Jung Ji-Hoon: Biography, Career, and Filmography
Jung Ji-Hoon (Korean: 정지훈), globally recognized by his stage name Rain (and in Korea as Bi, meaning rain), is a prominent South Korean singer, songwriter, dancer, and actor. Born on June 25, 1982, in Seoul, South Korea, he has built a multifaceted entertainment career spanning Korean pop music, television dramas, and international feature films.
Names and International Monikers
Because the word for precipitation varies across linguistic regions, Jung performs under distinct regional names. In Western markets, he is known as Rain. In South Korea, he uses the stage name Bi (비), pronounced similarly to the English letter B. In Japan, he has been known by the phonetic katakana designation Pi (ピ), and in certain regions of China, he has been referred to as Yu (雨), which translates to rain.
Military Service
In accordance with South Korean conscription laws, Jung Ji-Hoon enlisted for his mandatory military service on October 11, 2011, fulfilling a 21-month service commitment.
Personal Life
Jung married South Korean actress Kim Tae-Hee on January 19, 2017, following a public announcement made by the couple.
Acting Career
Jung has maintained an active acting career across both television and cinema. His major film appearances include I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK (2006) directed by Park Chan-wook, the Wachowskis' Speed Racer (2008), the Hollywood action film Ninja Assassin (2009), R2B: Return to Base (2012), The Prince (2014), and Race to Freedom: Um Bok Dong (2019).
His television drama credits include notable roles in series such as Sangdoo, Let's Go to School! (2003), Full House (2004), A Love to Kill (2005), The Fugitive: Plan B (2010), My Lovely Girl (2014), Come Back Mister (2016), Sketch (2018), Welcome 2 Life (2019), Ghost Doctor (2022), Red Swan (2024), and Bloodhounds 2 (2026).
Discography
As a recording artist, Rain released several prominent albums during the 2000s, establishing his presence in the K-pop industry:
- Bad Guy (2002)
- How To Avoid The Sun (2003)
- It's Raining (2005)
- Rain's World (2006)
- Rainism (2008)