So Jisub

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Mon, 20 May 2013 20:24:21 -0400

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Mon, 20 May 2013 09:03:15 -0400

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Mon, 20 May 2013 09:03:08 -0400

That asian drama moment when So Ji Sub finally stars again in a romcom

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:55:42 -0400

donnapie:

he’s said he’s been wanting to do a rom-com for a while, so this is super exciting news ^^

So Jisub and Gong Hyojin confirm "The Master's Sun"

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 22:03:00 -0400

So Jisub and Gong Hyojin will appear in a new SBS drama, “The Master’s Sun,” written by the Hong sisters. It will air in August.

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Thu, 25 Apr 2013 18:27:37 -0400

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Thu, 25 Apr 2013 16:29:32 -0400

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Wed, 24 Apr 2013 18:54:56 -0400

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Wed, 24 Apr 2013 18:27:43 -0400

sjstoprak: Hanryu Station Vol.10 - 2013

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 17:31:05 -0400

sjstoprak:

Hanryu Station Vol.10 - 2013

the-editorial-photoblog: So Ji Sub for Sieg Fahrenheit...

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 02:32:28 -0400

the-editorial-photoblog:

So Ji Sub for Sieg Fahrenheit Spring/Summer 2013 Catalogue

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Sat, 20 Apr 2013 23:12:02 -0400

So Jisub's Star Column - Part 2

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 02:22:21 -0400

Translation credits to sojisub@tumblr, please. ^^

#Teenager So Jisub

Because of the feeling my appearance gives off, I get a lot of misunderstandings. I think that, if one were to choose actors in Korea who are evaluated wholly on their appearance, I would be in the top three. It’s not a brag. There was a person who once spit out words because of this appearance. “You can’t succeed because of those eyes. The day you succeed as an actor, I will crush my liver in my hands.”

Aren’t you curious as to whether he crushed his liver? He didn’t, of course, and I have occasionally met him doing work in this industry. I’m not sure if he remembers or if he really forgot about my existence back then, but we smile and greet each other. If he remembers, I think he might at the very least say, “Damn,” to himself.

I don’t know where to put the standard of success. Looking at the universal standard of success, I think I might have come at least halfway. At the end, when you consider that success, the evaluation of my looks had a lot to do with it. Female fans think of my masculine image, and the thing associated with the actor So Jisub is probably “loyalty.” This is embarrassing, but I have this chance to talk about my inner thoughts, and so I’m going to say it all. Of course, I believe that my fans will understand that some things, I need to keep in my heart and cannot reveal them, no matter how curious they may be. After all, that’s all a part of the actor So Jisub, the human So Jisub, and the man So Jisub.

As you already know, I never thought about doing this kind of work. I gave myself to exercise and planned to be swimmer So Jisub.

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.

My friend who stopped me from deviating in my teenage years. Teenage years are experienced by everyone and pass by without them knowing it. I experienced it, too. This is a fact that has never passed my lips in the 17 years since I have debuted. When I think about it now, I avoided it well and handled it like an adult. Although, to high school swimmer So Jisub, who lived as though he wasn’t there sometimes, it was an overwhelming incident. It was my parents’ divorce.

Because I heard their decision suddenly, it was confusing for me. I should have at least resisted to my parents. I think my parents might have wanted it from me, too. But it was their decision, and I had to respect their wishes as their child. Maybe that was why, instead of relying on the two of them, I realized my need for independence quickly. I needed to earn money. No, I wanted to make money and become an adult.

#Celebrity So Jisub

It was my third year of high school. The separation of Deux, which was at the top of the music industry then, was a shock to me. They were a group I really liked. The music of Deux was another form of liberation for me. But they announced the break-up. I was angered and disappointed. Then something like a dream happened. I had a chance to personally see Kim Sungjae, a member of Deux. “I can see Kim Sungjae?” I doubted my ears.

It was the filming set for a denim jean commercial. The moment of independence after the divorce of my parents, and the opportunity for a part-time job came to me, with the bonus of the chance to see Kim Sungjae. Without much thought, I volunteered for a spot. Luckily, I was accepted, and I waited only for the moment to film with Kim Sungjae. But then something happened. ‘Kim Sungjae is dead?’ It was shocking. I doubted my eyes and ears. He was someone I once thought of as an idol. I even had this thought. They say, “The sky is jealous of the talents of the genius.” 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 model. I met Seunghun hyung (Song Seunghun) then and we are still good friends. I treated him with respect, coming from a background of sports, where I was paranoid about following rank. There were a lot of things that was a good fit between us.

