Rain receives Korea Image Stepping Stone Award

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That was a mouthful! The now emanciated Rain received the Korea Image Stepping Stone (KISS) Award for promoting Korea through his music (and sexy dance moves). The 2008 CICI Awards is organized by the Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI).

Congratulations. We know at least 2 foreigners who became fans of the singer because of his moves. And now they have also become fans of our culture.

Rain is gearing up for this next leading role in the Hollywood movie, Ninja Assassin.

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Pop in:
Rain finds another way to be the voice of the Beijing Olympics
Who pops the floppy hair and glasses best?
Park Jun-hyung stars in a movie
Rain throws a punch and no one cares
Rain wins CineAsia Award for star of the year

93 Responses to “Rain receives Korea Image Stepping Stone Award”


  1. 1 mIcHeLlE-LuVz-KaNgIn February 20, 2008 at 1:04 pm

    OMG!!!!!!! Rain looks so skinny than he was in Full House.

  2. 2 kk89 February 20, 2008 at 1:30 pm

    yeah rain seemed to have lost some weight….

  3. 3 fraulein February 20, 2008 at 1:39 pm

    Like Yeli, he got me started on all things korean too – dramas, music, tv progs, movies, food and culture.
    Heck cosmetics even.

    To me, he deserves the award.

    I wldnt mind a holiday in Seoul, anyone from KTO heard me ? LOL

  4. 4 calla February 20, 2008 at 3:12 pm

    @ MAY February 20, 2008 6:06 a.m.:

    I second your comment. Why, oh, why, would he be gorgeous one moment and hideous the next? Dang, I’m beginning to really appreciate his talent (but I’m for looks, too, so I’m disappointed :( )

    @ Dumpling February 20, 2008 10:09 a.m.

    You always make me laugh and this is just one of them!! I was rolling!!

    Anyway, his pajama-like pants doesn’t compliment. Repulsive, if I may add!

  5. 5 u_chill February 20, 2008 at 3:14 pm

    I think there’s a problem with the crotch of his pants?
    I dunno really but, it looks awkward.

  6. 6 confused February 20, 2008 at 3:35 pm

    that’s cool. man rain always gets outstanding awards. he’s got one hell of a resume if you ask me. :)

    but damn! what the hell is up with the mj look? hey penguin_x3, I’ll narrow it down for you. It’s not just the hat. I think it’s how fair skinned he is and how his hair is set up.

    I kinda miss how toned and meaty he was in Full House and A Love To Kill. Personally I think he was at his FINEST in those two dramas.

    anyway, on with “Speed Racer” and “Ninja Assassin”

  7. 7 Mary February 20, 2008 at 4:29 pm

    Congratulation’s Rain, You’ve made it again and you deserved the title anywayz..
    The fact that your movies or mini-series are the ways to like your culture and be interested all about your country “KOREA”.
    I might say you are other Michael Jackson creation but you’re in different version..
    Eat more to bring your muscle and musky body that lots of ladies loved it..hahahha
    Bravura Rain ! wish all the best and waits for more awards to come….

  8. 8 anonymous February 20, 2008 at 5:14 pm

    ….why is he wearing pajama pants ?

  9. 9 kprocks89 February 20, 2008 at 5:34 pm

    weird hairdo. ==;; bi needs to eat.

  10. 10 Dumpling February 20, 2008 at 7:35 pm

    He DOES have a Michael Jackson vibe going on here and he does that a lot. He constantly emulates this weirdo PEDOPHILE and then his fans (and himself) wonder why so many people don’t respect him, and why his plans to take over America went off like a fart.

    P.S.

    Thanks, Calla. Some people take him soooooo seriously. WTF?! It’s bizarre.

  11. 11 tony February 20, 2008 at 8:22 pm

    if i want to make trip to korea then it’s only because of rain . rain got me interested in the korean culture and food etc , so he deserved the award . he looks adorable and
    i’m respect him .

  12. 12 taebin February 20, 2008 at 8:31 pm

    Even if this composition of clothes is “in ” in Hollywood mode, it looks ridiculous!

  13. 13 choo February 20, 2008 at 8:32 pm

    ^ Shut up.

    Look who’s talking. You’re the one who’s taking him soooooo seriously with all your comments regarding his taking over America blah blah. WAsting all your oh-so-precious time to Rain when you’re saying that he’s not worth it.

    Whatever people say, MICHAEL JACKSON is still one hell of an entertainer. Many people still listen to his music and loves it. SOmetimes people just have to know how to separate the artist’s personal life to his job. Geez!

    And just because his wearing a hat, he has that Michael JAckson thing going on. IS MJ the only one who wore a hat. ANd that a BURI hat, FYI.

  14. 14 choo February 20, 2008 at 8:35 pm

    So, why was Rain given this award and not (insert name)?

    Ask those who gave the award. Or maybe they only gave it to one artist every year. Haha. Just wait for your favorite actors in the coming years. Hahaha.

