So Ji-sub (born November 4, 1977) is a South Korean actor. After making his entertainment debut as a jeans model, he became known for his leading roles in the television series ''
What Happened in Bali'' (2004), ''
I'm Sorry, I Love You
''I'm Sorry, I Love You'' () is a 2004 South Korean television drama series starring So Ji-sub and Im Soo-jung. It aired on KBS2 from November 8 to December 28, 2004, on Mondays and Tuesdays for 16 episodes.
Synopsis
Cha Moo-hyuk is a part-t ...
'' (2004), ''
Cain and Abel
In the biblical Book of Genesis, Cain ''Qayīn'', in pausa ''Qāyīn''; gr, Κάϊν ''Káïn''; ar, قابيل/قايين, Qābīl / Qāyīn and Abel ''Heḇel'', in pausa ''Hāḇel''; gr, Ἅβελ ''Hábel''; ar, هابيل, Hāb ...
'' (2009), ''
Phantom
Phantom may refer to:
* Spirit (animating force), the vital principle or animating force within all living things
** Ghost, the soul or spirit of a dead person or animal that can appear to the living
Aircraft
* Boeing Phantom Ray, a stealthy un ...
'' (2012), ''
Master's Sun
''Master's Sun'' () is a 2013 South Korean television series starring So Ji-sub and Gong Hyo-jin. The romantic comedy is written by the Hong sisters and aired for 17 episodes on SBS TV every Wednesday and Thursday at 21:55 ( KST) from August 7 ...
'' (2013), and ''
Oh My Venus
''Oh My Venus'' () is a South Korean television series starring So Ji-sub and Shin Min-a. It aired on KBS2 on Mondays and Tuesdays at 21:55 ( KST) time slot for 16 episodes beginning on November 16, 2015.
Plot
Kim Young-ho, a.k.a. John Kim, i ...
'' (2015–16), as well as the film ''
Rough Cut
In filmmaking, the rough cut is the second of three stages of offline editing. The term originates from the early days of filmmaking when film stock was physically cut and reassembled, but is still used to describe projects that are recorded and ...
'' (2008). So has also released several
hip hop EPs.
Early life
So Ji-sub was born on November 4, 1977, in
Incheon
Incheon (; ; or Inch'ŏn; literally "kind river"), formerly Jemulpo or Chemulp'o (제물포) until the period after 1910, officially the Incheon Metropolitan City (인천광역시, 仁川廣域市), is a city located in northwestern South Kore ...
. Self-described as introverted and insecure in his childhood and teenage years, So trained to become a professional
swimmer
Swimming is an individual or team racing sport that requires the use of one's entire body to move through water. The sport takes place in pools or open water (e.g., in a sea or lake). Competitive swimming is one of the most popular Olympic ...
for 11 years and bagged the bronze medal at the Korean National Games. His parents divorced at a young age. He has one older sister who lives in Australia.
He tried out
modeling
A model is an informative representation of an object, person or system. The term originally denoted the plans of a building in late 16th-century English, and derived via French and Italian ultimately from Latin ''modulus'', a measure.
Models c ...
simply because he wanted to pose alongside hip-hop artist
Kim Sung-jae
Kim Sung-jae (Hangul: 김성재; Hanja: 金成宰; April 18, 1972 – November 20, 1995) was a South Korean singer, rapper, dancer, and model, best known as a member of Deux, an influential early K-pop and Korean hip hop group that rose to ...
, who was the celebrity face for a clothing brand at the time. "I was never really interested in becoming a celebrity," So said. "My life was all about swimming and hip-hop music. I did modeling because I wanted to see Kim and also because it was the best way to earn good easy money."
Career
Acting
So was chosen as a model for jeans brand 292513=STORM in 1995, then made his acting debut in the
sitcom
A sitcom, a portmanteau of situation comedy, or situational comedy, is a genre of comedy centered on a fixed set of characters who mostly carry over from episode to episode. Sitcoms can be contrasted with sketch comedy, where a troupe may use ne ...
