So Ji-sub

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 lead roles in television dramas and films. So has also released several hip hop EPs.

Early life So Ji-sub was born on November 4, 1977, in Seoul, South Korea and moved to Incheon when he was in his third year of elementary school. His parents divorced at a young age. He has one older sister who lives in Australia.

He tried out modeling simply because he wanted to pose alongside hip-hop artist Kim Sung-jae, 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 Three Guys and Three Girls and the television drama Model. But whereas fellow 292513=STORM model Song Seung-heon quickly rose to stardom, So had difficulty raising his profile. He appeared in small roles on television throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, He played his first lead role in the time travel historical drama Thousand Years of Love.

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. 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 in 2005 as a public relations officer with the Mapo District Office, and was discharged on April 27, 2007. He made his comeback in Jang Hoon's directorial debut Rough Cut, 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 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 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 live-action adaptation GeGeGe No Kitaro 2: Kitaro and the Millenium Curse.

So starred opposite Zhang Ziyi in the Chinese romantic comedy Sophie's Revenge, 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, 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.

So then played a boxer who falls in love with a blind girl in romantic melodrama Always (Korean title: Only You), directed by auteur Song Il-gon. It was the opening film of the 2011 Busan International Film Festival.

After portraying a workaholic detective in the cyber criminal investigative service in TV procedural Phantom, So starred in the film A Company Man, 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, a horror-romantic comedy written by the Hong sisters. 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, 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, 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 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. So won his first major award, the "Daesang (Grand Prize)" at the MBC Drama Awards for his performance. He also appeared in Choi Dong-hoon's science fiction action film Alienoid. So will next star in the Netflix action-thriller Mercy for None on June 6, 2025.

Book and music releases In 2010, So published his photo-essay 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 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, why he likes rainy days, and stories about his interactions with other celebrities and artists such as Tiger JK. Within ten days of its release, the book hit the bestseller list, and entered its third printing.

A professed longtime hip-hop lover, In 2011, he released another digital single 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 (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-essays 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 Han Kyung-mi, and singers Huh Gak and Bobby Kim. 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's Collabo One project. The four songs of the album were combined to make a 12-minute music drama starring So, Park Shin-hye and Yoo Seung-ho; 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.

Other ventures 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 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 (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

Year Title Role Notes 1996 Three Guys and Three Girls Kim Chul-soo 1997 Model Song Kyung-chul 1998 MBC Best Theater:"What You Cherish Can Never Be Forgotten" Dong-woo Episode 316 I Hate You, But It's Fine Chul-min 2000 Love Story:"Miss Hip-hop & Mr. Rock" Oh Chul-soo Episode 6 MBC Best Theater:"Have You Ever Said 'I Love You'?" Kyung-min Episode 389 Wang Rung's Land Park Min-ho Because of You Yoon Min-ki Joa, Joa Park Ji-sub Cheers for the Women Hwang Joon-won 2001 Long Way Ki-hyun Delicious Proposal Jang Hee-moon Law Firm Choi Jang-goon 2002 We Are Dating Now Choi Kyo-in Glass Slippers Park Chul-woong 2003 Thousand Years of Love General Guishil Ari / Kang In-chul 2004 Something Happened in Bali Kang In-wook I'm Sorry, I Love You Cha Moo-hyuk 2009 Cain and Abel Lee Cho-in / Oh Kang-ho I am GHOST Ghost Japanese drama 2010 Road No. 1 Lee Jang-woo 2012 Phantom Kim Woo-hyun / Park Gi-young 2013 Master's Sun Joo Joong-won 2015 Warm and Cozy Jeju Island restaurant owner Cameo; episode 1 2015–2016 Oh My Venus Kim Young-ho / John Kim 2018 My Secret Terrius Kim Bon 2022 Doctor Lawyer Han Yi-han 2025Mercy for NoneNam Gi-jun 2026 Agent Kim Reactivated Manager Kim / Kim Do-hyeon

Web series Year Title Role 2014–2015 One Sunny Day Kim Ji-ho

Television show Year Title Role Notes 1997 Decision Inkigayo 43 MC 1999 Declaration of Freedom Today is Saturday 1999–2000 with Chae Rim 2018 Little Cabin in the Woods Cast member with Park Shin-hye

Music video appearances Year Title Artist 1997 "Goodbye Yesterday" Turbo 1999 "For You" Ryu Chan 2001 "The End" Lee Hyun-woo "Beautiful Days" Jang Hye-jin 2005 "Mr. Flower" Jo Sung-mo 2008 "Lonely Life" G 2010 "Smiling Goodbye" 2011 "Pick Up Line" So Ji-sub "Take" Seo In-guk 2012 "Some Kind of Story" So Ji-sub 2013 "Picnic" So Ji-sub "6PM...Ground" So Ji-sub 2014 "18 Years" So Ji-sub "Boy Go" So Ji-sub

