— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
BiA is tying a Yellow Ribbon. So pretty. Thanks for sending your pics! 🙂
(courtesy of BiAlamode, a.k.a. DeeDee, in Texas, USA)
[quickie][fan made] Look what we just shared on Facebook…
•January 5, 2013 • Leave a CommentAlways, always… 🙂 ^@@^ (Credit and edit: Koty0511 @YT)
[re-post][ROK MND] Entertaining. Marching. Rappelling. Sharpshooting. Standing guard. Entertaining…
•January 5, 2013 • 3 Comments— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
ORIGINALLY POSTED 2/28/2012. Thinking about it in connection with Rain and his PR mates always makes me smile, and I feel like we all need a smile today. So please enjoy this little gem again.
So cute at the end, when he gets discharged. 🙂
—
This absolutely adorable video released by the South Korean Ministry of Defense, which looks to be an entry in a competition, struck me as what JiHoon will probably be doing during the next seventeen months, so much so that I just had to share it. Aw! ^_^ Go get ’em, Rain!
As the Japanese say, かわいい！Kawai! So cute! I challenge you to watch it without grinning. (Impossible. Give up now!) 🙂 ^@@^
국방부 군가보다 프로젝트 UCC 공모전 _ 김세형 (Department of Defense military project UCC competition _ Kim se Hyung). Video credit: ROKMND2020 @YT.
[info][Cloud USA] Operation: Tie A Yellow Ribbon.
•January 4, 2013 • 73 Comments
From: Thornton, Stephe / Yellow Ribbon For Rain Brigade / Cloud USA
Sent: Friday, January 4, 2013 9:06 PM
To: ALL Yellow Ribbon For Rain Brigade participants, all Clouds, and all Rain Fans, global and domestic
Subject: Immediate Support across the miles for ROK Army Corporal Jung JiHoon
NOTICE: The information contained in this project is of a time-sensitive nature. Swift action is required. Please place high on your priority scale.
EXPLANATION: For many centuries, the yellow ribbon has been a symbol of hope, resolve, and undying support for loved ones, for defenders, and for various causes all across the world. Even today, from Australia to Asia to Europe and all the way to the States, people, organizations, and even governments are steadfast in their use of this recognizable image, as well as the color yellow.
“Around her head, she wore a yellow ribbon… she wore it for a soldier who was far, far away…”
ACTION REQUIRED: 31 days of Yellow Ribbons to Corporal Jung JiHoon.
Obtain simple, inexpensive yellow ribbon from your nearest craft store or source. Tie 31 Yellow Ribbons and inscribe with your name and location (it took me about 15 minutes to do all of them). Mail 1 Yellow Ribbon ONLY each day directly to Rain himself at his current military address. Postage should not be any more than usual for an ordinary letter going to South Korea (ask your local postmaster). {*Edited to add per Terri: It costs $1.05 to send an International Airmail letter that weighs less than 1 ounce to South Korea. Here is a good reference site: http://www.nerdylorrin.net/jerry/postages/index.html :-} )
Corporal Jung Ji Hoon (Rain)
External Relations Team
Defense Agency for Public Information Services
Zip code: 140-833
Duteopbawi-ro 54-99, Youngsan-gu
Seoul, South Korea
Rain already understands the concept of the yellow ribbon from the U.S. military’s prospective, the proof of that being several of his closest friends wore the Yellow Ribbon For Rain on their Twitters in support of him when the Brigade first started. A literal rain shower of Yellow Ribbons is a definite message to him that his ongoing vilification by the Media and his countrymen has had no effect on your support, and that you will still be proudly waiting for him come July 10, 2013. The message will be so clear that words aren’t needed. When he picks one up, he’ll know where it came from and he’ll know that you’re with him.
Make it rain for a month on Rain.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION:
Mail 1 postcard from your area with a yellow ribbon drawn or printed on it, for 31 days. OR
Print your own homemade Yellow Ribbon postcard on card stock and mail 1 each day for 31 days.
(Some examples/ideas by Cloud USA Activities Director Dot.)
Thank you in advance for your support.
PLEASE send love and support to ALL of the men and women who are proudly serving in armed forces in every corner of the globe, protecting innocent civilians with their lives.
^@@^ :-}
[post] Rain & KCM’s Speeding Instinct’s latest broadcast announcement.
•January 4, 2013 • 2 Comments— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
The proper call, seeing as JiHoon can’t be there and there is no use in subjecting KCM to numerous questions by the listeners that should not be entertained or answered.
(Source credit: The Speeding Instinct sub-page on DEMA.mil.kr / cap by ratoka / English translation: 화니 @The Cloud Photo Board / Corrections by: {Stephe ^@@^})
“The show will be broadcast as a {pre-recording} for two days on Saturday and {Sunday} 5 -6 January 2013.”
[images] HIM Military Culture Mag showcases Corporal Rain’s 11/16 Consolatory Train stop…
•January 2, 2013 • 1 Comment— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
…for the Marines’ 2nd Infantry Division in a post today, 1/2/2013. You can see the actual article on the HIM Military Culture Magazine @tistory site HERE. Don’t forget to scroll all the way down and CLICK the little white and blue hand to “like” the page. Thanks!
