Should a singer stick to the stage moniker that made him famous or should he use his real name when he enters Hollywood? Well, that’s what Rain (Ji Hoon Jung) has been wondering himself, these days.

The singer/actor had intended to use his birth name, Ji Hoon Jung, when he entered Hollywood, but his reputation as the pop star ‘Rain’ preceded him, making American movie sites confused and inconsistent.

His first step into Hollywood is a role in the live-action adaptation of “Speed Racer” and movie sites sometimes refer to the star as ‘Rain’ and sometimes as ‘Ji Hoon Jung.’ He was known as the latter at the Berlin International Film Festival, where his first movie, Park Chan-wook’s “I’m A Cyborg, But That’s Ok,” won rave reviews and gained international attention (the film was nominated for the Golden Bear Award and won the Alfred Bauer Award).


American fans, who may be familiar with the name ‘Rain’ may not realize the singing star is also Jung the actor, and vice verse.

Rain’s US music agency sees no problem with sticking with the moniker that made him famous and the singer/actor himself says he feels more of an affinity to his stage name. The name ‘Rain’ first became widely-known in the States through Times magazine, in which he was named one of the “100 Most Influential People Who Shape Our World” in April 2006. He was later voted Time’s Most Influential Person in an online poll and was also included in People Magazine’s “Most Beautiful People” list in 2007.

An associate reported that the star will make his final decision soon.