Who is So Ji-sub? Everything You Need to Know

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awards: 2004 · Something Happened in Bali - Baeksang Arts Award for Most Popular Male in Television
2008 · Rough Cut - Blue Dragon Film Award for Best New Actor
2009 · Rough Cut - Baeksang Arts Award for Best New Actor in Film
2005 · I'm Sorry; I Love You - Baeksang Arts Award for Best Leading Actor in TV

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Childhood & Early Life

he was born on November 4, 1977 in Seoul, South Korea. So Ji-sub’s parents separated when he was very young. He has an older sister who currently lives in Australia.

He was quite insecure as a kid and grew into a shy and introvert teenager. He was also physically weak as a child, so he started taking swimming lessons when he was 10.

His interest in swimming grew so intense that he even won a bronze medal at ‘The National Korean Games’. However, this victory came after his commitment and dedication towards swimming for ten long years.

In 1995, he became a ‘by chance’ Jeans model. He accompanied his friend to the modeling audition for a clothing line, ‘STORM’. Interestingly, his friend was not selected, while So Ji was picked.

He claims that he didn’t have any interest in becoming a celebrity, but because he loved hip-hop so much that he didn’t want to miss the chance of posing with hip-hop artist, Kim Sung-jae.

Two years after being selected to model for STORM, he got his first television role.

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Early Career

Ji-sub made his television debut in 1996 with the TV sitcom, ‘Three Guys And Three Girls’. In 1997, he appeared in SBS drama series, ‘Model’.

He didn’t get much attention during his initial days. He appeared in a handful of TV series between 1997 and 2002. These include ‘I Hate You, But It’s Fine’ (1998), ‘Wang Rung’s Land’ (2000), ‘Because of You’ (2000), ‘Joa, Joa’ (2000), ‘Cheers for the Women’ (2000), ‘Delicious Proposal’ (2001), ‘Law Firm’ (2001), and ‘We Are Dating Now’ (2002).

His major role (as second lead) in ‘Glass Slippers’ in 2002 brought him the much needed fame, and he gradually started climbing the stairs of success to a grand career. In 2003, he appeared in SBS’ ‘Thousand Years of Love’.

Television & Movie Career

In 2004, he had his breakout role in the critically acclaimed drama, ‘I’m Sorry, I Love You’, where he played a small street-artist who was abandoned by his parents, and later adopted by a couple. He rose to fame with this role.

In 2008, after a long break, he came back with ‘Rough Cut’—a movie about a thug who was also a wannabe actor. It was a low budget movie, but became a major hit at the box-office. His performance was appreciated by the critics and his fans.

In 2009, after doing a handful of movies and television series, he starred opposite Zhang Ziyi in a Chinese romantic comedy, ‘Sophie’s Revenge’. He later signed with Chinese talent agency, ‘ATN Entertainment’ to explore other markets.

He returned to Korean drama with SBS’ ‘Cain and Abel’ which was based on sibling rivalry between two doctors. His performance in the series was very well received by the critics as well as the audience, and got him several awards and accolades.

In 2010, he worked in the big-budget Korean epic ‘Road No.1’. The movie failed at the box-office, but opened opportunities for him to take his career forward.

In 2011, he worked in melodramatic ‘Always’ which eventually was screened at the ‘2011 Busan Film festival’. The film became a part of the opening ceremony of the festival.

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In 2012, he worked in TV drama ‘Phantom’ where he played the role of a workaholic detective. He also starred in a movie, ‘Company Man’, and later appeared in a horror flick, ‘Master’s Sun’ in 2013.

In 2015, he again starred in a romantic comedy called ‘Oh My Venus’ where he portrayed the role of a celebrity trainer who falls in love with a lawyer, and eventually heals her and himself on an emotional level.

In 2017, he starred in ‘Battleship Island’ – a historical action film. In 2018, he is set to star in ‘Now I Will Meet You’ alongside Son Ye-jin, who has also worked with So in the 2001 drama ‘Delicious Proposal’.

Music Career

He loves hip-hop so much that he has released his own singles under pseudonym ‘G’/’G-Sonic’. A few of his tracks are ‘Lonely Life’ (Soundtrack of ‘Rough Cut’) ‘Foolish Love’ (Soundtrack of ‘Cain and Abel’).

In March 2012, he released his first mini-album ‘Corona Borealis’. In January 2013, he released another rap album, ‘6 PM...Ground’. In June 2014, he released his third hip-hop album, ‘18 Years’ and in 2015, he released another single So Ganzi’ for his fans.

Other Works

So enlisted himself as a public relations officer with military in 2005 in Mapo District. He was also named the goodwill ambassador of Gangwon Province to attract more tourists to the place. A road was also named after him in the province (So Ji-sub Road).

He was also selected to be the promotional ambassador to raise awareness against prevention of cyber crimes by National Police Agency.

Awards & Accomplishments

He has earned a number of awards for his mind blowing performances including ‘Best Actor at the 2009 Grimae Awards’ (Cain and Abel), ‘45th Baeksang Arts Award’ for ‘Best Actor’ (Rough Cut), ‘2004 KBS Drama’s Popularity Award’ (I’m Sorry, I love You), ‘2009 SBS Drama Award’ for ‘Excellence as an Actor’, ‘3rd Asian Film Awards’ for ‘Best Newcomer’, ‘8th New York Asian Film Award’ for ‘Rising Star Asia Award.

Personal Life

So Ji-sub is the owner of Apgujeong-dong branch of CJ Foodville's A Twosome Place.

He is single, but was rumored to be dating girl idol group ‘After School’s Lee Joo Yeon in the past.

So Ji-sub Biography