[citation needed] In a CNN interview and also in a Discovery Channel documentary called Discovering Hip Korea,[8] he recalled being repeatedly rejected because of his looks: "In fact, I was told after one audition that my singing and dancing was great but I did not make it because I did not have double eyelids."

[13] The album went on to sell over a million copies in Asia,[14] cementing Rain's position as one of the region's top musical acts.

[15] As part of his Rainy Day Tour, Rain held a two-day concert at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City in February 2006.

In support of the record, Rain held a free promotional concert at the Seoul World Cup Stadium one day prior to the album's release in front of 40,000 fans.

Rain performed two concert dates in Las Vegas, Nevada, on December 23–24, 2006, held at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace for a total of 7,600 fans.

[37] On October 15, 2008, Rain released his fifth Korean album, Rainism, which spawned the number one hit single "Love Story".

Rain held a comeback showcase for the album, and appeared in a two-day special program where exclusive footage and interviews of the singer was shown.

On November 24, 2008, the Commission of Youth Protection deemed the album inappropriate for people under 19 years old because the lyrics in the song "Rainism" were considered problematic due to their phallic and sexual references.

That's pretty impressive online power for a guy whose main claim to Western fame is a role in the 2009 film Ninja Assassin.

[57] On September 7, 2015, Rain announced through his Facebook page that he and the CEO had come to a mutual decision to not renew his contract with Cube Entertainment.

[68] In mid-May 2020, Rain's 2017 music video and song "Gang" from his second EP My Life went viral on YouTube in South Korea for its overly bombastic production, choreography and mannerisms, and self-absorbed lyrics after a parody dance video "1 Gang a Day" by a high school student released in late 2019 became a sensation online.

[69] Rain embraced his newfound fame with grace and self-deprecation, inviting more interest towards the song and invoking more parody videos.

The phenomenon ― consuming, leaving comments, producing parodies ― blew up further after Rain's appearance on MBC's television program Hangout with Yoo.

[75] SSAK3 also released "Play That Summer" as well as solo songs, including Rain's "Exciting" featuring Mamamoo, on July 25 as part of the group's project.

[76] In December 2020, Rain was recognized as one of the ten "2020 Visionary" figures, selected by CJ E&M, who inspired the global public with their pioneering work in Korean pop culture in 2020.

[9] The series was broadcast in various parts of Asia as well as the United States, garnering much popularity and establishing Rain as a Hallyu star.

[88][89] The project was inspired by the ninja scenes featured from Speed Racer, in which Rain had impressed the Wachowskis with his portrayal as a fighter.

[90] For his first Hollywood lead role in Ninja Assassin, Rain trained alongside stuntmen for six hours a day, over six months.

[92] In 2010, Rain returned to the small screen after five years with KBS action drama The Fugitive: Plan B, in which he plays a young, rich and cunning Korean private investigator.

Rain made his small-screen comeback after four years in SBS's musical drama My Lovely Girl (2014), opposite Krystal of f(x).

[102] The drama premiered in July 2015 and achieved huge success, earning high ratings throughout its 24-episode run and reaching 3.3 billion views online.

[107] In March 2017, Rain was cast in the movie Uhm Bok-dong based on a true story that took place during the Japanese colonial rule.

[113] Rain is considered a "world star" due to his popularity, not only in South Korea and Japan, but throughout Asia, Europe and North America with fans in countries like China, Singapore, Thailand, Canada and United States.

Much of his popularity is attributed to his various acting roles (varying from television like Full House to indie films like I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK to blockbusters like Ninja Assassin).

Over the years, he endorsed brands such as Hyundai, Lotte, KB Card, Pizza Hut, Thailand dairy company Dutch Mill, Chinese pastry Fu Mu Cakes, Pantech, LG Electronics, SK Telecom and Pepsi.

"Still Believe" was used as both an ad and a music video for BMW Korea's "Meet the Truth" campaign with appearances by Rain as well as JYP.

With his booming popularity throughout the world, he has been deemed a "cultural ambassador" as he has represented South Korea in inter-Asian musical events and has appeared in a Thai published textbook.

He was scheduled to be CEO of the company, but told the media that he still kept in touch with his mentor and long-time trainer Park Jin Young.

The group consists of 7 handpicked trainees by Rain himself, most of whom had been previously on survival shows such as YG Treasure Box, No.Mercy, Produce X 101 and Under Nineteen.

[126] In recent years, Rain has been an advocate for environmental protection going as far as to volunteer in the Taean oil spill cleanup and donate 300 million won for clean water and clothing for the residents in 2008.