Discography Extended plays + List of extended plays, with selected details, chart positions, and sales Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales Corona BorealisReleased: March 13, 2012 Label: 51K & CJ E&M Formats: CD, digital download 8 KOR: 5,142 6PM... GroundReleased: January 23, 2013 Label: 51K & CJ E&M Formats: CD, digital download 7KOR: 4,824+ 18 YearsReleased: June 24, 2014 Label: 51K & CJ E&M Formats: CD, digital download — "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Single albums + List of single albums, with selected details, chart positions, and sales Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales Lonely Life Released: August 13, 2008 Label: Kingpin Entertainment

Label: SBS Contents Hub Formats: Digital download Pick Up LineReleased: February 17, 2011 Label: CJ E&M Formats: CD, digital download — So GanziReleased: July 22, 2015 Label: 51K & CJ E&M Formats: CD, digital download — "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Singles As lead artist + List of singles, with selected chart positions, year, and albums Title Year Peak chart positions Sales(DL) Album "Pick Up Line" 2011 62 Pick Up Line "Some Kind of Story" 2012 54 Corona Borealis "Picnic" 2013 23KOR: 175,312+ 6PM... Ground "Eraser" 56 "18 Years" 2014 81 18 Years "So Love" — "Cola Baby" 2015 — "Are You With Me?" 2017 — "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Soundtrack appearances Title Year Peak chart positions Sales(DL) AlbumKOR "Foolish Love" 2009—Cain and Abel OST "The Sound Of Memory" 2010—Road No. 1 OST"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Books

Awards and nominations + Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination Award ceremony Year Category Nominee / Work Result APAN Star Awards 2012 Excellence Award, Actor Phantom 2013 Top Excellence Award, Actor Master's Sun Asian Film Awards 2009 Best Newcomer Rough Cut Baeksang Arts Awards 2004 Most Popular Actor – Television Something Happened in Bali 2005 Best Actor – Television I'm Sorry, I Love You 2009 Best New Actor – Film Rough Cut 2010 Best Actor – Television Cain and Abel Best Jeanist Awards 2008 Best Jeanist, International Category So Ji-sub Blue Dragon Film Awards 2008 Best New ActorRough Cut Buil Film Awards 2009 Best Dressed So Ji-sub Best New Actor Rough Cut Busan Film Critics Awards 2009 Best New Actor Rough Cut Donga TV Korea Lifestyle Awards 2010 Best Dressed Male of the Year So Ji-sub Fashion Model Awards 2001 Ms. & Mr. Davidoff Award So Ji-sub Grand Bell Awards 2009 Best New Actor Rough Cut 2010 Achievement in Cultural Exchange So Ji-sub Grimae Awards 2009 Best Actor Cain and Abel KBS Drama Awards 2004 Best Couple Award So Ji-sub I'm Sorry, I Love You Excellence Award, ActorI'm Sorry, I Love You Netizen Award Popularity Award 2015 Best Couple Award So Ji-sub Oh My Venus Top Excellence Award, Actor Oh My Venus Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Korea Broadcasting Grand Prix Award 2009 Actor of the Year in Broadcasting Cain and Abel Korea Drama Awards 2012 Top Excellence Award, Actor Phantom 2016 Top Excellence Award, Actor Oh My Venus Korean Association of Film Critics Awards 2008 Best Actor Rough Cut Korean Culture and Entertainment Awards 2011 Grand Prize (Daesang) for Film Always Korean Film Awards 2008 Best Actor Rough Cut MBC Drama Awards 2018 Bromance Award So Ji-sub My Secret Terrius Grand Prize (Daesang)My Secret Terrius Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Wednesday-Thursday Drama New York Asian Film Festival 2009 Rising Star Asia Award Rough Cut SBS Drama Awards 2000 Best New Actor Joa, Joa, Cheers for the Women 2003 Excellence Award, Actor in a Special Planning DramaThousand Years of Love Top 10 Stars 2004 Top Excellence Award, Actor Something Happened in Bali 2009 Top 10 Stars Cain and Abel Top Excellence Award, Actor 2012 Top 10 Stars Phantom Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Drama Special 2013 Top 10 Stars Master's Sun Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Style Icon Awards 2010 International Style Icon So Ji-sub

Honors + Name of country or organization, year given, and name of honor or award Country or organization Year Honor / Award Korea Tourism Organization 2011 Special Achievement Award National Tax Service 2018 Beautiful Taxpayer

Listicles + Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement Publisher Year Listicle Placement Forbes 2010 Korea Power Celebrity 35th 2012 21st