  15. 15 Kitsune February 20, 2008 at 9:16 pm

    Great for him!
    Congratz RAIN!!

  16. 16 Dumpling February 20, 2008 at 9:40 pm

    “Whatever people say, MICHAEL JACKSON is still one hell of an entertainer.”

    No, he’s not. He hasn’t had a record in years or completed any projects because no one wants to deal with him in the business. And the public doesn’t want to look at his crazy f*cking face. He’s a pedophile and THAT alone turns people off.

  17. 17 Dumpling February 20, 2008 at 9:41 pm

    P.S.

    Do you know how crazy YOU sound? “He might be a child molester but that’s okay because he made some music I like.” You sound CRAZY.

  18. 18 Faa February 20, 2008 at 9:43 pm

    I believe you mean *emaciated.

  19. 19 rianti February 20, 2008 at 9:55 pm

    ohh dumpling..stop talking about MJ….!! go hate him and make blog abt him.
    this is Rain’s entry..
    people are jealous…. cause you wish and expecting him to fall and failed. but he is not. he still comin, still in news, still got the spotlight, still talk-able..

  20. 20 monalisa February 20, 2008 at 10:00 pm

    I prefer his build in Full-House. He’s just too skinny now.

  21. 21 LiZa February 20, 2008 at 11:01 pm

    hmmm. does popseoul have new writers ?? surprising that the articles are not so scathy anymore. which is good IMO :)

  22. 22 LiZa February 20, 2008 at 11:03 pm

    i meant scathing not scathy :P

  23. 23 lim33853 February 21, 2008 at 12:50 am

    so rain is the new ninja assassin???

    i know his engrish is terrible. i guess he cant read a english movie script either.

    yo bisexual-the script reads “kill him” not “kiss him”

    put the lipstick down and start acting like a man

    poll-

    who is worse for the koran male stereotype

    william hung or bisexul

  24. 25 yetaz February 21, 2008 at 6:18 am

    2nd last image = man version of han ji hye.

  25. 26 noodles February 21, 2008 at 8:17 am

    @ ALL Jealous Haters

    If you think Rain does not deserve the award, who does?

    Rain was elected as one of the Time’s 100 most influencial people in 2006. Got the most votes in 2007 where the majority of people who commented on why they voted for him were living outside Korea/foreigners.

    It is undeniable that many people who appreciate Rain have a good impression about the country and its people, and would want to know more about its culture.

    I found that Asian culture on the whole has a weak point although things are changing. That is the majority of Asians are very stingy (thrifty)when it comes to praising others. People, like you haters, like talking down people who are successful in order to push themselves up so to make themselves look less useless.

    When was the last time you did something that made your parents proud?! Let alone your country! When was the last time you did something to improve the image of your (native) country? I bet such idea has never ever crossed your mind.

    If the award should go to one person this year, who is most deserving if not Rain?! You?

  26. 27 kylie February 21, 2008 at 2:19 pm

    He should seriously consider getting his ears pinned back…They stick out too much, and I notice it more and more each time >_<. I remember Lee JunKi got his ears pinned back and he looks like 10 times hotter now! ^_^

    And his outfit hurts too much for me to talk about it…

  27. 28 confused February 21, 2008 at 3:19 pm

    I think it’s the pants that doesn’t match the rest of his ensemble. perhaps if he went with solid white pants?

    and maybe if he could take some time and go under the sun for a couple of hours, and while he’s at it…get some food. >.<

  28. 29 DietCoke February 21, 2008 at 3:36 pm

    whoa
    despite the obvious hint of manorexia, bi still looks great!

  29. 30 han February 21, 2008 at 4:20 pm

    i hate his style. It’s gay

  30. 31 pootcha February 21, 2008 at 5:11 pm

    I wonder if he thought of being a role model and ambassador of Korean culture when he was starting out or it just happened because he made a name for himself?

    Truly, one can argue that he has touched countless lives in South Korea and perhaps the rest of Asia through his music, dance moves, and acting career. This is supported by the fact that thousands of people voted for him online as one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People for two consecutive years (2006 and 2007). A good point to raise but I stand and beg to disagree because of the simple fact that it was done through online voting and not by deliberations of intellectuals, scholars, writers, and editors of the magazine who knew better.

    You are indeed big time if you make on Time. But to say that he represents Korea and Korean culture is a little far fetched. If history is to judge, popularity does not necessarily equate influence. Adolf Hitler was once Time Magazine Person of the Year. In his quest to achieve a perfect race, he did terrible and unimaginable things that made him virtually unpopular until today. But, nobody can deny the fact that he was influential.

    Most likely, people are asking what Rain had to do with Hitler if they did not win the same honor or they are in totally different category. The point is that to represent one’s culture it requires a lot of things more than just popularity. As I have said before, he might be more deserving of KISS award in the future, not right now.