What’s funny when I think about it now is that all we did when we first met was bow once to each other. That one greeting has continued to 17 years. Seunghun hyung doesn’t say much. We have similar personalities. When we meet, it’s almost even somber. We’ve even just slept when we met because we were both too tired by work. Now, both Seunghun hyung and I have become more outgoing, but still when we meet, we’re boring. People around us say, “What do you two do when you meet?” We’re just happy staring at each other’s faces.

If you heard wrong, you might even misunderstand and think we love each other. But really, when we meet we don’t talk about much. We can just look at each other’s eyes and know. He recently came to the premiere of “A Company Man” without saying anything. Afterward, we went to go drink with a couple of close younger colleagues. Even then, hyung didn’t say much. He just patted my shoulder and said, “You did well.” I’m thankful to him.

Along with Seunghun hyung, there’s another friend I’m thankful for. No, now he’s a friend I despise and a friend I miss a lot. I still frequently go to see him. I always go alone. There’s something he used to really like, and I grip it in my hand and go. When I go to that place, he always greets me with a smiling face. “Are you here now? You’re a bit late today. You just released a new movie, huh?” Recently after “A Company Man” came out, I bought that thing he liked and went to visit him. “Yongha, you’re doing well, right?”

I first met him in 1998. He was pulling in popularity with the drama “See and See Again.” I was just a fresh-faced newcomer then. At that time, I participated in Andre Kim’s fashion show in Kyung-ju with Yongha as a model. Unlike me with my introverted personality, Yongha was the happy virus itself. He came up to me first with a greeting. I found out we were the same age. I was sold by his outgoing personality. Like that, without reason, we became close.

A lot of people saw our friendship strangely, because Yongha greeted anyone well with a smiling face while I was shy and didn’t say much. Even I think so now. Yongha took care of me and valued me.

Before he left for the sky in that manner, we were no different from real brothers. He was the one who gave me courage when I was having a hard time with skepticism about life in this industry. In some ways, he was like a lover in existence to me. There was this incident. He was about to break up with his girlfriend. I also knew her. My friend Yongha was about to be dumped by this girlfriend. I thought I couldn’t just let it happen, so I went and convinced the girlfriend. I had arranged a situation in which they could make up. Later, when he thanked me, I was happy at seeing his smiling face. I was just happy at him smiling, and I think I liked seeing him that way.

But he passed. I still can’t believe it. No, I didn’t want to believe it. My mind turned white after seeing his smiling face within the picture at the funeral. I was so sorry. I couldn’t forgive myself for not knowing what a hard time he had been going through. As time passed, I felt like he was heartless. I wish he had just said one word to me that he was having a hard time. To be honest, although we were close, we never talked much about personal things like family relations. It was just like that. I thought we were really close friends and knew everything about each other because we met and laughed and talked about things we had already planned on. He’s a friend I want to see. A friend I miss. I really wish I could see him again just once.

Yongha, you’re doing well, right?

#Variety So Jisub

So Jisub and variety.. It’s true that, as an actor, I avoid appearing on variety shows. However, looking at recent trends, I don’t think it’s the right thing to avoid it. I didn’t avoid it. Because I don’t appear on variety shows, the public only thinks of “Infinite Challenge.” But it’s already been 17 years since I debuted. At the beginning, I did main and supporting MC roles in show programs and appeared on variety shows often. I was even on the sitcom “Three Guys, Three Girls,” but I wonder if anyone remembers.

My relation with “Infinite Challenge” was solely because of Junha hyung. At the first filming, Junha hyung got a head injury, so we had to halt shooting. Afterward, I was determined to go back again, and that decision made the image of variety So Jisub that the public remembers.

Jung Junha is one of the few people I can pick without hesitation as one of my closest friends in the entertainment industry. A lot of people may think it strange. But thanks to that hyung, I decided to appear on “Infinite Challenge,” and I think my fans enjoyed the different facets of me they saw through that program. The staff also sent me endless love calls, so I got the feeling that I couldn’t not go.