''Three Guys and Three Girls'' and the
television drama
In film and television show, television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or docudrama, semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humour, humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms t ...
''
Model
A model is an informative representation of an object, person or system. The term originally denoted the plans of a building in late 16th-century English, and derived via French and Italian ultimately from Latin ''modulus'', a measure.
Models c ...
''. But whereas fellow 292513=STORM model
Song Seung-heon
Song Seung-heon (; born October 5, 1976) is a South Korean model and actor. He has acted in various television dramas, notably ''Autumn in My Heart'' (2000), '' ''East of Eden' (2008), '' ''My Princess' (2011), ''Black'' (2017), ''Player' ...
quickly rose to stardom, So had difficulty raising his profile.
He appeared in small roles on television throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s,
[ and started to gain popularity when he was cast as the male second lead in '']Glass Slippers
''Glass Slippers'' () was a 40-episode South Korean drama series that aired on SBS in 2002, starring Kim Hyun-joo and Kim Ji-ho as the two orphaned sisters.
Plot
6 year-old Yoon-hee and her elder sister Tae-hee were raised by their widowed fa ...
'' in 2002. He played his first lead role in the time travel historical drama ''Thousand Years of Love
''Thousand Years of Love'' () is a 2003 South Korean television series starring Sung Yu-ri, So Ji-sub and Kim Nam-jin. It aired on SBS from March 22 to May 25, 2003 on Saturdays and Sundays at 21:45 for 20 episodes.
Plot
Over a thousand years ...
''.
So began to rise to fame with 2004 hit drama '' What Happened in Bali '' At that time, So thought he would end up being a supporting actor. But later that year, he had his breakout role as a tragic hero in the critically acclaimed melodrama ''I'm Sorry, I Love You
''I'm Sorry, I Love You'' () is a 2004 South Korean television drama series starring So Ji-sub and Im Soo-jung. It aired on KBS2 from November 8 to December 28, 2004, on Mondays and Tuesdays for 16 episodes.
Synopsis
Cha Moo-hyuk is a part-t ...
''. It established him as a top star in Korea, as well as all over Asia. In a 2009 interview, So said he still considers the two the best television dramas in his filmography.
So enlisted for mandatory military service
Conscription (also called the draft in the United States) is the state-mandated enlistment of people in a national service, mainly a military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and it continues in some countries to the present day un ...
in 2005 as a public relations officer with the Mapo District
Mapo District () is one of the 25 districts of Seoul, South Korea.
Mapo has a population of 381,330 (2015) and has a geographic area of 23.87 km2 (9.22 sq mi), and is divided into 24 '' dong'' (administrative neighborhoods). Mapo is located in w ...
Office, and was discharged on April 27, 2007. He made his comeback in Jang Hoon
Jang Hoon (born May 4, 1975) is a Koreans, South Korean film director. He directed the films ''Rough Cut (2008 film), Rough Cut'' (2008), ''Secret Reunion'' (2010), ''The Front Line (2011 film), The Front Line'' (2011), and ''A Taxi Driver '' ...
's directorial debut ''Rough Cut
In filmmaking, the rough cut is the second of three stages of offline editing. The term originates from the early days of filmmaking when film stock was physically cut and reassembled, but is still used to describe projects that are recorded and ...
'', in which he played a gangster who dreams of becoming an actor. Because of the film's low budget, So and costar Kang Ji-hwan
Kang Ji-hwan (born Jo Tae-gyu; March 20, 1977) is a South Korean actor. He began his career in musical theatre, and has since starred in television dramas such as ''Be Strong, Geum-soon!'' (2005), ''Capital Scandal'' (2007), '' Hong Gil-dong ...
decided to invest their fees back into the movie, and were credited as producers. So's performance was well received by audiences and critics, and the film became a surprise box office hit.
