Biography

So Ji Sub was born on November 4, 1977. He started swimming in an early age. He continued swimming till his high school years. "In high school, I was a swimmer who was doing well. To be precise, I played water polo, which is known as “handball in water.” My skills were known. People would be surprised to hear that I was a national representative of junior water polo. I really enjoyed sports. It’s the same now, but my parents worried a lot because they thought I couldn’t adjust to teamwork because of my introverted personality. But the freedom inside water was a kind of release and escape for me. I parted water without desire, and the feeling I got in my body from it caught me from going into a bad path during my teenage years. Sports was a thankful existence for me. No, it still is my most thankful friend. "

Having an athletic background, he started modeling to make living. Being an avid fan of hip-hop group Deunx and Kim Seung Jae, he got the opprtunity to do modeling for denim jean with him. The sudden death of Kim Seung Jae was a big shock to him before taking the first step but "Like that, my mind’s idol passed. Ironically, the sudden death of my idol became an opportunity that opened another road for me. I had been supporting cast, but I was suddenly chosen as the main mode".

Being given the opportunity of starting his modeling work he met his long-time friends Seung Seung Hun and Park Young ha. He made his acting debut in the sitcom Three Guys and Three Girls and drama Model. But whereas fellow STORM model Song Seung-heon quickly rose to stardom, he 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 in 2002. "From my debut in 1995 to 2004’s “What Happened in Bali,” I had a nine-year period of obscurity. Back then, the flower-boy style of people like Jang Dong-gun, Han Jae-suk and Song Seung-hun were drawing popularity from the masses. During that time, I heard the phrase “Don’t be an actor” countless times."

So Ji Sub began to show his potential to become a true actor in 2004's What Happened in Bali, but was again overshadowed by co-star Zo In-sung. At the time, So thought he would end up being a supporting actor. But later that year, he had his breakout role as the tragic hero in smash hit I'm Sorry, I Love You. It made him a top star in Korea, as well as all over Asia. "As “What Happened in Bali” and “I’m Sorry, I Love You” became hit after hit, the awareness of the masses toward me changed. They accepted my own distinct charms and gave me love. I think that’s also when I earned the nicknamed ‘So Ganji.’"

He 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 thug 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 he attempted to break into the Japanese and Chinese markets and the results were I'm a ghost which was a 24 5-min episodes and the movie Sophie's revenge. "I wanted to do a bright and cheery role because I've played so many sad and gloomy ones." He acted in drama Cain and Abel the same year.

In 2010 he headlined the big-budget Korean War epic Road No along side Kim Haneul.

He published his first photo essay (The journey of So Ji Sub) about his travels during the summer of 2010. The book includes his encounters with various people such as rapper Tiger JK, novelist Lee Oi-soo, cartoonist Park Jae-dong, artists dusicnddilddil and Korea's youngest bird researcher Jung Da-mi. The book was a big success in Korea. He was subsequently named the goodwill ambassador of Gangwon Province in an effort to boost tourism there and a 51 km-long trail in the province was named "So Ji-sub Road," which was unveiled to the public on May 20, 2012. He is the first Korean actor to have an entire road named after him.

A professed longtime hip-hop lover, he rapped for two original tracks – Lonely Life and Foolish Love – under the artist pseudonym "G" or "G-Sonic" for the Rough Cut and Cain and Abel soundtracks, respectively. 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.

During 2011 to 2013 he played two other movies "Always" With Hanhyo Joo and A company man. His second photo essay which covers 150 days of filming the movie Always was published in 2012. He published his magazine called SONICe in the same year. Ghost in 2012 was his next drama project which was a mild-hit.

He experienced his first romantic-comedy role in drama The master's sun which was a mega hit and proved his popularity and acting ability once more.