(To see all the images at their full size, CLICK on one of the two top pictures ↑ and go into the post’s Gallery.)
[editorial] Business as usual: Rain under fire by the Media and his countrymen for going on a date.
•January 2, 2013 • 206 Comments— Written by: Stephe Thornton, Managing Editor
[Cloud USA — 1/2/2013] Following a series of paparazzi photos that were released in the Media, actress Kim Tae Hee’s agency has confirmed that she and South Korean mega-entertainer Rain (a.k.a. R.O.K. Army corporal Jung JiHoon) are in a budding relationship and slowly getting to know each other.
As we understand it, they have met date-wise, but are taking their time when it comes to their one month-long relationship.
Tae Hee’s agency went on to say, “The two are well-known celebrities, so they don′t have much time to see each other, and it is true that the places where they can sit down to have a talk are also limited. In such conditions, they have started to see each other in a new light, but we believe this is a time when it′s difficult for even them to say exactly how they feel…. We know that many are interested in them due to the reports and photos, but we have just told the story as it is.”
In the latter half of 2011, before Rain reported for military duty on October 11, he and Kim Tae Hee became the new brand ambassadors for massive social commerce firm Coupang (쿠팡), following in the footsteps of singer/actor Kim HyunJoong and actress Lee NaYoung. It is said that they have been friends since that time.
One of her representatives was quoted as saying, “The two kept in touch as all celebrities that have shot commercials together do, and started to really see each other a month ago. Rain hasn′t been able to talk with Kim Tae Hee since the reports were released because he′s in the military.”
The stories circulating in the news concerning specific cars and specific times and specific ways that the couple supposedly met, as far as we can see, are simply the Media speculating on a timetable with details that have not been confirmed as fact.
As we understand it, Rain’s agency has said that they knew nothing about the matter at the time that the stories broke. They have yet to make a second statement.
A subject that has been dredged up by “netizens” in response to this story are claims of supposed “excessive off-time” taken by Rain since his enlistment in the military. Those claims appear to be a load of baseless rubbish, according to this October 2012 article researched by KDrama Stars.com. Celebrity soldiers in 2010 and part of 2011 were under the gun for excessive leave, but since that time, special leave has been decreasing and at present, celebrity break times in 2012 are similar to that of ordinary soldiers. These findings are directly from a report that Kim Jin Pyo (김진표), a National Assembly Defense Committee member from the Department of Defense, submitted in October of this year.
In light of this, “netizens” continuously attempting to destroy Rain’s and other entertainment soldiers’ reputations doesn’t make sense.
Yet another subject that has come about because of this story are articles such as this one, and this one, this one, and this, and this, which are spreading all over the globe and s-t-r-e-t-c-hing the truth more and more each time they are passed on. Substantiating the facts listed directly above, a defense ministry spokesman insists that Rain has earned all of his holiday time in line with military rules, and that his unit is simply “looking into the matter” because of public clamor and nothing more. He is also quoted as saying, “We advise soldiers to wear proper military attire, including a beret, during a holiday, but a failure to do so is NOT a punishable crime.” Rain is not in trouble with the military. Yet reporters are irresponsibly releasing inflammatory “news” about “being out on the town while on duty”, “flouting the terms of his military service”, and “jail not being ruled out.”
Lucius nearly drawn and quartered in “The Metamorphoses of Apuleius.”
This is bad journalism at its best, reminiscent of the false reports three months ago that Rain would be “undergoing debilitating surgery” and “discharged because his military career was over.”
Thousands of R.O.K. soldiers have girlfriends and boyfriends, husbands and wives. Many of them visit their girlfriends and boyfriends on leave, or have begun dating someone while enlisted. Soldiers in many divisions get a Christmas holiday, not just the ones in entertainment. These soldiers are in the military protecting their fellow citizens. They are not criminals and convicts in a prison, so people being up in arms over someone dating for a month is ridiculous and cruel.
The way Rain himself is continuously drawn and quartered by his countrymen at every opportunity regardless of his exemplary military service, double duties, successes in bringing the world to South Korea’s door, and fighting various medical conditions, is heartbreaking to watch and impossible to understand.
Rain is scheduled to be discharged from the Army on July 10, 2013, a date that surely cannot come soon enough for him.
Kim Tae Hee’s new drama, Jang Ok-jung (Living By Love) is slated to hit the air this coming March. We wish her every success with her new project, and wish them both every happiness in their personal lives.
— Stephe @cloudusa.wordpress.com ^@@^ / CloudUSA.org
Sources: enews World (CJ E&M, Mnet) / KDramaStars.com / Yonhap News / Dramabeans / Coupang / Star News on Naver
[#11] From Stephe’s desk: My fantasy Rain playlist for the U.S. continued.
•January 2, 2013 • 4 Comments
Nope, still not done yet. No no no.
When I’m rolling in my custom Land Rover Hyundai and listening to my very favorite songs, these are the sounds from my playlist—whether he were to do an occasional cover or match the vibe—that I think would have Rain lighting up our airwaves like a Christmas tree. (JiHoon, are you listening?)
What’s on your fantasy Rain playlist, dear fans? Why?
» Numbers 48 through 53 on my fantasy Rain playlist are HERE.