    Finally, it never occurred to me that to make your parents or your country proud that one has to be famous. Everyday, millions of people struggle to make a difference, make their lives significant, their voices heard, and even die fighting for a cause they so dearly hold in their hearts. Are we to say to them that their sacrifices are unimportant because it didn’t make on prime time? Tsk…tsk…tsk.

    Thank goodness Paris Hilton is not Korean or else we would be giving her this award.

  31. 32 kay February 21, 2008 at 6:07 pm

    lol.. if it based on popularity ONLY then dbsk should be in this award.

  32. 33 pootcha February 21, 2008 at 6:41 pm

    The jury is still out if DBSK indeed has that many fans.

  33. 34 janey_bei February 21, 2008 at 8:33 pm

    jyun i agree with you at first look he looks like MJ to me…well rain looks a lot better than MJ but the hair is uhrm.

    pootcha that was a great thought. i have nothing against Rain but i also think its too much to give such serious award for his contributions to arts…maybe the criteria of KISS has to be revisited. I like Korean entertainment but your point is worth thinking of.

  34. 35 lady February 21, 2008 at 8:42 pm

    “. This is supported by the fact that thousands of people voted for him online as one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People for two consecutive years (2006 and 2007). ”

    I noticed that his official Fansites told the fans to vote nonstop. So many fans voted 100 times a day , for weeks! This “Time magazine´s 100 most influential People” turned into a joke!

    But I have to say this year he deserves to be in this list. By being influential to insolvent local promotors, never refunded fans, fans who lost their money for flighttickets and hotelrooms because of the canceled concerts in Hawaii and LA.

  35. 36 lmsandra February 22, 2008 at 3:23 am

    I love him here, his lips look HOT and I like the colours of his outfit. I have those pictures on my desk top now. I LOVE THEM,LOVE THEM,LOVE THEM.

  36. 37 fraulein February 23, 2008 at 3:51 pm

    why are so many ppl saying he’s skinny? He has lost a bit of weight but that’s still acceptable, it’s not as if he’s reed thin now. He has lost some of that bulk but trust me, he’s hitting the gym actively now and back at home, with all his comfort food (the man loves his food), he will be healthy! No doubt abt it

    He was probably under some stress when he was away in the states late last yr which explains the weight loss. The man doesnt travel well when it comes to food.

    3 out of 3 meals he had in singapore were korean.

  37. 38 hunterXhunter February 24, 2008 at 9:37 pm

    people saying this and that, and they dont get listening, i think that’s frustating enough,so we here rain’s fans try to listen to your frustation antis and get a great laugh about you, hahahaha……….

    i dont care if he deserved the award or not, there would be long argumentation about that, but hey…. he got it, like it or not.
    live is cruel and never be fair.

    clothes were awesome, didnt have any complain
    and yeah he looked like Michael jakson, he pulled it off really well, didnt he?
    i think he could look like anyone if he wanted to, or copy cat anyone as he wishes to, and there’s not many will change. it’s not like DBSK goin to win the award, hahahahahahaha……. who are those kids? group of teens doing some dance routines? boyband? hahahahaha….

    and seriously, who’s jang dong gun or bae young jun or lee byung hun, or those korean names people here mentioned about? hahahahahaha…. ok, i know them, good actors , but their names just not being heard in the states as much as rain, as far as i can concerned….

    so, Go Rain, we’re here in the states have our arms wide open for you….. even if you failed, there’s still another door open wide…

  38. 39 kate February 25, 2008 at 9:10 am

    @lady: Don’t forget the canceled concert in Toronto.

  39. 40 yonica February 26, 2008 at 4:08 am

    he looks like a woman.

  40. 41 tony February 27, 2008 at 8:10 am

    @hunterXhunter

    well said ! i put my hands together for you .

  41. 42 Nathan February 27, 2008 at 9:24 am

    He’s got the Michael Jackson look!

  42. 43 soju February 29, 2008 at 7:52 am

    @hunterXhunter

    i dont care if he deserved the award or not, there would be long argumentation about that, but hey…. he got it, like it or not. live is cruel and never be fair.

    so you are admitting that he doesn’t deserve this award. that’s good. at least you know.

    i think he could look like anyone if he wanted to, or copy cat anyone as he wishes to, and there’s not many will change. it’s not like DBSK goin to win the award, hahahahahahaha……. who are those kids? group of teens doing some dance routines? boyband? hahahahaha….

    hmmm … so much for being original. and isn’t drizzle doing his dance routines? what exactly are you trying to say?

    and seriously, who’s jang dong gun or bae young jun or lee byung hun, or those korean names people here mentioned about? hahahahahaha…. ok, i know them, good actors , but their names just not being heard in the states as much as rain, as far as i can concerned….

    that’s because jang dong-gun, bae young-jun and lee byung-hun didn’t schedule concerts in the US and then cancelled them. drizzle isn’t exactly known in the US for being a good thing.

    so, Go Rain, we’re here in the states have our arms wide open for you….. even if you failed, there’s still another door open wide…

    uh, yeah. at least he can always count on you little clouds to keep buying into the hype no matter what he does.


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