The South Korean military will punish pop star Rain for meeting with

The South Korean military will punish pop star Rain for meeting with a top actress while on duty during his mandatory military service, the Defense Ministry said today.

Paparazzi photos showing Rain meeting with Kim Tae-hee raised questions that highly sought-after entertainers may receive special favors during their military service. The ministry denies Rain has received special treatment.

Rain, an “entertainment soldier,” met with Kim at least three times late last year, ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok said in a briefing. They occurred even though Rain is not allowed to have such private meetings while outside his base for official duties like recording and performing.

The spokesman did not say what kind of punishment Rain would be decided when the ministry meets next week. However, he said it was unlikely to be a brief lockup in a military jail, one of more serious penalties for South Korean soldiers that can delay their discharge.

Rain’s agency neither denies nor confirms that he has dated Kim, but the actress’s agency has acknowledged a month-old romance.

Source AP