN Korea Tour Schedule]
August 13, 14 (Sat, Sun) – Busan BEXCO
Sat 27 August – Daegu EXCO Priest
Sat, September 3 – Jeju Convention Center
Sat, September 17 – Gwangju (Location TBA)
Sun September 18 – Daejeon (KOTRA Trade Exhibition Center)
September 24 and 25 (Saturday, Sunday) – Seoul Olympic Park Stadium
» Terri’s recent post, Having Trouble Planning Your “Rain The Best Show” Trip, U.S. Clouds…? is here, after the click.
July is nearly over already. Can you believe it? Sometime next month, Rain will finish up his 비상 (飛上)/Flight movie filming, and be staring his Korean concerts right in the face. Out of the frying pan and into another fire! It’s a good thing he appears to be fireproof. 🙂
See you later this week, everyone!
— Stephe ^@@^
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Posted in Bi Rain, Bi Rain News, Cloud USA, Jung Ji Hoon, Rain Topics, usa cloud
Tags: Bi Yourself, Cloud commentary, Cloud USA News, Japan earthquake, open thread, Rain The Best Show 2011 Korea Tour, The Cloud