Name : So Ji Sub

Hangul: 소지섭
Date of birth : 1977. Nov. 4
The place of birth : Seoul
School : Kwangsung middle school - Kwangsung high school - Korea National Sport University
ChungWoon University majored Acting.
Horoscope : Scorpio
Height : 182
Blood type : O
Interest : All kinds of sports
Specialty : Swimming (Medalist on National athletic meet)

Agency: 51k

Dramas:

Master's Sun | Joogoonui Taeyang (SBS / 2013) - Joo Joong-Won (Master)
Phantom (Ghost) | Yooryung (SBS / 2012) - Kim Woo-Hyun / Park Gi-Young
Road No. 1 | Rodeu Neombeowon (MBC / 2010) - Lee Jang-Woo
I am GHOST (BEE TV / 2009)
Cain and Abel | Kaingwa Abel (SBS / 2009) - Lee Cho-In
Sorry, I Love You | Mihanhamda, Saranghanda (KBS / 2004) - Cha Moo-Hyuk
Something Happened In Bali | Ballieseo saengkin il (SBS / 2004) - Kang In-Wook
Love of Thousands Years | Cheonnyeonjiae (SBS / 2003)
Glass Slippers | Yuri Goodu (SBS / 2002)
We Are Dating Now | Jikeumeun Yeonaejung (SBS / 2002)
Law Firm | Lopeom (SBS / 2001) - Choi Jang-Jeun
Delicious Proposal | Mashineun Cheonghun (MBC / 2001) - Jang Hee-Moon
Long Way | Meon Kil (SBS / 2001)
Cheers for the Women | Yeoja Manse (2000)
8 Love Stories | Reobeuseutori (SBS / 1999-2000) - Cheol-Soo (Ep.6 "Miss Hip-pop & Mr Rock")
Three Guys and Three Girls | Namja set Yeoja set (MBC / 1999)
Model (SBS / 1997)

Movies:

A Company Man | Huisawon (2012) - Ji Hyeong-Do
Always | Ohjik Geudaeman (2011) - Cheol-Min
Sophie's Revenge (2009)
Rough Cut | Yeonghwanun Yeonghwada (2008) - Gang-Pae
Gegege no Kitaro: Sennen noroi uta (2008)
Can't Live Without Robbery | Dodookmatgo motsala (2002) - Choi, Kang-jo

Awards:

2013 SBS Drama Awards: Top Excellence Award for mini series, Actor (The master's sun)
2013 SBS Drama Awards: Top 10 Stars Award (The master's sun)

2012 SBS Drama Awards: Top Excellence Award for Drama Special, Actor (Ghost)
2012 SBS Drama Awards: Top 10 Stars Award (Ghost)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1XZWoceJS8
2009 SBS Drama Awards: Top Ten Stars Award (Cain and Abel)
2009 SBS Drama Awards: Top Excellence Award - Actor (Cain and Abel)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJ5mBJxlSCQ‎
2009 45th Baeksang Arts Awards: Best New Actor Award ("Rough Cut")
www.youtube.com/watch?v=08s7tDpaQkE
2008 29th Blue Dragon Film Awards: Best New Actor Award ("Rough Cut")
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qtkc2qiFEzo
2005 41st Baeksang Arts Awards: Best TV Actor Award (Sorry I Love You)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bA8A4gBSI9g‎
2004 KBS Drama Awards: Excellence Award - Actor (Sorry I Love You)
2004 KBS Drama Awards: Best Couple Award with Im Soo Jung (Sorry I Love You)
2004 KBS Drama Awards: Popularity Award (Sorry I Love You)
2004 KBS Drama Awards: Netizen Award (Sorry I Love You)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQm4uNax7DA
2004 40th Baeksang Arts Awards: Popularity Award (What Happened in Bali)
2003 SBS Drama Awards: Excellence Award - Actor (Thousand Years of Love)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgPlSXkY0Fo
2003 SBS Drama Awards: Top Ten Stars Award (Thousand Years of Love)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8-hlI0v0Fs‎
2000 SBS Drama Awards: Best New Actor Award (Joa Joa and Cheers for the Women)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CI50jIn544c