To be honest, “Infinite Challenge” was in itself a challenge for me. I was largely burdened by the thought of how to make people laugh, and wondered if I could even make people laugh. When I actually went, it was harder than I had thought. I also got the sense that, even more than reflected on TV, the teamwork of the members was really good. They had extraordinary instincts as well. Seeing that, I had the thought that it was a good thing I didn’t become a gag man. You have to be smart, and there seems to be a lot of stress to be funny.

Because I’m an introvert, I didn’t talk very well. I heard a lot that I was blunt. Of course, I’ve changed a lot recently. I went into “Infinite Challenge” determined to throw away that image of myself. I just decided to give myself to Jung Junha, Yoo Jaesuk, Park Myungsoo, HaHa, No Hongchul, Gil and Jung Hyungdon. Of course, I tried really hard to be funny, but I couldn’t live up to them. That’s why I told them to treat me any way they wanted. And when they really began to treat me mercilessly, the laughter came. HaHa’s high kick really hurt. HaHa, I was a little angry. Ha ha ha.

Recently, a flower arrangement for the premiere of “A Company Man” came unexpectedly. It was the product of the hyungs of “Infinite Challenge.” The banner, which read, ‘Do you have any interest in joining MooHan Company?’ was really funny. And I was thankful. But I don’t know if I can appear again on “Infinite Challenge.” I like awkward comedy and slapstick comedy, but I can do those things with acting, so I think I will show them with my acting and not on variety for the time being.

I hope that people aren’t disappointed with me for not appearing on variety shows. There’s still a lot of acting I haven’t been able to show, so I want them to find satisfaction from that. I started acting in order to earn money, but now it’s really fun. Instead of showing my changed self on variety shows, I want to show it in projects. I’m working hard to change even within that. Please look forward to my transformations.

Today, I’m still running. I just keep walking on my way. I have a lot of people I’m thankful for. I’m always sorry that I can’t visit all of them one by one. So I’m going to work even harder. Thank you for watching me and believing in me. ‘Thank’ is a great word. That’s why I shout ‘thank’ again today. And I shout something else. ‘I love you’…

sjstoprak: Japanese Magazine Pict-Up 82 - 2013.04

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:34:56 -0400

sjstoprak:

Japanese Magazine Pict-Up 82 - 2013.04

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Tue, 16 Apr 2013 18:28:43 -0400

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Tue, 16 Apr 2013 18:28:09 -0400

So Jisub's Star Column - Part 1

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:59:00 -0400

Hey guys!

I recently stumbled upon a column So Jisub himself wrote for Naver News in 2012. I’ve translated it into a few parts, since it’s pretty long. Here’s part 1:

# I’ve changed into an extrovert?

Recently, a lot of people tell me that my personality has changed. They mean that I’m brighter and talk more than before. But I don’t think my personality itself has changed. I just think that, because I’ve been acting a long time and deal with a lot of people, the way in which I deal with them has changed. The people close to me will know. The kind of person I am, I mean.

I think I came to a sudden realization. By that, I mean that my personality makes people around me uncomfortable. The moment I realized that, I changed bit by bit. At first, the job “celebrity” did not fit in well with my nature. I even wondered, “Why do I have to look good to others?” Nowadays, although I don’t compromise, I do discussions and negotiations. That way, things will go smoothly. That much, I can do.

I also gave effort. When the main actor doesn’t talk or do anything on set, the staff seemed to get uncomfortable. I couldn’t let the atmosphere settle because of me. The filming seems to become more fun when I joke around and enjoy it. I think I’m in the process of slowly changing.

But I’m still shy when it comes to dealing with people, and I don’t try too hard to talk a lot normally. I have an introverted personality, so I’m the kind of person who keeps stress inside myself. I have my own know-to on how to relieve stress. That’s to be in a blank state with no thoughts.

I get stressed because I have a lot of thoughts in my head. I also try to relieve my complicated head by exercising. But the stress I get from acting has to be resolved by acting. People who have never tasted the joy of having control over their acting wouldn’t know the feeling.