In 2009, So attempted to break into the Japanese and Chinese markets. In ''I am GHOST'', an action
Action may refer to:
* Action (narrative), a literary mode
* Action fiction, a type of genre fiction
* Action game, a genre of video game
Film
* Action film, a genre of film
* ''Action'' (1921 film), a film by John Ford
* ''Action'' (1980 fil ...
drama that aired in 24 five-minute episodes on Japan's mobile-exclusive broadcaster BeeTV, he played a mysterious killer on the run with a high school girl. So spoke no lines in the mobile drama, and was "worried whether (their) emotions would be delivered just through (their) motions." The year before, he had appeared in a supporting role as a monster in the Japanese manga
Manga (Japanese: 漫画 ) are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long prehistory in earlier Japanese art. The term ''manga'' is u ...
live-action adaptation '' GeGeGe No Kitaro 2: Kitaro and the Millenium Curse''.
So starred opposite Zhang Ziyi
Zhang Ziyi (; ; born 9 February 1979) is a Chinese actress and model. She is regarded as one of the Four Dan Actresses of China. Her first major role was in '' The Road Home'' (1999). She later gained international recognition for her role in ...
in the Chinese romantic comedy
Romantic comedy (also known as romcom or rom-com) is a subgenre of comedy and slice of life fiction, focusing on lighthearted, humorous plot lines centered on romantic ideas, such as how true love is able to surmount most obstacles. In a typica ...
''Sophie's Revenge
''Sophie's Revenge'' (; "Very Perfect") is a 2009 Chinese-Korean co-production starring Zhang Ziyi, So Ji-sub, Fan Bingbing, Ruby Lin, Peter Ho, and Yao Chen.
This movie is a co-production between Perfect World Pictures with South Korean company ...
'', saying, "I wanted to do a bright and cheery role because I've played so many sad and gloomy ones." He later signed with a Chinese talent agency, ATN Entertainment. So then returned to Korean television with ''Cain and Abel
In the biblical Book of Genesis, Cain ''Qayīn'', in pausa ''Qāyīn''; gr, Κάϊν ''Káïn''; ar, قابيل/قايين, Qābīl / Qāyīn and Abel ''Heḇel'', in pausa ''Hāḇel''; gr, Ἅβελ ''Hábel''; ar, هابيل, Hāb ...
'', about two doctor brothers with an intense sibling rivalry. His performance received critical acclaim, and won him Best Actor at the 2009 Grimae Awards, an honorable award chosen by directors in every broadcasting station in Korea.[
In 2010 So headlined the big-budget ]Korean War
, date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...
epic ''Road No. 1
''Road No. 1'' () is a 2010 South Korean television series, starring So Ji-sub, Kim Ha-neul and Yoon Kye-sang. The story revolves around two young soldiers, the woman they both love, and the Korean war that tears all their lives apart. The drama ...
'', but despite high expectations, the series tanked in the ratings, averaging 6% for its entire run.
So then played a boxer who falls in love with a blind girl in romantic melodrama ''Always
Always may refer to:
Film and television
* ''Always'', a 1985 film directed by Henry Jaglom
* ''Always'' (1989 film), a 1989 romantic comedy-drama directed by Steven Spielberg
* ''Always'' (2011 film), a 2011 South Korean film, also known as '' ...
'' (Korean title: ''Only You''), directed by auteur Song Il-gon
Song Il-gon (born January 1, 1971) is a South Korean film director and screenwriter known for his internationally award-winning early short films, and later feature films such as '' Spider Forest'' ( 2004) and '' Feathers in the Wind'' ( 2005). ...
. It was the opening film of the 2011 Busan International Film Festival
The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF, previously Pusan International Film Festival, PIFF), held annually in Haeundae-gu, Busan (''also'' Pusan), South Korea, is one of the most significant film festivals in Asia. The first festi ...
.
After portraying a workaholic detective in the cyber criminal investigative service in TV procedural ''Phantom
Phantom may refer to:
* Spirit (animating force), the vital principle or animating force within all living things
** Ghost, the soul or spirit of a dead person or animal that can appear to the living
Aircraft
* Boeing Phantom Ray, a stealthy un ...
