South Korean star Rain adjusting well to army life

South Korean pop star Rain

SEOUL, South Korea – Fans wept as he was drafted into the army last month but South Korean pop sensation Rain is apparently adjusting well to military life.

Rain, whose real name is Jung Ji-Hoon, will become an assistant instructor next month at the boot camp which he entered in October, the defence ministry said Wednesday.

“Assistant instructors are chosen based on outstanding training results and their willingness, and Jung has shown that,” a ministry spokesman told Agence France-Presse.

Rain was recently also named top marksman at the camp.

The 29-year-old singer has a huge following across Asia.

Many fans, including hundreds from elsewhere in Asia, burst into tears when he entered the camp to start his 22-month mandatory military service.

South Korea, which has remained technically at war with North Korea since their 1950-1953 conflict, requires all eligible men to serve in the military, although candidates can defer their service.