# 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 leading roles in the television series Something Happened in Bali (2004), I'm Sorry, I Love You (2004), Cain and Abel (2009), Phantom (2012), Master's Sun (2013), and Oh My Venus (2015–16), as well as the film Rough Cut (2008). 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. Self-described as introverted and insecure in his childhood and teenage years, So trained to become a professional swimmer 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 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, and started to gain popularity when he was cast as the male second lead in Glass Slippers in 2002. 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.
In 2010 So headlined the big-budget Korean War epic Road No. 1, 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 (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.
In 2022, he starred in MBC medical-legal drama Doctor Lawyer in the title role as a genius double-board surgeon turned lawyer and appeared in Choi Dong-hoon's science fiction action film Alienoid.

### 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, So rapped for two original tracks – "Lonely Life" and "Foolish Love" – under the artist pseudonym "G" or "G-Sonic" for the soundtracks of Rough Cut and Cain and Abel 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.
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

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2002 | Can't Live Without Robbery | Choi Kang-jo | |
| 2008 | Kitaro and the Millennium Curse | Yaksha | Japanese production |
| 2008 | Rough Cut | Gang-pae | |
| 2008 | U-Turn | Ji-sub | Short film |
| 2009 | Sophie's Revenge | Jeff | Chinese and Korean co-production |
| 2011 | Always | Jang Cheol-min | |
| 2012 | A Company Man | Ji Hyeong-do | |
| 2015 | The Throne | King Jeongjo | Cameo |
| 2017 | The Battleship Island | Choi Chil-sung | |
| 2018 | Be with You | Jung Woo-jin | |
| 2022 | Alienoid | Moon Do-seok | |
| 2022 | Confession | Yoo Min-ho | |

### 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 |
| 1998 | I Hate You, But It's Fine | Chul-min | |
| 2000 | Love Story: "Miss Hip-hop & Mr. Rock" | Oh Chul-soo | Episode 6 |
| 2000 | MBC Best Theater: "Have You Ever Said 'I Love You'?" | Kyung-min | Episode 389 |
| 2000 | Wang Rung's Land | Park Min-ho | |
| 2000 | Because of You | Yoon Min-ki | |
| 2000 | Joa, Joa | Park Ji-sub | |
| 2000 | Cheers for the Women | Hwang Joon-won | |
| 2001 | Long Way | Ki-hyun | |
| 2001 | Delicious Proposal | Jang Hee-moon | |
| 2001 | Law Firm | Choi Jang-goon | |
| 2002 | We Are Dating Now | Choi Kyo-in | |
| 2002 | Glass Slippers | Park Chul-woong | |
| 2003 | Thousand Years of Love | General Guishil Ari / Kang In-chul | |
| 2004 | Something Happened in Bali | Kang In-wook | |
| 2004 | I'm Sorry, I Love You | Cha Moo-hyuk | |
| 2009 | Cain and Abel | Lee Cho-in / Oh Kang-ho | |
| 2009 | 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 | |

### Web series

| Year | Title | Role | Ref. |
| 2014–2015 | One Sunny Day | Kim Ji-ho | |
| TBA | Mercy For None | Gi-jun | |

### Television show

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1997 | Decision Inkigayo 43 | MC | |
| 1999 | Declaration of Freedom Today is Saturday | MC | |
| 1999–2000 | Music Camp [ko] | MC | 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 |
| 2001 | "Beautiful Days" | Jang Hye-jin |
| 2005 | "Mr. Flower" | Jo Sung-mo |
| 2008 | "Lonely Life" | G |
| 2010 | "Smiling Goodbye" | Soya n Sun [ko] |
| 2011 | "Pick Up Line" | So Ji-sub (feat. Shi Jin) |
| 2011 | "Take" | Seo In-guk |
| 2012 | "Some Kind of Story" | So Ji-sub (feat. Huh Gak and Mellow) |
| 2013 | "Picnic" | So Ji-sub (feat. Younha) |
| 2013 | "6PM...Ground" | So Ji-sub (feat. Mellow) |
| 2014 | "18 Years" | So Ji-sub (feat. Satbyeol) |
| 2014 | "Boy Go" | So Ji-sub (feat. Soul Dive) |

