So Ji-sub is a South Korean actor under 51K Entertainment and is known for his leading performances in the films, ‘Confession’, ‘Always‘ as well as the television series, ‘Doctor Lawyer’, ‘Oh My Venus‘, ‘Phantom’, ‘Master’s Sun’, ‘Cain and Abel’, ‘What Happened in Bali’ and ‘I’m Sorry, I Love’. Also, he has released many hip-hop episodes.
Early Life and Education
So Ji-sub was born on 4 November 1977 in Seoul South Korea and later moved to Incheon. Due to his self-described introverted and insecure nature in childhood and teenage, he underwent professional swimming training for almost 11 years. In the Korean National Games, he won the bronze medal.
He spent his childhood with his older sister, who lives in Australia. At a young age, his parents got divorced. He began modelling at a young age alongside hip-hop artist Kim Sung-jae, who was a clothing brand celebrity face.
Career
In 1995, So Ji-sub was selected as a model for the jeans brand, 292513=STORM.He made his acting debut with the television drama, ‘Three Guys and Three Girls’ in 1996. His fellow model Song Seung-heon quickly rose to stardom, and it created some difficulty for Ji-sub to raise his profile. So, he appeared in small roles on television series in the late 1990s and at the beginning of the 2000s.
However, Ji-sub began to gain popularity after being cast as the second male lead in the 40-episodeSouth Korean drama series, ‘Glass Slippers’, co-starring opposite Kim Hyun-jooandKim Ji-ho in 2002.
His first lead role came with the time travel historical drama, ‘Thousand Years of Love’, co-starring with Sung Yu-ri and Kim Nam-jin in 2003. He gained more popularity with his 2004 hit drama, ‘Something Happened in Bali’ co-starring Ha Ji-won, Zo In-sung and Park Ye-jin. Later that year his breakout role came as a tragic hero in the critically acclaimed melodrama, ‘I’m Sorry, I Love You’, co-starring Im Soo-jung and this gave him more popularity and established him as a top actor in Korea and Asia.
So Ji-sub made his comeback to the entertainment industry after his mandatory military service in 2008 with the action film, ‘Rough Cut’, the debut feature of director Jang Hoon. In this film, played the role of a gangster, playing alongside Kang Ji-hwan and Hong Soo-hyun. Ji-sub’s role in this box-office success film garnered him a lot of appreciation from critics as well as from the audience.
In 2009, he co-acted with Zhang Ziyi, Fan Bingbing, Ruby Lin, Peter Ho, and Yao Chen in the Chinese-Korean co-production, ‘Sophie’s Revenge’ by Eva Jin. Later that year, he signed with a Chinese talent agency, ATN Entertainment.
Ji-sub received a lot of appreciation from the critics and the audience for his excellent performance in the Korean television series, ‘Cain and Abel’, co-starring Shin Hyun-joon, Han Ji-min, and Chae Jung-an in 2009.
After two years, he appeared in the 2011 melodrama, ‘Always’ in the role of a boxer who falls in love with a blind girl. He starred alongside Han Hyo-joo in the lead roles in this drama.
In 2012, he was the lead cast with actors Lee Yeon-hee,Um Ki-joon,Kwak Do-won, andSong Ha-yoon, in the television series, ‘Phantom’. She starred in the film, ‘A Company Man’ Lee Mi-yeon,Kwak Do-wonandKim Dong-jun.
So Ji-sub starred in the 2015 romantic comedy television series, ‘Oh My Venus‘, co-starring Shin Min-a. He played the role of a personal trainer of Hollywood stars in this hit drama.
After two years, he starred in the South Korean period action-adventure film, ‘The Battleship Island’, co-starring Hwang Jung-min,Song Joong-kiandLee Jung-hyun.
In 2018, he appeared alongsideSon Ye-jin in, ‘Be with You‘, a Korean romance film.
South Korean 2022 medical-legal drama, ‘Doctor Lawyer’, in the title role as a genius double-board surgeon turned lawyer, and the 2022 South Korean science fantasy action film, ‘Alienoid’ as a detective are the latest works of So-Ji-sub as of 2023.
Achievements
South Korean actor So Ji-sub, who has been active in the entertainment industry for around 27 years has achieved a lot in his career.
- So Ji-sub won the Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Wednesday-Thursday Drama at the MBC Drama Awards for ‘My Secret Terrius’ in 2018.
- Ji-sub won the Top Excellence Actor Award at the KBS Drama Awards for ‘Oh My Venus’ in 2015.
Ambassadorship
As an initiative to boost tourism, So Ji-sub became the goodwill ambassador of Gangwon Province in 2012 and a road was named after him as So-Ji-sub Road.
Ji-sub became the promotional ambassador forcybercrime prevention by the National Police Agency to raise awareness and prevent cyber crimes.
Military Life
So-Ji-sub served his two-year mandatory military service as a public relations officer at the Mapo District Office in 2005 and was discharged on 27 April 2007.
