Pop star Rain joins the South Korean army
- 13 years ago
More than 1,000 fans came to bid a tearful farewell to South Korean star Rain as he headed off to the army.
Before entering a military camp to start his mandatory two-year military service, Rain addressed the crowd.
SOUNDBITE: Rain, actor and singer, saying (Korean):
"Thank you for coming. And thank you for loving me so much for the last decade. Good bye and I'll be back."
One Japanese fan said she wasn't going to let her broken leg stop her from seeing Rain off.
SOUNDBITE: Iwata Youko, Japanese fan, saying (Japanese):
"I've got my leg broken, but I couldn't stay at home in Japan. I really wanted to see Rain."
Rain first hit the scene in 2002 with the album "Bad Guys" and the following year made his acting debut in "Sang doo! Let's Go to School".
The 29-year-old has appeared in American films "Speed Racer" and "Ninja Assassin."
Rain postponed his military service for a few years -- but not long enough for this Chinese fan.
SOUNDBITE: Lai Yunru, Chinese fan, saying (Mandarin):
"I am not willing to let you go, I can't bear to let you go. I hope you can return quickly. We will all be waiting for you."
Another fan from Japan found it hard to say goodbye.
SOUNDBITE: Sachiko, Japanese fan, saying (Japanese):
"We want to make sure we see him off properly. We hope him well. We will be waiting for him. I will be waiting for him."
Alicia Powell, Reuters.
Before entering a military camp to start his mandatory two-year military service, Rain addressed the crowd.
SOUNDBITE: Rain, actor and singer, saying (Korean):
"Thank you for coming. And thank you for loving me so much for the last decade. Good bye and I'll be back."
One Japanese fan said she wasn't going to let her broken leg stop her from seeing Rain off.
SOUNDBITE: Iwata Youko, Japanese fan, saying (Japanese):
"I've got my leg broken, but I couldn't stay at home in Japan. I really wanted to see Rain."
Rain first hit the scene in 2002 with the album "Bad Guys" and the following year made his acting debut in "Sang doo! Let's Go to School".
The 29-year-old has appeared in American films "Speed Racer" and "Ninja Assassin."
Rain postponed his military service for a few years -- but not long enough for this Chinese fan.
SOUNDBITE: Lai Yunru, Chinese fan, saying (Mandarin):
"I am not willing to let you go, I can't bear to let you go. I hope you can return quickly. We will all be waiting for you."
Another fan from Japan found it hard to say goodbye.
SOUNDBITE: Sachiko, Japanese fan, saying (Japanese):
"We want to make sure we see him off properly. We hope him well. We will be waiting for him. I will be waiting for him."
Alicia Powell, Reuters.