For Rain fans across the country, it’s been a dry season.

On June 30, the Korean pop star’s Los Angeles concert was cancelled less than two hours before show time, leaving his fans, who had reportedly flown in from Hong Kong and Tokyo, out in the cold.

The L.A. appearance was to be the final stop on his North American tour. His other shows in Honolulu, San Francisco, Atlanta, New York and San Jose, Calif., were canceled earlier in the month.

Multiple reports arose as to why the Los Angeles concert was cancelled. According to the Los Angeles Times, Rain, whose real name is Jeong Ji-Hoon, blamed the local promoter, V2B Global, for not setting up the necessary stage equipment. But V2B president Andy Kim claimed that some of Rain’s concert equipment did not conform to American electrical standards, and therefore the tour’s original promoter, StarM, pulled the plug on the show.  

Regardless, the cancellations put a damper on Rain’s efforts to make a splash with American audiences. While his forecast remains unclear, fans say they’ll remain loyal to the performer.

“I knew in my heart this must be out of Rain’s control,” says Jan Sarkany, a member of the Rain-USA fanclub, who traveled from the Bay Area to Los Angeles to watch Rain perform. 

“The cancellation in no way reflects any negative feelings toward Rain or his ability to perform. I will whole-heartedly support him in any way possible to ensure he is allowed to become the superstar he is destined to become.”

 

—    Michelle Woo