Rain (entertainer)
A South Korean performer who stormed Asia's pop culture landscape with electrifying dance moves and cinematic charisma.
Born 1982 (age 44)·South Korean singer and actor·Birthday: June 25·Millennials
Biography
Jung Ji-hoon, known universally as Rain, engineered a new template for the Asian pop idol in the 2000s. He emerged not just as a singer but as a total package—a fierce dancer, a compelling actor, and a shrewd producer. His 2004 album 'It's Raining' was a seismic event, selling over a million copies across Asia and propelling him to pan-regional fame. Rain then masterfully crossed into acting, starring in hit Korean dramas like 'Full House' and later making a notable, if challenging, foray into Hollywood. His meticulously choreographed concerts, often featuring complex water stages, set a new bar for live performance in K-pop. More than just a star, Rain built a business empire, founding his own entertainment company and cementing his legacy as one of Korea's first truly global entertainment figures.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Rain was born in 1982, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Rain Was Born
The biggest hits of 1982
#1 Movie
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Best Picture
Gandhi
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Rain's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1982Born
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1987Started school
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1995Became a teenager
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Could drive
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2000Could vote
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Turned 21
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2012Turned 30
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 40
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 44 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- His 2004 album 'It's Raining' sold over one million copies across Asia, defining a generation of K-pop.
- Starred in the massively popular Korean drama 'Full House', which aired across numerous Asian countries.
- Was named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2006 and 2011.
- Headlined sold-out concerts at major venues like Madison Square Garden and the Tokyo Dome.
Did You Know?
He served his mandatory South Korean military service as an entertainment soldier, performing for troops.
He founded his own talent agency and management company, R.A.I.N. Company.
He was the first Korean artist to hold a solo concert at the Tokyo Dome.
“"No pain, no gain. No rain, no rainbow."”
