The country's foremost entertainer who was named one of the "100 Most Influential People" by Time Magazine in 2006 and one of the "100 Most Beautiful People" a year later by People Magazine, Jung thinks highly of Korean entertainers' potential to succeed in the U.S. market.
"It didn't take much time for me to recognize that the Western film industry's affection for genuinely Asian content is far deeper than I thought," continued Jung.
He debuted on the big screen last year with director Park Chan-wook's 2007 Berlin International Film Festival entry "I'm a Cyborg, but That's Okay," in which he plays an inmate of a psychiatric clinic.
Though many Korean singers and actors are among the biggest celebrities in Asia, some of his Korean fans don't seem to be happy to see him act in such Japan-themed films.
Jung also confessed that he was not able to free himself from the kind of nationalistic dilemma. "I wish the role I was offered were as a Korean, but hey, it was like a once in a life time thing," Jung said. "I believe somebody has to open this door to Hollywood for other Korean actors, actresses and film directors. I'm proud that I can play this role."
According to him, he has done his best to make his role in "Speed Racer" more Korean-like. Initially, the name of the character he is to play was a typical Japanese one, but it became Taejo at the request of him, he said. "Once I get the script of 'Ninja Assassin,' there will be something I, as a Korean actor, should try to do as well."
Though he is still far better known as the singer named Rain than as Jung Ji-hoon, the actor, his acting has been praised by film producers and critics here.
To him, however, acting in English was as awkward as a right-handed person eating with his left hand, he said. "I still have difficulties with English, but I'm working on it very intensively, so you may expect to see me act as natural as a native speaker in my future films," said Jung whose favorite film is "Scarface" (1983).
"When I first saw Al Pacino in the film, I, for the first time in my life, thought that I wanted to be like another person," he recalled.
Making his Hollywood debut doesn't mean that he has decided to stop singing. Recently he recoded a new version of the '70s hit "Kung Fu Fighting" for this summer's release of Dream Works animation "Kung Fu Panda." He is also scheduled to participate in various musical events related to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
"I'm a huge fan of Michael Jackson. I was under his great influence when I was younger, but I dream of fascinating the world with performances as magical and charming as his," he said. His dance style, according to Jung, combines Michael Jackson's moonwalk with martial-arts elements, but he always develops his own choreography because he doesn't want to look like an American singer.
"I have a vision about Korean pop music in the global market. As an actor or a singer, I'd love to help promote the image of Korea through what I'm doing." It takes both talent and hard work to be successful in the entertainment industry, and of course Jung recognizes it quite well.