— Stephe @CloudUSA.org ^@@^
°
#54. Heaven Must Be Like This – Ohio Players. Courtesy of DallasChitown and p4soul) This legendary song is perfect for your pipes. If D’Angelo can knock it out of the ball park, you sure can too. A 4-minute version like his would be epic, my dear Hoon.
#55. Didn’t I Blow Your Mind – The Delfonics. (Courtesy of MRTERRYBRETURNS and gorilliona) This would be awesome as a surprise during a concert. Get KCM to do that s-w-e-e-t falsetto in the background. You will blow our minds. Even New Kids on The Block had the b***s to hit that back in the day (the dang thing sold over a million copies, I hear), so hey, I know you do.
#56. Magic Man – Robert Winters and Fall. (Courtesy of Jack Frost) Magic Feet, Magic Stick… a Magic Man with Magic Hands touching your heart ain’t that far behind. 😉
#57. Harvest For The World – The Isley Brothers. (Courtesy of CrustyBrown and soundping) Put this in your key and grab your tambourine, JiHoon. 🙂 The Power Station did a great version of it, too.
#58. Truly, Madly, Deeply – Savage Garden. (courtesy of stevehero2003 and poperboy510) No explanation necessary, I reckon. And someone actually did a MASHUP of Truly, Madly, Deeply and Jay Chou’s Dan Ai (Simple Love). Do you see where I’m going with this, JiHoon? I knew that you would.
TO BE CONTINUED!
[clip][KFN] Rain’s 11/29 Consolatory Train performance…
•January 2, 2013 • 1 Comment…as televised by the Korean Forces Network today, January 2. ^@@^ [KFN TV]130102 Rain @ 위문열차 Consolatory Train _LOVE SONG & Hip Song 121129. (Source credit: Korean Forces Network / courtesy of ratoka @YT.)
Rain check: Fresh MENtholatum.
•January 2, 2013 • 4 Comments— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
(Source credit: The official Mentholatum China micro-blog @weibo)
Cloud USA wishes Corporal Rain and all of you an amazing New Year.
•January 1, 2013 • 6 Comments
°
[Fan made video] New Year’s Greetings for 2013 by lunaluna, courtesy of eye0rain.
New Year’s Greetings for 2010: Rain, Jang DongGun, and Shin MinAh for sponsor SK Telecom.
New Year’s Greetings for 2009: Rain and Jang DongGun for sponsor SK Telecom.
New Year’s Greetings for 2008: Rain for sponsor SK Telecom.
New Year’s Greetings for 2007: Rain and Lee NaYoung for sponsor SKT Nate.
[64/91 weeks done][song of the wk][calendar] 비 Yourself Open Thread for 1/1 – 1/7.
•January 1, 2013 • 15 Comments
(All decked out in Six To Five, ready to hit the stage and perform “Only You.”)
» Cloud USA Yellow Ribbon for Rain Calendar: DOWNLOAD it (for free).
» 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.)
°
An ecstatic New Year to our soldier boy! Have an awesome week, JiHoon. (ETA 1/5/13: Well, that was blown all to hell for him, wasn’t it? 
^@@^) And that goes for all CloudUSAers and Rain fans everywhere as well—peace to you and yours. Thanks for supporting JiHoon and being with us for another year!
R2B: Return to Base / Return To Base / Soar Into The Sun / Black Eagle has touched down on tarmacs in South Korea, the U.S.A. and Canada, and is on its way around the world. It has premiered in Vietnam, Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, at the London Korean Film Festival in England and Scotland, and in Indonesia, Taiwan, and Japan. There is no telling where else this bird is going to land, so everyone be on the lookout.
We’ve heard directly from CJ Entertainment about the upcoming R2B DVD for North America. As soon as they finish relaying the particulars, we’ll be able to bring all of the information to you, so everyone sit tight.
As of this moment, 6401 yellow ribbons for Rain have been added to Twitter and Facebook icons since the Brigade was started. Amazing! Thanks for supporting our favorite corporal during his military service and for letting him know you’ll be waiting when he gets home! » For a brief read about the meaning of the Yellow Ribbon, go to our previous post HERE.
For information on where to send handwritten cards and letters to
상병 (sangbyeong) Corporal Jung JiHoon/Rain, please see our previous post HERE (military). For cards, letters, and gifts, do see our post HERE (office admin).
» Rain’s official website. » RAINY Entertainment’s official Twitter.
» R2B: Return To Base official social media sites. » Rain’s official YouTube channel AND » Facebook page.
°
SONG OF THE WEEK: “Go Forward!”, the 2006 single digital release/collaboration between Rain and SBS (the Seoul Broadcasting System, one of the Big Three stations in South Korea), in support of the South Korean soccer team going to the World Cup. Go, Corea!
(video courtesy of silvertaz @YT.)
Rain is Eternal. Where clouds stay gathered, rain will always come. It is inevitable.
— Stephe ^@@^
Tweets abound: RAINY Entertainment wishes us all a prosperous New Year.
•December 31, 2012 • 3 Comments— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
(Source credit: RAINY Entertainment’s official Twitter, 12.31.2012 EST, 1.1.2013 KST / English translation by: 화니 @The Cloud Photo Board)
“Dear all those who love Rain..
A Happy New Year. I hope that you closed the year 2012 well, and will succeed in whatever you do in 2013.