'', So starred in the film ''A Company Man
''A Company Man'' () is a 2012 South Korean action film starring So Ji-sub, Lee Mi-yeon, Kwak Do-won and Kim Dong-jun. It is about a hitman who find himself targeted by his ex-employers after he falls in love with a single mother and quits hi ...
'', about a hitman in a killer-for-hire company who, after he falls in love and decides he wants out of his job, finds himself the target of his former colleagues.
Later that year he starred in ''Master's Sun
''Master's Sun'' () is a 2013 South Korean television series starring So Ji-sub and Gong Hyo-jin. The romantic comedy is written by the Hong sisters and aired for 17 episodes on SBS TV every Wednesday and Thursday at 21:55 ( KST) from August 7 ...
'', a horror-romantic comedy written by the Hong sisters
Hong Jung-eun (born 1974) and Hong Mi-ran (born 1977), collectively known as the Hong sisters (), are South Korean television screenwriters currently managed by Studio Dragon. Together, they have written popular romantic-comedies, notably '' ...
. Known for his melodramatic roles, So made an acting transformation in ''Master's Sun'', playing a character with charm. The drama was a commercial hit and renewed his domestic and international popularity. So then starred in another romantic comedy series ''Oh My Venus
''Oh My Venus'' () is a South Korean television series starring So Ji-sub and Shin Min-a. It aired on KBS2 on Mondays and Tuesdays at 21:55 ( KST) time slot for 16 episodes beginning on November 16, 2015.
Plot
Kim Young-ho, a.k.a. John Kim, i ...
'', about a celebrity trainer who helps a lawyer lose weight and find her inner beauty as they heal each other's emotional scars.
In 2017, So starred in the film ''The Battleship Island
''The Battleship Island'' () is a 2017 South Korean period action film starring Hwang Jung-min, So Ji-sub, Song Joong-ki and Lee Jung-hyun. It is a Japanese occupation-era film about an attempted prison break from a forced labor camp on Hashima Is ...
'', which depicts the unknown history behind the actual Hashima Island, where thousands of conscripted Joseon people were forced to work to death during the Japanese colonial era. He plays Gyeongseong's best fighter who brought peace to the entire Jongno district.
In 2018, So starred alongside Son Ye-jin
Son Ye-jin (born Son Eon-jin on January 11, 1982) is a South Korean actress. She rose to fame in 2003 for '' The Classic'' and '' Summer Scent'', which were followed by the commercially successful ''A Moment to Remember'' (2004) and ''April Snow ...
in the romance film '' Be with You'', based on the Japanese novel of the same name. The same year, he returned to the small screen with spy comedy drama ''My Secret Terrius
''My Secret Terrius'' () is a 2018 South Korean television series starring So Ji-sub, Jung In-sun, Son Ho-jun and Im Se-mi. It was aired on MBC from September 27 to November 15, 2018 on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:55 ( KST) time slot.
Syno ...
''. So won his first major award, the "Daesang (Grand Prize)" at the MBC Drama Awards
The MBC Drama Awards () is an awards ceremony presented by Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) for outstanding achievements in Korean dramas aired on its network. It is held annually in December.
Unlike its counterparts in KBS and SBS, MBC ...
for his performance.
In 2022, he starred in MBC medical
Medicine is the science and practice of caring for a patient, managing the diagnosis, prognosis, prevention, treatment, palliation of their injury or disease, and promoting their health. Medicine encompasses a variety of health care practic ...
-legal
Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. It has been vario ...
drama ''Doctor Lawyer
''Doctor Lawyer'' () is a 2022 South Korean television series starring So Ji-sub, Shin Sung-rok, and Im Soo-hyang. It premiered on MBC TV on June 3, 2022, and aired every Friday and Saturday at 21:50 ( KST) for 16 episodes. It is also avail ...
'' in the title role as a genius double-board surgeon turned lawyer and appeared in Choi Dong-hoon
Choi Dong-hoon (; born February 24, 1971) is a South Korean film director and screenwriter. He ranks as one of the most consistently successful directors working in contemporary Korean cinema, with all five of his films becoming commercial hits - ...
