Rain gives an absolutely cringe-worthy interview in English for Movieweb at Comiccon in San Diego this past week. Watching the awkward interview, all I wanted to do was press the stop button after I heard his “…ahhhhh hahahaha…yes..” (which was the first thing that came out of Rain’s incoherent mouth). But for the sake of writing up a post, I had to listen to this entire painful interview 2 times. Luckily, my excellent English listening skills spared me another run through.
Rain just proves that he is not ready to enter big league Hollywood. The man cannot speak English and has NO idea what the interviewer asked him. Personally, I cannot stand it when Korean people think they HAVE to speak English when they go abroad. Don’t they know they are making complete idiots of themselves and everyone in Korea? Why don’t these people just get a &*(*U& interpreter so they can at least provide slightly intelligent answers. Being forced to listen to Rain’s incomprehensible responses has given me indigestion.
But worse, because of him, I am embarrassed to be Korean.
Check out the interview at Movieweb.com. Or if you want to spare yourself from poking out your eye with a spoon, I suggest that you read the transcript below. Granted, the interviewer did ask some stupid questions, but, if you want to be a star, you have to know how to handle the press.
Interviewer: I gotta know- is one of your favorite things standing topless in the “rain”?
Rain: Ahhh hahaha…uh…yes…blahblah (what did he say?)…everyday..naked in my house… haha just kidding. (what the hell was that?)
Interviewer: We see some pretty wicked weapons…what are you going to do with that….
Rain: That’s my girlfriend. (Rain points to the 2 swords in the poster) That’s my first girlfriend. That’s my second girlfriend. (again. what the hell was that?)
Interviewer: ….is the soul of your dead girlfriend in that weapon?
Rain: I…I….you know…just kidding (cringe!)
Interviewer: ….I heard you can’t get over your dead girlfriend…
Rain: I don’t have girlfriend.. real girlfriend, you know. (yes, we know- just answer the question!)
(Interviewer tries to help him out)
Interviewer: In the movie, you have a girlfriend, she dies right?
Rain: ahhhh yes (nod)… ya-su…(nod) …ya-su…
Interviewer: This brings up an interesting question about sex-what does the ninja do when his girlfriends are weapons like that?
Rain: ….huuhuu… no….. don’t do it again please (HUH? – can someone poke my eye now now? )
Interviewer: Just teasing ya. So what kind of training did you have to do to get into this role?
Rain: in the movie right? (obviously rehearsed)
Interviewer: …asking you movie questions…your girlfriend in the movie is dead, not in real life….I’m sorry if there is …
Rain: I’ve been training for 6 months… you know….from the moment.. I’ve been…ahhhh…punching (?) my mind and menu with chicken breasts and vegetables… it was almost killed me…. it’s horrible… (chicken breasts and vegetables almost killed him? What an interesting phenomenon that would be)
Interviewer (speechless)…opps sorry. Did you get to wear a traditional ninja outfit in the film?
Rain: yes. yep…ah… it was … fantastic (rehearsed at least 1000 times)..maybe if you see the movie… you will figure it out (figure WHAT out? ? that he can’t speak English?)
Interviewer: (pause) Thank you so much.
Safely back home, Rain held his “Summer Vacation with Rain” fan meeting with 3000 adoring fans at Jamsil Olympic Hall at 3pm on July 27th 2008.
(Shouts to T for the tip!)
There she goes again…
Someone mentioned Se7en? yes…his english is definitely better than Rain. Not only that, Se7en also learned Japanese in less than 2 years…. He was on japanese talkshow and also on an outdoor filming….he did not have any translator with him at all…..his japanese was very fluent, even the hosts was amazed by his talent for languages. My japanese friend understood every single word that Se7en said… Can you imagine? And he also did sing mandarin songs… i don’t think Se7en learn Mandarin but i have to give the thumb up for his pronounciation of the chinese words..the whole song is in mandarin, but i could understand and his prounciation is 85-90% correct..
Learning a language is not easy….but it is how serious are you in mastering it…..
Trying to speak with an american accent does not makes you look better or superior, it’s how you convey your messages and understood by the other party that is more important..
RE: SAM
Great point!
Poor Rain with this title, I m not has any feel embarrassed after read it but I feel I must support him more OPPA aja aja fighting!!. Popseoul writer, Are you asian? if yes please don’t look down each other.
Do some of you have self-esteem problems that you can’t hear an Asian who is still learning English not speak it perfectly? Everyone that meets Rain at events in the US have always mentioned what a nice guy he is…they don’t think he is stupid because he is still struggling with the language. Arnold Schwarzenegger is Governor of California and you can hardly understand him sometimes. He also had a good career in the movies.
If you can’t stand to read what Rain says I think you are the one with the problem not him. Because he is adorable no matter what he says!
For stupid questions
stupid answers
just that
I’m surprised so many people are embarrassed to be Korean after seeing this video… I would be proud that Rain is still so Korean. If he was able to banter with the red-carpet interviewers like native Hollywood movie stars, it would mean he totally sold out and became American. His extremely awkward English and totally not understanding what the interviewer was asking him shows he’s still 100% Korean inside.