I wish you to be rich~~”
Rain check: To sit on his throne only but a moment…
•December 31, 2012 • 3 Comments— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
Eare Sanko has no clue where this place is, nor do I. Our best guess is that it’s somewhere in Seoul. Oh, but to sit on Rain’s BEST throne for only a moment.
“You… you make me crayyy-zay…” Talk about some FUN. 🙂
(Images credited to TM as tagged. Courtesy of the Rain[eare] blog in Japan.)
Just for more fun, hahaha. (fan cam courtesy of hukurosan2963)
[fan art] Happy New Year, JiHoon Rain, from across your Rainiverse…
•December 31, 2012 • 6 Comments— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
(Artist NAO. Posted by raimy@The Cloud Photo Board)
(JJ @Cloud USA / JessMK on Facebook / Rainthetreasure)
(Pollyanna, Japan)
(Yuko @Rainstorm, Japan)
(MagiSaez on Twitter)
(ShiningForRain Chile on Twitter)
(RoseHoong @The Cloud Photo Board, Malaysia)
Tweets abound: A Cloudy Christmas for Rain and his soldier mates.
•December 31, 2012 • 3 Comments— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
Rain’s military radio show on Friends 96.7 FM, Speeding Instinct, tweeted about the Cloud Fan Club Christmas goodies that he and his mates got to enjoy. Thanks, Speeding! Rain also thanked The Cloud from the bottom of his heart on Saturday and Sunday’s radio shows. Very cool. 🙂
Hey, Hoonie, no sweat. Gotta take care of the Man!
(Source credit: The official Speeding Instinct Twitter, 12/29/2012)
[구름 8기 (8th Cloud) notice] A Cloudy Christmas for Rain and his troop mates.
•December 31, 2012 • 1 Comment
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
Attention, Blue 8th Clouds out there (Rain’s official Fan Community’s paid members)…
If you’re curious as to what our membership dues helped to purchase for our favorite corporal and his soldier mates at Christmas time, wonder no more. If you haven’t already been to the private paid members’ bulletin board over on The Cloud Fan Site, go now and see. Cloud Executive Gang SanYeong’s (강상연 ‘s) post is at the link below, in the 구름 가득한 방 (Private Cloud-filled Room).
Please scroll down her post for the English and Chinese translations by Hwani and Huhuhuhu. Don’t forget, you must be logged in. Thanks. 🙂
» ★★ Adieu 2012 통합 Event 후기 ★★(수정) (★★ Notes on how ‘Adieu 2012 Combined Event’ ran. ★★)
Cloudy Day: Fan art, inspired by Rain.
•December 30, 2012 • 4 Comments— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
(Fan art credit: JJ @Cloud USA / JessMK @Facebook / rainthetreasure)
[ETA Eng trans][audio clip] Rain and KCM’s 질주본능/Speeding Instinct military radio show. (12/30)
•December 30, 2012 • 31 Comments— Cloud Cover by Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
It’s time for another installment of Rain and KCM’s need for speed, pre-recorded. It got a little (okay, a LOT) thugged out when C-Luv came on the scene, heheh. 😉 When an English translation becomes available, we’ll post it here. Please enjoy it. 🙂
(Source credit: 96.7 Friends FM / DEMA / courtesy of ratoka @YT)
121230 Friends FM 비 KCM의 질주본능 The Desire To Speed_Rain & KCM DJ (NO MUSIC)
» For anyone who might like to read 화니’s translation of the show without my asides, CloudUnite has a copy of it here, on Twitter. Please enjoy it. » Also, the playlist of songs in the order they were played is HERE.
PLEASE be advised that some songs in the playlist were uncensored and uncut, and have language that may be offensive.
For those of you who have emailed and enjoy my asides and Rain history, let’s get started!
Rain & KCM’s Speeding Instinct military radio show (Friends FM 96.7) 12/30/2012
English Trans: 화니 @The Cloud Media Board
Additional tweaks and asides: {Stephe ^@@^}
~7:30
[Rain]&[KCM] : Rain&KCM’s “The Desire To Speed”!
[Rain] : There are times when what you need is some comforting rather than admonition.
[KCM] : This show will be a great consolation to those who live a lonely life during the year-end holidays.
[Rain]: Please don’t touch the channel.
[Rain] : There are only two days left in this year.
[KCM] : I think I’ve spent my days busy as a hen with one chicken over the past year. (laughs) My heart feels much lighter now.
[Rain] : I’m still up against a wall.
[KCM] : But, you look so relaxed. (laughs)
[Rain] : You are simply under an illusion. (laughs) Seoul’s Bosingak holds a bell-tolling ceremony every year. When I was a trainee before my debut as a singer, I participated in the ceremony from 1999 to 2001 to make a wish. I wished JYP would allow me to release my album during the ceremony. The years spent as a trainee was much worse than I had expected.
[KCM] : It’s understandable.