's science fiction action film ''Alienoid
''Alienoid'' () is a 2022 South Korean science fantasy action film directed by Choi Dong-hoon, starring Ryu Jun-yeol, Kim Woo-bin, and Kim Tae-ri. The film depicts an extraordinary story that unfolds as the gates of time open between late Gory ...
''.
Book and music releases
In 2010, So published his photo-essay A photographic essay or photo-essay for short is a form of visual storytelling, a way to present a narrative through a series of images. A photo essay delivers a story using a series of photographs and brings the viewer along a narrative journey.
E ...
collection, ''So Ji-sub's Journey''. The volume covers stories and photos over the past 13 years since his debut, using unpretentious language and sensitive photography taken during So's trips to the DMZ
A demilitarized zone (DMZ or DZ) is an area in which treaties or agreements between nations, military powers or contending groups forbid military installations, activities, or personnel. A DZ often lies along an established frontier or bounda ...
and Gangwon Province. The usually taciturn and stoic actor revealed his inner thoughts throughout the book, with essays on his favorite number 51 (reflected in the name of his company - it means a 50-50 probability then believing just 1% more; the K stands for Korea), Romeo and Juliet
''Romeo and Juliet'' is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about the romance between two Italian youths from feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetim ...
, why he likes rainy days, and stories about his interactions with other celebrities and artists such as Tiger JK
Seo Jung-kwon, Hangul: 서정권, Hanja: 徐廷權, also known as Tiger JK (born July 29, 1974) is a Korean-American rapper, record producer and entrepreneur best known as a founding member of Korean hip hop group Drunken Tiger. He has also foun ...
. Within ten days of its release, the book hit the bestseller list, and entered its third printing.
A professed longtime hip-hop lover, So rapped for two original tracks – "Lonely Life" and "Foolish Love" – under the artist pseudonym
A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person or group assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true name (orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individua ...
"G" or "G-Sonic" for the soundtrack
A soundtrack is recorded music accompanying and synchronised to the images of a motion picture, drama, book, television program, radio program, or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack o ...
s of ''Rough Cut'' and ''Cain and Abel'' respectively. In 2011, he released another digital single
Single may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
* Single (music), a song release
Songs
* "Single" (Natasha Bedingfield song), 2004
* "Single" (New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo song), 2008
* "Single" (William Wei song), 2016
* "Single", by ...
''Pick Up Line'' under his own name. Two teaser videos were released, the first one described as a comedic version that featured guest stars Jung Joon-ha (who is a close friend of So's) and Kim Byung-man
Kim Byung-man (born July 29, 1975) is a South Korean comedian, best known for his slapstick and acrobatic stunts as a ''Master'' in ''Gag Concert'', and survival skills in ''Law of the Jungle'' as he acts as the Chief of the show. In November 2 ...
(whom So named as one of his favorite comedians). The single, along with the music video itself, was released on February 17, 2011, but recorded low sales.
In 2011, he published a second book of photo-essay A photographic essay or photo-essay for short is a form of visual storytelling, a way to present a narrative through a series of images. A photo essay delivers a story using a series of photographs and brings the viewer along a narrative journey.
E ...
s titled ''Only You with So Ji-sub'' featuring photographs, notes and commentary on playing his movie character.
On March 14, 2012, he launched a magazine for his fans titled ''SONICe''; inside were So's suggested dating ideas and locations, favorite food and books, and more stories through his eyes. Its name is a combination of "so nice" and "Sonic," which is So's nickname.
So's first mini-album (or EP), ''Corona Borealis'' was released in March 2012. It featured collaborations with songwriter Kim Kun-woo, vocal trainer Mellow, soprano
A soprano () is a type of classical female singing voice and has the highest vocal range of all voice types. The soprano's vocal range (using scientific pitch notation) is from approximately middle C (C4) = 261 Hz to "high A" (A5) = 880&n ...