Personal Life
So-Ji-sub has been in a relationship with the former announcer and reporter Jo Eun-jung from 2019 and the couple registered their marriage on 7 April 2020.
Net Worth and Lifestyle
So-Ji-sub, who is popular for his roles in the television series, ‘Oh My Venus’, ‘What Happened in Bali’ and ‘I’m Sorry, I Love You’ has an estimated net worth of around 41 million US dollars as of 2023. However, information about his lifestyle is not revealed to the public.
Awards
- MBC Drama Awards 2018
Grand Prize (Daesang) – ‘My Secret Terrius’ (2018) - MBC Drama Awards 2018
Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Wednesday-Thursday Drama – ‘My Secret Terrius’ (2018) - MBC Drama Awards 2018
Bromance Award with Son Ho-jun and Kang Ki-young – ‘My Secret Terrius’ (2018) - KBS Drama Awards 2015
Top Excellence Award, Actor – ‘Oh My Venus’ (2015) - KBS Drama Awards 2015
Best Couple Award with Shin Min-a – ‘Oh My Venus’ (2015) - SBS Drama Awards 2013
Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries – ‘Master’s Sun’ (2013) - SBS Drama Awards 2013
Top 10 Stars – ‘Master’s Sun’ (2013) - SBS Drama Awards 2012
Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Drama Special – ‘Phantom’ (2012) - SBS Drama Awards 2012
Top 10 Stars – ‘Phantom’ (2012) - 19th Korean Culture and Entertainment Awards 2011
Grand Prize (Daesang) for Film – ‘Always’ (2011) - Korea Tourism Awards 2011
Special Achievement Award (2011) - 8th Donga TV Korea Lifestyle Awards 2010
Best Dressed Male of the Year (2010) - 3rdStyle Icon Awards 2010
International Style Icon (2010) - 47thGrand Bell Awards 2010
Achievement in Cultural Exchange (2010) - SBS Drama Awards 2009
Top 10 Stars – ‘Cain and Abel’ (2009) - SBS Drama Awards 2009
Top Excellence Award, Actor -‘Cain and Abel’ (2009) - 2nd Korea Broadcasting Grand Prix Award 2009
Actor of the Year in Broadcasting – ‘Cain and Abel’ (2009) - 22nd Grimae Awards 2009
Best Actor –‘Cain and Abel’ (2009) - 18thBuil Film Awards 2009
Best Dressed – ‘Rough Cut’ (2009) - 46th Grand Bell Awards 2009
Best New Actor – ‘Rough Cut’ (2009) - 10thBusan Film Critics Awards 2009
Best New Actor – ‘Rough Cut’ (2009) - 8thNew York Asian Film Festival 2009
Rising Star Asia Award – ‘Rough Cut’ (2009)
- 28thKorean Association of Film Critics Awards 2008
Best Actor – ‘Rough Cut’ (2008) - 29th Blue Dragon Film Awards 2008
Best New Actor – ‘Rough Cut’ (2008) - 25th Best Jeanist Awards 2008
Best Jeanist, International Category (2008) - 41st Baeksang Arts Awards 2005
Best Actor (TV) – ‘I’m Sorry, I Love You’ (2005) - KBS Drama Awards 2004
Popularity Award – ‘I’m Sorry, I Love You’ (2005) - KBS Drama Awards 2004
Netizen Award – ‘I’m Sorry, I Love You’ (2004) - KBS Drama Awards 2004
Best Couple Award with Im Soo-jung – ‘I’m Sorry, I Love You’ (2004) - KBS Drama Awards 2004
Excellence Award, Actor – ‘I’m Sorry, I Love You’ (2004) - 40thBaeksang Arts Awards 2004
Most Popular Actor (TV) – ‘What Happened in Bali’ (2004) - SBS Drama Awards 2003
Excellence Award, Actor in a Special Planning Drama – ‘Thousand Years of Love’ (2003) - Fashion Model Awards 2001
Ms. & Mr. Davidoff Award (2001) - SBS Drama Awards 2000
Best New Actor – ‘Joa, Joa,Cheers for the Women’ (2000)
Interesting Facts about So Ji-sub
- So Ji-sub started his career as an athlete and then as a model.
- ‘I’m Sorry, I Love You was the breakout drama of So Ji-sub.
- South Korean actor So Ji Sub is a multi-awarded actor.
- So Ji-sub is a rapper.
- In 2009, So Ji-sub established the then-one-man company 51K Agency.
- The ultimate favourite music genre of So Ji-sub is hip-hop.
- So Ji-sub calls himself an introvert.
FAQs
- What is the Instagram account name of So Ji-sub?
sojisubofficial - How old is So Ji-sub?
So Ji-sub is 45 years old as of 2023. - Who is So Ji Sub’s wife?
Jo Eun-jung is the wife of So Ji Sub.