Continue reading ‘[ETA Eng trans]http://clip Rain and KCM’s 질주본능/Speeding Instinct military radio show. (12/30)’
[ETA Eng trans][audio clip] Rain and KCM’s 질주본능/Speeding Instinct military radio show. (12/29)
•December 29, 2012 • 11 Comments— Cloud Cover by Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
It’s time for another installment of Rain and KCM’s need for speed, LIVE! Roller Jung and Macchiato Kang back together again, pang pang, fang fang! LOL!! (They managed to say “fang fang” 25 times in the Quiz’s 3-minute intro. LMAO!) When an English translation becomes available, we’ll post it here. Please enjoy it. 🙂
(Source credit: 96.7 Friends FM / DEMA / courtesy of ratoka @YT)
121229 Friends FM 비 KCM의 질주본능 The Desire To Speed_Rain & KCM DJ (NO MUSIC)
» For anyone who might like to read 화니’s translation of the show without my asides, CloudUnite has a copy of it here, on Twitter. Please enjoy it. » Also, the playlist of songs in the order they were played is HERE. » If you would like to listen to the show without cuts and with music included, you can download it HERE: http://www.mediafire.com/?19oo846mitc5t9p
For those of you who have emailed and enjoy my asides and Rain history, let’s get started!
Rain & KCM’s Speeding Instinct military radio show (Friends FM 96.7) 12/29/2012
English Trans: 화니 @The Cloud Media Board
Additional tweaks and asides: {Stephe ^@@^}
~4:15
[Rain] : Rain&KCM’s “The Desire To Speed”!
[Rain] : It’s not a good idea to spend so much time on trifles. You need someone who can keep you from dissipating your time and energy on too many different things. We’ll be that one you need.
——————————————————-
[Rain] : You can send your stories and song request to us through SMS #0967 or its Twitter (https://mobile.twitter.com/speeding967) or its message board
(http://www.dema.mil.kr/web/home/speeding?skin_type=S&menu_seq=2086&mod_id=board_2093&pseq=0) or (http://www.dema.mil.kr/web/home/speeding?skin_type=S&menu_seq=2141&mod_id=board_2098&pseq=0)
[KCM] : Particularly, foreign fans can send their stories and song request to us by email : speedingradio@hanmail.net
————————————————————-
3:24~58
[Rain] : Well, I have something to tell you. I’ve got many gifts and delicious snacks and food from my official fan club ‘Cloud’ today. My solder mates including me have had more than enough, and I’ve saved face, thanks to you. Thank you so much, and I love you. {As an official 8th Blue Cloud in your official fan club, you’re very welcome. Our pleasure! – S. ^@@^}
[KCM] : Thank you very much.
————————————————————-
4:16~20:17
-Quiz Pang Pang-
[Rain] : This segment is for those who were lonely on Christmas day.
[KCM] : How did you spend your Christmas?
Continue reading ‘[ETA Eng trans]http://clip Rain and KCM’s 질주본능/Speeding Instinct military radio show. (12/29)’
[info] Overseas fans: You can leave a holiday greeting for Corporal Rain under his DEMA New Year’s message.
•December 29, 2012 • 48 Comments— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
{*Edited to Add #2: We would suggest you not check the “secret comment” box. As I said before, people you don’t know are moderating all the comments. And nothing is secret within the military, if you get my drift. 😉 But of course, that’s up to you. ^@@^}
{*Edited to Add: For instructions in Spanish on how to leave a holiday greeting, » go to RAIN’s Little Cloud’s blog HERE. ^@@^}
Go ahead and give JiHoon a rousing “Happy New Year!” And while you’re at it, give his partner in the Speeding Instinct DJ booth some holiday love as well. I’m sure they’ll both really appreciate it. 🙂
Here’s how you do it. (A huge thank you to Cloud sister Inda for the tip and for the screen shots.)
» Go to Corporal Jung JiHoon/Rain’s New Year’s message page on the DEMA Harmony blog HERE.
» SCROLL DOWN to where you see the number of comments that have already posted, IN RED. Click on that number.
» After a few seconds, all the posted comments will appear. Continue to SCROLL all the way DOWN until you come to the blank comment box at the end of the comments.
» Put in your NAME. You can put a WEBSITE in if you wish. Put in a PASSWORD (simply make up a number that is more than one digit).
» Start your comment off IN KOREAN. As we understand it, the page will not accept your comment if it is all in English. If you start it in Korean and have the rest of it in English, it should go through just fine, as far as we know. Simply go to Google Translate or the translator of your choice, decide what you’d like to say (새해 복 많이 받으세요, which means “Best wishes for a Happy New Year”, is always a good start), and then go from there. There are military personnel moderating the comments, so our advice to you is to make your message holiday-themed, cheerful, and short and to the point. Don’t give them a reason to delete you.
» After you click the CONFIRM button to submit your comment, you may see this: 관리자의 승인을기다리고있는댓글입니다. Which means: “Your comment is awaiting approval of the Administrator.” ^@@^
All done!
Please show Kang ChangMo some love this holiday season, too. He’s really worked hard along with Rain to make Speeding Instinct an enjoyable show for listeners. KCM’s New Year’s message page on the DEMA Harmony blog is HERE.
Thanks, all! 🙂
— Stephe @cloudusa.wordpress.com
(For the translation of Rain’s message, please CLICK his image below and go to our previous post.)
[fan made] Props in our lives…
•December 28, 2012 • 1 Comment— ^@@^ Rain-Props in my life (Credit and edit: okapi1960625 @YT.)
