Rain Disciplined for Bunking Off Military Duties

Singer and actor Rain has been grounded for one week as punishment for bunking off military duties to meet his girlfriend, actress Kim Tae-hee, the Defense Ministry said Tuesday.

The decision was made by a disciplinary committee at the Army entertainment corps, to which Rain belongs. A ministry spokesman said Rain's offense was failing to obey a senior officer. "Rain was told not to have private meetings while on military duty and is being punished for failing to obey the order," the spokesman added.

It was the lightest available punishment.

According to the ministry, Rain left his base citing official duties on Nov. 23, Dec. 2 and 9 to work on a song for a military event at a recording studio in Gangnam. On all three occasions he met up with Kim between 9 and 10 p.m. after working on his music and apparently was dropped off in front of his base by Kim's car.

Altogether the star has spent over 90 days off base since he started his military service, vastly more than any ordinary conscript could dream of.