That does mean that he’ll have trouble maintaining any sort of Hollywood career, but then I never understood why it’s a dream of so many successful Asian singer and actors to become famous in America. America’s pop industry sucks these days. Bring Asia here, don’t change Asians to Americans!
LOL He look f*ckup, watsup with the hair style??? & Watsup with his english talker-wannabe ???
i wonder y se7en cant go as far as rain…
the fact is se7en can speak english better than this guy!
and se7en sings better and never lypsynch in any of his concerts!
Speaking English isn’t really obligatory, and it doesn’t mean you will not succeed in Hollywood. Remember “Memories of A Geisha”? The English was with an accent even though it’s broken. What about ‘Hiro Nakamora’ in “Heroes”? His English IS with an accent in that show but he still made it. He doesn’t have to speak proper English in interviews and DOESN’T HAVE TO LEARN THE LANGUAGE ANYWAY.
He can easily win an Oscar if he got acted really well in a role. He DOESNT have to be speaking English in order to get nominated.
As for this interview, it’s true that he didn’t speak proper English. But the person who interviewed him probably knew that (judging from his ridiculous questions).
I’m sure he had an interpreter with him but it’s hard to walk on the red carpet, answer questions quickly with your interpreter.
I wish 비 luck in his career, not that he needs it. He’s an amazing actor, amazing singer, and an amazing entertainer.
“But worse, because of him, I am embarrassed to be Korean.”
You’re ashamed of your own people? Your own country, just because one man failed to engage in a conversation in a language he cannot speak?!!!
Rain did the best he could in that situation and I agree with a previous comment that says English is a hard language to learn. You should know, you’re Korean yourself… but then again, you probably grew up abroad and didn’t find it difficult to acquire the language.
English isn’t my first language and it was hard to learn at first, but with dedication, I picked it up. So what are you ashamed about? That he can’t speak English? Honestly, how old are you?
Grow up.
lmao
the guy DESPERATELY NEED a haircut and have i say it yet ? DESPERATELY
How unfair. If that moron’s going to ask ridiculous questions then Rain is going to give equally ridiculous answers back.
i actually admit that his english is not bad.
i actually dont think thats the problem
idk…i think he just said some stupid things? a lot of kidding…
pretty funny though >.<
i’m so totally over him. After Full House he just kinda went down-hill
give the guy a break it is hard language i lived in the us
with my family and it took us along time to learn the language it wasn’t easy
so it wasn’t right that they didn’t send atransltor
they should have so he wouldn’t make a fool of himself
it takes time to learn english so give the guy a break
yikes!
Okay, not to sound mean or anything…BUT THAT WAS HILARIOUS STUFF XD ! <3
What’s the point of having that translator next to him when he isn’t going to use him?
Isn’t one of the point to have a translator is to keep the face of that celebrity from saying something humilaitating? xD
Seriously Rain, “Don’t do it again, please” or the Amercians will think of you as an Asian idiot.
OMG. I just watched the interview. WTF?!
I love Rain but it was just horrible! What was he trying to say?!
i really love rain but it sucks…..
next time make it better…
Come on.. at least he’s trying… T___T
Ohhh my god, that was the funniest thing I’ve read in…a really long time. Thank you SO much for sharing. PUAHAHAHA!!!
The interviewer was a bit of a tool, but still…ROFFLES!!!
what’s up with the weird accent? he should fix his english first before worrying about accents.
i feel sorry for him but if you look on the bright side at least the interview was funny.
cmon it wasnt that bad hearing the enterview.. i just think he didnt understand the last question. All the others he “tryed” to answer ^^
the actual interview was honestly not as bad as the transcript .
he doesnt understand half the questions hes being asked how sad…so funny though….he looks like a complete idiot
You guys should try to understand what he’s saying. Instead of criticizing him take to heart what he says. it makes sense as long as you think about it.
Although I want to understand his situation… but I kind of wished the whole time I’m watching that He hired a “translator”. I mean If you think you can’t speak english that well yet the don’t put yourself in jeopardy.
1) Popseoul and her transiption has to be improved
2) Rain and his confidence and communication skills has to be improve.
3) The stupid interviewer with a silly and snide questions. Has to be heck away.
I thought it was so horrible reading PopSeoul entry here about the interviews but it not as bad when I watched it. I think he understand but he can’t get the words to answer properly and to add the silly questions and suddenly the SEX question. How unprofessional of the wrecked interviewer! Rain then answered. ” Please don’t do that again”. Meaning he understand the snide questions but don’t know how to answer.
I’m never a fan of Rain or never I will be but in this case rather than his English I’m more bothered with the SILLY and UNPROFESSIONAL Interviewer.
I will be on my head laughing if the interviewer is professional and give a professional questions and Rain answered like a silly monkey BUT
When I read that the first question I was like what the heck???
Ah! Forget how can Rain answered with those silly and uncomprehensive answers when a native and a should be a professional interviewer asked A STUPID QUESTIONS only with a fluent English.