[fan made] Rain in black and white… Silent night…
•December 28, 2012 • Leave a Comment— ^@@^ Rain ~[MV]~Black White ~Christmas Eve~Silent Night~ (Credit and edit: BiRain625 @YT.)
[ETA full Eng trans][fan cam][images] Rain at the Love of Country Joint Winter Concert. (12/27)
•December 28, 2012 • 6 Comments— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
(Fan cam source credit: bital @pandora / courtesy of ratoka @YT.)
(Full English translation: 화니 @The Cloud Media Board)
0:37
Let me salute you. Victory!
0:43
Hello, everyone. This is corporal ‘Jung Ji Hoon’ belonging to Defense Media Agency.
0:47~53
Thank you for inviting me.
0:55
Many fans are seen sitting here and there. (Wowwwww!!!)
1:10
Are you middle-school girls? (Yeah!!)
1:17~18
2nd grade at girl’s high school? (Yeah!) 1st grade? (Yeah!)
1:24~27
You seem like adults soon. (looking at girls) (laughs)
1:31
I’m just joking. (laughs)
1:32~43
Our lovely high school seniorsl..Is the examination over? (Yeah!) High school sophomores, you are following your seniors, right? (Yeah!)
1:45~49
Are there any middle school students over there? (Yeah!) Nice to meet you.
1:52~2:12
I can see mothers here. Mothers, scream! (Wowww!!) High school students! (Wowww!!) Middle school students! (Wowww!!)
2:19~29
(Solders complaint to Rain)
I know. Soldiers! (Wowww!!) You’re just untouchable! (laughs)
2:31
Well, high school seniors! (Wowww!!)
2:44~57
Anyway, I want to thank you so much for coming in today, and it’s an honor to be invited to such a meaningful event. And thank you my fans for coming like this.
3:02~4:11
And, I know the commander and the directors are here. (Then, soldiers tell Rain something loudly) Pardon me? (laughs) I can’t hear you. (laughs) I’d like to thank the commander and the directors for arranging this wonderful occasion today. Please give them a big hand. (clapping and cheering)
4:14~41
Thank you once again. The New Year is drawing near. I hope you to close the year 2012 well and to stay healthy, and Happy New Year!
Let me sing my next song.
END TRANSLATION
(Images source credit: okkyong3462 / DC)
[article] Bulletin Entertainment’s Top 10 Korean Entertainment Stories.
•December 28, 2012 • 2 Comments— ^@@^
Super Junior’s Leeteuk, a new private.
Manila Bulletin 12/26/2012 — by Jonathan M. Hicap
Bulletin Entertainment’s Top 10 Korean Entertainment Stories
[EXCERPT]
10. Super Junior’s Leeteuk and other stars enlist in the military – Fans became sad when Super Junior leader Leeteuk enlisted in the Korean military last Oct. 30 as part of his mandatory service as a citizen. Hundreds of fans went to Gyeonggi province to see Leeteuk for the last time. He already finished his five weeks of basic military training and will be on active duty. Other Korean stars who enlisted in the military in 2012 were SS501’s Kim Kyu Jong, TRAX’s Jay and Jung Mo, Mighty Mouth’s Sangchu, Lee Jae Hoon, Ryu Sang Wook and Kim Moo Yul. Stars who were discharged from the military in 2012 included Kangin, Hyun Bin, Lee Jun-ki and Kang Dong-won.
Our wish in 2013: Fans to continue supporting their idols. Super Junior’s Heechul and Korean pop star Rain will be discharged from the military next year.
» You can see Numbers 1 through 9 and Jonathan’s article in its entirety on the mb.com news site HERE. ^@@^
Corporal Jung JiHoon/Rain.
[fan made] Instead of Saying Goodbye… the Blue Winter Remix.
•December 27, 2012 • 1 Comment— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
It’s absolutely perfect for Christmas time, don’t you think? 🙂
Xmasにききたい歌 RAIN- Blue Winter Remix. (Credit and edit: hukurosan2963 @YT.)
[clip][KFN] Rain’s 11/27 Consolatory Train performance…
•December 27, 2012 • Leave a Comment— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
…as televised by the Korean Forces Network yesterday.
[KFN TV]121226 Rain @ 위문열차 Consolatory Train _Hip Song (121127). Source credit: Korean Forces Network / courtesy of ratoka.
Tweets abound: What’s happening on Speeding Instinct this weekend.
•December 27, 2012 • 5 Comments— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
{*Edited to Add: The hanmail email address is for all fans, foreign and domestic. ^@@^}
(Source tweet: The official Speeding Instinct on DEMA Twitter, 12.26.2012 / English translation: 화니 @The Cloud Photo Board)
“Those who anonymously want to send your stories or those who want to send your comments by email, can send them to us by email “speedingradio@hanmail.net”
“Dec 29th show and Dec 30th shows will be broadcast live and {pre-recorded ^@@^}, respectively. This week’s comment subject is ‘The most cruel remark that cut you deeply this year.’ Please post many of your funny writings on its bulletin board right away or send them by email.”
[fan account] “His gorgeous figure seemed to be God’s gift.”