## Discography
### Extended plays

List of extended plays, with selected details, chart positions, and sales :
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales |
| Title | Album details | KOR | Sales |
| Corona Borealis | Released: March 13, 2012 Label: 51K & CJ E&M Formats: CD, digital download Track listing 11월 어느 날 그렇고 그런 얘기 (feat. Huh Gak & Mellow) 일년 전 그날 (with Bobby Kim) 북쪽왕관자리 (feat. soprano Han Kyung-mi) 그렇고 그런 얘기 (Inst.) 1년 전 그날 (Bobby Kim only) | 8 | KOR: 5,142 |
| 6PM... Ground | Released: January 23, 2013 Label: 51K & CJ E&M Formats: CD, digital download Track listing 소풍 (feat. Younha) 지우개 (feat. Mellow) 눈금자 (feat. 테이커스) 6시...운동장 | 7 | KOR: 4,824+ |
| 18 Years | Released: June 24, 2014 Label: 51K & CJ E&M Formats: CD, digital download Track listing 18 Years (feat. Satbyeol) Boy Go (feat. Soul Dive) 환상 속의 그대 (Inside the Illusion) (feat. Soul Dive) 18 Years (Inst.) Boy Go (Inst.) 환상 속의 그대 (Inside the Illusion) (Inst.) | — | — |
| "—" 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 |
| Title | Album details | KOR | Sales |
| Lonely Life (고독한 인생) | Released: August 13, 2008 Label: Kingpin Entertainment Formats: Digital download Track listing 고독한 인생 (and Amazing Soul, feat. Park Da-ye [ko]) 고독한 인생 (Inst.) | | |
| Foolish Love (미련한 사랑) | Released: November 4, 2008 Label: SBS Contents Hub Formats: Digital download Track listing 11월 4일 그 후...(intro) 미련한 사랑 (feat. Chae Dong-ha) | | |
| Pick Up Line | Released: February 17, 2011 Label: CJ E&M Formats: CD, digital download Track listing Pick Up Line (feat. Shi Jin) Pick Up Line (Inst.) | — | — |
| So Ganzi | Released: July 22, 2015 Label: 51K & CJ E&M Formats: CD, digital download Track listing So Ganzi (BLACK) (feat. Soul Dive, Newday) So Ganzi (WHITE) (feat. Soul Dive, Newday) | — | — |
| "—" 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 |
| Title | Year | KOR | Sales (DL) | Album |
| "Pick Up Line" (Feat. Shi Jin) | 2011 | 62 | — | Pick Up Line |
| "Some Kind of Story" (feat. Huh Gak and Mellow) | 2012 | 54 | — | Corona Borealis |
| "Picnic" (feat. Younha) | 2013 | 23 | KOR: 175,312+ | 6PM... Ground |
| "Eraser" (feat. Mellow) | 2013 | 56 | — | 6PM... Ground |
| "18 Years" (feat. Satbyeol) | 2014 | 81 | — | 18 Years |
| "So Love" | 2014 | — | — | Non-album singles |
| "Cola Baby" | 2015 | — | — | Non-album singles |
| "Are You With Me?" | 2017 | — | — | Non-album singles |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. |||||

#### Soundtrack appearances

| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Sales (DL) | Album |
| Title | Year | KOR | Sales (DL) | Album |
| "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

| Year | Title | Publisher | Notes |
| 2010 | So Ji-sub's Journey | Sallim | photo-essays |
| 2011 | Only You with So Ji-sub | 51K | photo-essays |
| 2012 | SONICe Vol. 1 | 51K & CJ E&M | magazine |

