Rain Questioned Over Cancelled Hawaii Concert

South Korean pop star Rain appeared at a federal court in Hawaii Monday to testify on his abruptly cancelled concert there in 2007, which cost a Honolulu-based concert agency $1.5 million.

His appearance in the courtroom was made on the last day of the hearing, which began March 10, according to AP and other international media.

Rain ㅡ whose real name is Jung Ji-hoon ㅡ testified he had every intention of performing in Hawaii and other U.S. states but a series of abrupt concert cancellations were out of his control.

"I was not the person that canceled the concerts", Rain was quoted as saying. "I would love to perform in North America. The cancellation was regrettable".

He was poised, polite and seemed at ease as he answered questions for about 90 minutes in Korean through a court interpreter, it reported.

The 27-year-old singer and his producers are being sued over the abrupt cancellation of a June 2007 concert in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Hawaii-based Click Entertainment Inc. alleges in the suit that Rain and his producers defrauded it of more than $500,000 paid in licensing fees. It's also seeking additional damages for the cost of staging the event, including the rental of Aloha Stadium, stage production, travel, hotel accommodations, merchandising and advertising.

The company also claims it has sustained losses of valuable business opportunities, earnings and income in amounts to be proven during the trial. In addition, the company has suffered serious and lasting harm to its business goodwill and professional reputation, the lawsuit said.

But the allegation was refuted by an official at JYP, a South Korean entertainment agency backing the singer and producers, during a separate session.

Byun Sang-bong, JYP's vice president and chief financial officer, blamed the cancellation and other problems on promotion company Star M. Byun said a legal copyright challenge in Nevada over the name "Rain" was another issue the company faced at the time.

Even though Rain's trip to Hawaii this time was motivated by an undesirable situation, it allowed Korean fans and his staff to be confident that the Korean entertainer has a substantial fan base, needed to succeed in the United States, the world's largest entertainment market.

Local media reported Rain was greeted by hundreds of cheering fans upon arrival at Honolulu International Airport and bombarded with flowers, gift baskets, and fans who just wanted to touch him.
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South Korean pop star and actor Rain, 26, flashes a Hawaiian "shaka" sign as he arrives at federal court on Monday, Rain, whose real name is Jung Ji-hoon, and his producers are being sued over the performer's abrupt cancellation of a June 2007 concert in Honolulu.

Source: koreatimes.co.kr / Park Si-soo, Staff Reporter