Bad. Bad.
hahaahahhahaa
OMG that was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO FUNNYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I couldn’t stop LMAOOOOO
LOLZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
and wat’s with the fug hair RAin? ahhaahhahahahah!!
AHHH THE PAIN!!!
The interview is up on YouTube…
Oh God.
he should have used a translator…..I started learning korean for only 10 months but I think I pick up a lil faster than him..but still he has tried so don’t diss him so much…not every1 is like you POPSEOUL
OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!
EMBARRASING FOR HIM AND EVERY ASIAN ON THE PLANET!!!
That’s just… embarrassing… How come the other Korean celebrities that go to Hollywood can succeed with English? He’s been there for three years; working with people speaking English. How can he not understand a simple subject?
That’s what BoA sounds like when she speaks English, I watched a PR where she answered questions in English, and I spent most of my time going “Wha-?”
You guys are kinda being hypocritical. This man is already as busy as can be. He’s been learning English for 3 years and you know what I think he is doing pretty good. He does a lot better than some Asians that I’ve talked to. And also, did you guys not think that perhaps it could’ve been other factors such as nervousness that contributed to his bad interview. Also, the interviewer himself didn’t help much with his sarcastic remarks.
From what I hear with asian cultures (atleast I know this is true with the Japanese culture) is that they don’t use sarcasm as much as us Americans. I lived in Japan for a year and there were Japanese people there that had been studying English for years and YEARS. But sometimes I couldn’t understand them either. I give kudos to Rain because I understand how hard it is to learn a language. I studied Japanese for 4 years (and got no where with it) until I went to Japan and stayed for a year and I became fluent. Sometimes you just have to drop everything and literally immerse yourself in the culture. You should really try to look at the entire picture before you shoot someone’s efforts down. (-_-)/
okay rain doesn’t suck.
but wth? “you know” here “you know” there
he said “you know” so many times and so seriusly as if
that’s the way everyone talks.
god i thought he was reffering to “u-know yunho”
from DBSK. (dong bang shin ki)
anyways who are you pop seoul?
if your english lisening skills and such
are so good why are you running some korean celeb site?
do you get any money from this?
are YOU a celeb?
anyways i stopped watching this horrible video halfway through and started watching PARIS FOR PRESIDENT.
PARIS 4 PRESIDENT!
i think they did had a misunderdtanding since rain can’t speak nor understand english well…..well…at least he try..and its still his first time so nice try…watch his time magazine interview..and in that video…his voacbulary did improve..(although just a bit^^)
Hey, when you’re learning a language, it’s always said you should try and practice it anywhere you can. Granted, a television interview may NOT be the best place. Although I would have to say that on the interviewer’s part, he asked some pretty awkward and ambiguous questions. If I were Rain, I would just get a new translator because I have NO hell of a clue WHAT that guy’s telling him!
ahahahahahahahaha………………….. -_-;; my gosh… his english was TERRIBLE. 3years?! honestly??
is it true that he can’t speak English?? what’s hell going on with him?oh!my gosh,rain!!!
he is so quit and hot <3
Love you Rain <3 "Quit"
love you rain <3
He should speak in English but have an interpreter there in case he doesn’t understand the interviewer or needs to articulate something by using Korean. It’s not that shameful.
Some journalists just throw stuff in to be weird: even born English-speakers don’t get some of their questions.
Give Rain a break. A lot of people respect the attempt even if it isn’t successful. And anyone who’s mocking is usually small-minded anyway.
Se7en PAWNS RAINS ASS.
Aha.
<3
well, I think it’s just a matter of opinion. I’m sure Rain is giving his best to learn English (especially after this interview) and the writer of Popseoul was only describing how she/he felt after watching the interview. Personally, I stopped watching the video after Rain said “naked in my kitchen…” Definitely two thumbs up for his confidence.
i cant blame Rain for his incapability in speaking english fluently ( or perfectly, just like what you want), because i think we experienced it too, speaking english is not easy.
although i’ve learned & practiced english continously for 6 years with my friends & teachers ( & i think i’m doing well ), but it’s not the same when we face people who use english as their first language or come from western.
and after i watched many of his interview video, he improve much, he does understand interviewee questions but he’s nervous to answer it. and when he replies, the accent of his english just like bubbling so it seems like he cant speak english well. please just hoping the best for rain so he could improve & be better.
cheers XD
First of all, English is one of the hardest languages to learn. I do not know this from experience, because I’m 100% american =w= but from what I’ve heard.
And I think you should give him a break, yes, it’s a little hard to understand him, but listen to all the all other Asians in America, yes some can speak English very fluently, some cannot, but it doesn’t really matter, and we still get Rain’s main ideas when he speaks. So really, give him a break if his english isn’t perfect, at least he’s trying.
HAHAHA
XD I SAW THIS ON YOUTUBE
AND IT WAS PRICELESS!
XD
the way he said vegetables..
it was more like vegitaboows.
BHWHAHAH