K-pop star Rain, a military corporal, received the lowest punishment from the Defense Ministry on Tuesday for dating actress Kim Tae-hee while on official duty.

A disciplinary panel at his battalion decided to put the 30-year-old singer, whose real name is Jung Ji-hoon, on a seven-day probation.

He was recently found to have met with the top actress on several occasions last month.

The Defense Ministry has vowed to enhance monitoring of entertainment-career soldiers amid criticism about special treatment of them.

According to the ministry, Rain spent 71 days off duty last year, his first year serving in the military unit. The number is much higher than the average 43 days given to ordinary soldiers from 2009 through last year. (From news reports)