•December 27, 2012 • 19 Comments— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
I don’t even have to tell y’all which part of this account in particular made me grin and clap and holler, “Yep, yep, yep! He sure does!” You will know it when you read it. Hahaaaaa. 🙂
°
[fan account] Accidentally seeing Rain at Queens Park in Cheongdam-dong, 12/23/2012
By: 비비비 @DC Inside, 12/24/2012
English translation: 화니 @The Cloud Rain News Board
Image courtesy of DC Inside
– 비비비’s notes on how she accidentally saw him live and in person in a restaurant called Queen*Park in Seoul’s Cheongdam-dong. –
(He was on leave.)
“When I went to Queen*Park to enjoy brunch, a muscular man (whose figure is in good Western style shape) sitting at a table next to me struck my eyes. I found out it was Rain. His gorgeous figure seemed to be God’s gift. I think all men including my boyfriend in the restaurant were so overwhelmed by his looks. kekeke.
Seeing him using Galaxy 2 brand’s Smart phone, I felt drawn to his simplicity.
His ‘Kakao Talk’ alarm was set up so he was able to hear the phone ring for the text messages. (The sound of the bell was a baby voice, so I thought it was really cute and so I changed my bell sound to the same one as his~~!!)
He was loudly chatting away, nineteen to the {dozen ^@@^}, not minding other people…kekeke. I listened carefully to what he was saying as if I pretended not to listen. He braced himself, saying as, “There are too many broadcasts where I should appear, but I’ll try harder from now on.” While he was talking, he was looking grave unlike how he had been on the air….kekeke.
Unlike baseball players whose hips are only too big or who only have pudgy thighs, Rain has a firm body and is perfectly proportioned like a black man who has an ideal figure..
Rain was with a man who was wearing a Canadian-made Goose jacket, but the man was neither fish nor fowl….keke
It happened around noon yesterday (Dec 23). I cannot conceive what Rain must be like to work harder than he does now.
The restaurant is expensive, but the food is very wonderful, and he seems to go to the restaurant much. Who is the man who was wearing the Canadian-made Goose jacket???”
[ETA KCM][post] Corporal Jung JiHoon/Rain’s New Year’s greeting to all.
•December 27, 2012 • 3 Comments— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
(Source credit: The ROK military Harmony/DEMAclub blog, 12.26.2012 / English translation: 화니 @The Cloud Rain News Board / » Visit the actual blog page HERE, scroll down, and click the white and blue hand to “like” the page. Thanks! ^@@^)
“I hope you’re closing the year 2012 well, and Happy New Year!”
°
Edited to Add: Rain’s other half on Speeding Instinct… Corporal KCM. 🙂
Tweets abound: RAINY hopes we’re all happy. :)
•December 27, 2012 • 4 Comments— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
(Image credit and Tweet source: RAINY Entertainment @Twitter, 12.25.2012 / English translation: 화니 @The Cloud Notice/Rain News Board)
“I hope all those who love Rain are happy. Merry Christmas!!”
Tweets abound: Rain and fellow soldiers to give New Year’s greetings.
•December 27, 2012 • Leave a Comment— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
(Tweet source: The official ROK military Harmony DEMAclub blog @ Twitter, 12.24.2012 / English translation: 화니 @The Cloud Notice Board)
“PR soldiers, one by one, are giving greetings for the New Year on demaclub’s blog, that was temporarily interrupted over last week, and it will be followed by ‘Jung Ji Hoon’ tomorrow.”
[Cloud USA video] Silver Bells! We wish you a Merry Christmas!
•December 25, 2012 • 9 Comments^@@^ (Credit and edit: JJ @Cloud USA / CloudUSAChannel @YT) Have a happy, jolly holiday, dear Rain fans. Thanks for being with us and supporting JiHoon for another wonderful year! LOVE you all! ♥
[63/91 weeks done][song of the wk][calendar] 비 Yourself Open Thread for 12/25 – 12/31.
•December 25, 2012 • 22 Comments
» Cloud USA Yellow Ribbon for Rain Calendar: DOWNLOAD it (for free).
» 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.)
°
Merry Christmas to our favorite corporal! Have an awesome week, JiHoon. And that goes for all CloudUSAers and Rain fans everywhere as well—peace to you and yours. Thanks for supporting JiHoon and being with us for another year!
R2B: Return to Base / Return To Base / Soar Into The Sun / Black Eagle has touched down on tarmacs in South Korea, the U.S.A. and Canada, and is on its way around the world. It has premiered in Vietnam, Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, at the London Korean Film Festival in England and Scotland, and in Indonesia, Taiwan, and Japan. There is no telling where else this bird is going to land, so everyone be on the lookout.
We’ve heard directly from CJ Entertainment about the upcoming R2B DVD for North America. As soon as they finish relaying the particulars, we’ll be able to bring all of the information to you, so everyone sit tight.
As of this moment, 6371 yellow ribbons for Rain have been added to Twitter and Facebook icons since the Brigade was started. Amazing! Thanks for supporting our favorite corporal during his military service and for letting him know you’ll be waiting when he gets home! » For a brief read about the meaning of the Yellow Ribbon, go to our previous post HERE.
For information on where to send handwritten cards and letters to
상병 (sangbyeong) Corporal Jung JiHoon/Rain, please see our previous post HERE (military). For cards, letters, and gifts, do see our post HERE (office admin).
» Rain’s official website. » RAINY Entertainment’s official Twitter.