## 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 | Nominated |
| APAN Star Awards | 2013 | Top Excellence Award, Actor | Master's Sun | Nominated |
| Asian Film Awards | 2009 | Best Newcomer | Rough Cut | Nominated |
| Baeksang Arts Awards | 2004 | Most Popular Actor – Television | Something Happened in Bali | Won |
| Baeksang Arts Awards | 2005 | Best Actor – Television | I'm Sorry, I Love You | Won |
| Baeksang Arts Awards | 2009 | Best New Actor – Film | Rough Cut | Won |
| Baeksang Arts Awards | 2010 | Best Actor – Television | Cain and Abel | Nominated |
| Best Jeanist Awards | 2008 | Best Jeanist, International Category | So Ji-sub | Won |
| Blue Dragon Film Awards | 2008 | Best New Actor | Rough Cut | Won |
| Buil Film Awards | 2009 | Best Dressed | So Ji-sub | Won |
| Buil Film Awards | 2009 | Best New Actor | Rough Cut | Won |
| Busan Film Critics Awards | 2009 | Best New Actor | Rough Cut | Won |
| Donga TV Korea Lifestyle Awards | 2010 | Best Dressed Male of the Year | So Ji-sub | Won |
| Fashion Model Awards | 2001 | Ms. & Mr. Davidoff Award | So Ji-sub | Won |
| Grand Bell Awards | 2009 | Best New Actor | Rough Cut | Nominated |
| Grand Bell Awards | 2010 | Achievement in Cultural Exchange | So Ji-sub | Won |
| Grimae Awards | 2009 | Best Actor | Cain and Abel | Won |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2004 | Best Couple Award | So Ji-sub (with Im Soo-jung) I'm Sorry, I Love You | Won |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2004 | Excellence Award, Actor | I'm Sorry, I Love You | Won |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2004 | Netizen Award | I'm Sorry, I Love You | Won |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2004 | Popularity Award | I'm Sorry, I Love You | Won |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2015 | Best Couple Award | So Ji-sub (with Shin Min-a) Oh My Venus | Won |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2015 | Top Excellence Award, Actor | Oh My Venus | Won |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2015 | Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries | Oh My Venus | Nominated |
| Korea Broadcasting Grand Prix Award | 2009 | Actor of the Year in Broadcasting | Cain and Abel | Won |
| Korea Drama Awards | 2012 | Top Excellence Award, Actor | Phantom | Nominated |
| Korea Drama Awards | 2016 | Top Excellence Award, Actor | Oh My Venus | Nominated |
| Korean Association of Film Critics Awards | 2008 | Best Actor | Rough Cut | Won |
| Korean Culture and Entertainment Awards | 2011 | Grand Prize (Daesang) for Film | Always | Won |
| Korean Film Awards | 2008 | Best Actor | Rough Cut | Nominated |
| MBC Drama Awards | 2018 | Bromance Award | So Ji-sub (with Son Ho-jun and Kang Ki-young) My Secret Terrius | Won |
| MBC Drama Awards | 2018 | Grand Prize (Daesang) | My Secret Terrius | Won |
| MBC Drama Awards | 2018 | Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Wednesday-Thursday Drama | My Secret Terrius | Won |
| MBC Drama Awards | 2022 | Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries | Doctor Lawyer | Nominated |
| New York Asian Film Festival | 2009 | Rising Star Asia Award | Rough Cut | Won |
| SBS Drama Awards | 2000 | Best New Actor | Joa, Joa, Cheers for the Women | Won |
| SBS Drama Awards | 2003 | Excellence Award, Actor in a Special Planning Drama | Thousand Years of Love | Won |
| SBS Drama Awards | 2003 | Top 10 Stars | Thousand Years of Love | Won |
| SBS Drama Awards | 2004 | Top Excellence Award, Actor | Something Happened in Bali | Nominated |
| SBS Drama Awards | 2009 | Top 10 Stars | Cain and Abel | Won |
| SBS Drama Awards | 2009 | Top Excellence Award, Actor | Cain and Abel | Won |
| SBS Drama Awards | 2012 | Top 10 Stars | Phantom | Won |
| SBS Drama Awards | 2012 | Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Drama Special | Phantom | Won |
| SBS Drama Awards | 2013 | Top 10 Stars | Master's Sun | Won |
| SBS Drama Awards | 2013 | Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries | Master's Sun | Won |
| Style Icon Awards | 2010 | International Style Icon | So Ji-sub | Won |

### Honors

Name of country or organization, year given, and name of honor or award :
| Country or organization | Year | Honor / Award | Ref. |
| 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 | Ref. |
| Forbes | 2010 | Korea Power Celebrity | 35th | |
| Forbes | 2012 | Korea Power Celebrity | 21st | |