Han Kyung-mi, and singers Huh Gak
Huh Gak (; born November 15, 1984) is a South Korean singer. He rose to fame after winning the 2010 Mnet talent competition series ''Superstar K 2,'' during which he became known as "the Korean Paul Potts."
Early life and education
Huh Gak wa ...
and Bobby Kim
Kim Do-kyun (; born January 12, 1973), more commonly known as Bobby Kim (Hangul: 바비 킴), is a South Korean hip hop and R&B artist.
Music career
His father, a trumpet player, influenced and exposed him to music. At an early age, he worke ...
. Bobby Kim complimented So's rapping in their duet track ''That Day, a Year Ago'', saying, "So has a talent in feeling the groove and it's as good as his acting skills." So also starred in a music video of the album's title song "Some Kind of Story".
In January 2013, So released another rap EP titled ''6 PM...Ground'', and his recording process aired on ''Music Triangle'' as part of Mnet
M-Net (an abbreviation of Electronic Media Network) is a South African pay television channel established by Naspers in 1986. The channel broadcasts both local and international programming, including general entertainment, children's series, ...
's ''Collabo One'' project. The four songs of the album were combined to make a 12-minute music drama starring So, Park Shin-hye
Park Shin-hye (, born February 18, 1990) is a South Korean actress and singer. She gained recognition as a child on TV shows such as ''Stairway to Heaven'' (2003), and ''Tree of Heaven'' (2006). Later on, she would achieve further success when ...
and Yoo Seung-ho
Yoo Seung-ho (; born August 17, 1993) is a South Korean actor who rose to fame as a child actor in the film '' The Way Home'' (2002). Since then, he has starred in many television series and movie films as a child and teenager.
After his two-yea ...
; which was also re-edited into individual music videos for each track.
In June 2014, So released his third electro-hip-hop EP titled ''18 Years'', which represents how long he has been in the industry since he debuted as an actor. He wrote and composed the title track (featuring the vocals of singer Satbyeol), and the other two tracks were collaborations with hip-hop group Soul Dive. He released another single in July 2015 titled ''So Ganzi'', his second collaboration with Soul Dive.
Ambassadorship
So was named the goodwill ambassador of Gangwon Province in an effort to boost tourism there, and a 51 kilometer-long trail in the province was named "So Ji-sub Road," which was unveiled to the public on May 20, 2012. He was the first Korean actor to have an entire road named after him.
He was also named promotional ambassadors for cyber crime prevention by the National Police Agency, helping to raise awareness and prevent cyber crimes such as hacking and Internet fraud by taking part in various promotional activities.
Investments
So is the owner of the Apgujeong-dong
Apgujeong-dong (; ) is a ward of Gangnam-gu in Seoul, South Korea. It is considered one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in South Korea. It was reported that housing price of Apgujeong-dong is approximately US$28,300 per one square meter bKorea M ...
branch of CJ Foodville's A Twosome Place.
He has also helped imported foreign films, having invested in art-house films such as the U.S.-British-French co-production ''Philomena
Philomena ( el, Ἁγία Φιλομένα), also known as Saint Philomena or ''Philomena of Rome'' was a young virgin martyr whose remains were discovered on May 24–25, 1802, in the Catacomb of Priscilla. Three tiles enclosing the tomb bore ...
'' (2014), the Chinese film '' Coming Home'' (2014), the Japanese crime thriller '' The World of Kanako'' (2014)" and the American horror film '' A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night'' (2015).
Personal life
In 2019, So confirmed that he was in a relationship with former announcer and reporter Jo Eun-jung. On April 7, 2020, the actor's label 51K confirmed that he had registered his marriage with Jo.
Filmography
Film
Television series
Web series
Music video
Variety show
Discography
Albums
Digital singles
Books
Awards and nominations
Listicles
References
External links
Official website
*
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:So, Ji-sub
South Korean male film actors
South Korean male television actors
South Korean male models
South Korean male web series actors
1977 births
Living people
People from Incheon
21st-century South Korean male actors
Jinju So clan
Best New Actor Paeksang Arts Award (film) winners