» R2B: Return To Base official social media sites. » Rain’s official YouTube channel AND » Facebook page.
°
SONG OF THE WEEK: “Memory in My Hand / Shou Ji / 手記”, Rain’s 2006 collaboration with Pantech China to market their latest cellular phone series. After all, when it came to making a phone popular, Rain was a shoe-in. And having someone’s images and information in your phone is literally having their memory in your hand.
(video and making of courtesy of fye667 and ASHANTER @YT.)
Rain is Eternal. Where clouds stay gathered, rain will always come. It is inevitable.
— Stephe ^@@^
Cloud USA 
[opinion] From Stephe’s desk: Rain has been the object of a “witch-hunt” worthy of Salem.
•January 5, 2013 • 83 CommentsThe term “witch-hunt” has been used since the 1930s as a metaphor to describe the persecution and/or destruction of a person or group of people by mob mentality, particularly when the person or persons are condemned for either no true crime or minor infractions. So, as you can see, this is the best term in the dictionary to describe what has happened to R.O.K. Army Corporal Jung JiHoon (a.k.a Rain) since the first of the new year.
The many irresponsibly written and just plain bad articles that have been spread across the Internet concerning this young soldier/career entertainer have, as we understand it, inflamed South Korea’s “netizen” community to leave a petition of over 3,000 messages on the Republic of Korea’s military website, calling for everything from Rain’s head on a platter to prison to an entire repeat term of his mandatory service. And why is that, you ask? Was he caught smuggling South Korean secrets to the North? Running a black market for military weapons underground? Committing fraud by living at home for 15-months and not serving any of his time?
Nope.
After 5 months living in the dirt with the Infantry and 10 months of toiling away in entertainment while keeping up with his everyday basic duties, Rain is alleged to have grabbed three rides back to base with Kim Tae Hee and had his hat off once.
*crickets*
Yeah, that’s pretty hardcore.
Some discipline from his superiors that fits the infraction(s), I can see. “Netizens” hunting Rain down with torches and pitchforks as if the entire infrastructure of the country has been compromised is utter nonsense that makes South Korea look really bad.
Sorry, WSJ. Try again. The question has already been answered quite firmly by Rain’s superiors—he has not taken more off-days than allotted to him, and all of his records to that effect are in order. They have not changed that stance, yet the Media just keeps it going.
AND THE HAT IS NOT A PUNISHABLE OFFENSE.
Okay, I’m shocked. That was actually a decent article. Whodathunk.
This begs the question—how the heck are uniformed soldiers supposed to get back to post after doing off-post duties? Shouldn’t they already have Army transportation with them, seeing as they are technically working? There are only two ways to get back to post—military transportation or civilian transportation. And if the civilian way isn’t allowed… Hello? Rain and everyone else in entertainment should ALREADY be accompanied by an officer and brought back Army style, but let’s make a big deal about changing it now after folks have been doing it for a gazillion years before Rain even enlisted. Why wasn’t Rain escorted if he was on duty? And if he was off duty, why is there a problem and charges pending?
Hahaha. 94 days, huh? Or did someone else say 71? And did someone else say 62? Either way, none of those amounts hold a candle to what BOOM and his pals were doing in 2010. 150 days, 130 days, 119 days (which makes this statement: “Rain has raised eyebrows by taking 94 days off base, or one-fifth of his 450 days of service so far, more than twice the number of average holidays enjoyed by other troops from 2009 to 2012” a straight up lie.) Where were the “netizens” and the rules back then? At Starbucks ordering a caramel macchiato latte? And why hasn’t anyone picked up on the fact that there are some soldiers serving right now who have used even more days than Rain has? Hmm?
Don’t get it twisted—I admire and support Hyun Bin wholeheartedly, and I am beyond relieved that he is finally out of there. I really worried about him. But let’s get real. You don’t know what all may be sealed up in his file that the Media hasn’t dug out. You don’t. Hopefully, nothing. I pray that he is free and clear. And by the way, I see little difference in Rain becoming an Ultra Warrior in the hardest Infantry camp, at the DMZ, for five months and then going to Army DEMA (entertainment), and Hyun Bin becoming an Ultra Warrior in a front line Marine unit and then going to serve in the ROK Marine Corps PR Division. We should be proud of them both. And last I checked, it isn’t shameful to use the off-days that an employer gives you, if you want to. Don’t y’all do that on your jobs?
The big picture:
There is something wrong with all entertainment soldiers, not just Rain, being held in such contempt by the public when it is clear that the public doesn’t even know what these young men go through in their jobs.
One last thing, for the moment:
Before Rain was caught without his beret, it wasn’t a punishable offense… but now it is? How does that work?
Exactly when soldiers are required to wear their berets really needs to be nailed down. We’ve heard everything from off-duty in public… to whenever they’re in public… to whenever they’re outside and in public… to whenever they’re off-post… To “Rain will be punished because head coverings are required to be worn outside when you are in uniform at all times”…
…and something’s not jiving.
— Stephe ^@@^
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Tags: Bi Rain articles, bi rain military service, Bi Rain News, Cloud commentary, Cloud USA, Jung Ji Hoon, opinion, rain bi, Rain Korea troubles, Soldier JiHoon Jung Rain