There’s one more thing I like. That thing is hip-hop music, of which I have released several albums. To me, hip-hop is an activity I do because I really like it. If I wanted simply to show everyone a cool side of me, I would not have done hip-hop.

The reason I try my hand in these different activities is from my wish to show the public an image of me doing something I originally enjoy, not because I want to promote a new change. Instead of being trapped within a permanent image that the public knows me by, it’s a reflection of my will to show myself, even if it may be something people don’t want to see.

Instead of reactions to my attempts being, “That’s cool. It’s new. We have good expectations,” I would like them to be, “This person is very unique. He really is trying something that others don’t.” Just as I released a photo essay, I would like people to see my attempts as me trying to show myself and trying to enjoy them with everyone else.

# ‘So Ganji’ from the beginning? I became famous because I’m handsome?

Nowadays, people tell me that I’m handsome. 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.

When I think of it now, I think I endured it well. Even to myself, it was commendable. Someone said this. There are opportunities that come in life, and I took my opportunities well. But I don’t think it was simply just good luck. I prepared hard to grab those opportunities. I say this to my younger colleagues sometimes, that anyone who works hard to prepare can grab opportunities one day.

To be honest, I think I felt a great charm in acting while filming “What Happened in Bali.” It can be called the turning point in my life. At that point, I found acting really enjoyable and found drive. Before then, I didn’t really know the appeal of acting. I can’t say that I didn’t see it as only a means of making a living.

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.’

As the saying “wake up one day and find yourself a star” goes, if you look at actors, a lot of them became lightning stars right after debuting. Many people look at me now and assume that I must have been at the top from the beginning, but as I said before, I went through nine years of endurance. During that time, I failed at countless auditions and, without any income, deliberated on whether or not to remain an actor. Countless times.

After the success of my dramas, after the nickname ‘So Ganji’ stuck to me, a lot of change came to my life. The public looks at my outfits and hairstyle and fashion with interest. They observe every aspect of my behavior. I feel burdened sometimes. After that nickname came about, I pay a lot of attention to my fashion and hairstyle when I go outside. Of course, this is because of the public’s expectations of me.

I think people see me as a cool person because of the nickname ‘So Ganji.’ Some may know, but the word is a combination of my last name ‘So’ and the word ‘ganji,’ which indicates coolness. Sometimes, I think the entire country has been brainwashed by this nickname — that “So Jisub is always cool.”

Those who know me well know this, but I’m sloppy and the opposite of the public’s expectations. I enjoy wearing comfortable training suits while at home. Although the nickname ‘So Ganji’ is burdensome to me, it’s also a precious nickname. I’m the only person in the world who has that nickname.

People tell me that I only choose “cool” roles. I think, ‘But would they say the same thing if other actors had done my projects?’ I don’t think I can be an actor if, regardless of my projects, people keep seeing me that way. Look at ‘Always (Only You).’ He wasn’t a cool character. Sure, he’s a man who loves one woman purely, but within the movie he’s not very cool. This again, is the public having been brainwashed by the nickname ‘So Ganji.’ Sometimes I think, what kind of role would I have to do so that they will simply see my acting and not my visual?

I’m always open. I can do comedic roles in which I am destroyed. If I could meet a screenplay that I really like, I would like to show the public my other charms.

Somebody said I go well with concrete and a city image. But I moved my office with the simple reason that I wanted to see the sky. My new Western-style office is 1~2 floors. I made the first floor a cafe/sitting room for guests. I exhibited fans’ photos and sculptures, and put in a bar and sofa area so that guests can be served warm tea and engage in conversations.

The office is on the second floor, and I changed the concrete floors to wooden ones. To feel the warmth of the wood. You can see the sky clearly from the office. It’s warm and better than the concrete. I don’t go well with concrete.

# Deliberations on whether to eat ramen, 365-day diet

I’m the kind of person who gains weight as soon as I eat, so exercise is important. I wake up at a set time after setting an alarm on my phone. If I don’t have any particular schedule, I regularly exercise 2~3 hours daily. If I break this pattern for even a day, I gain weight.

Others eat special food while dieting, but I don’t. I just eat small amounts of the food I eat normally. I don’t eat ramen, chicken, jajjangmyun, and other heavy-calorie foods. I only eat ramen after seriously deliberating on it. It’s better to not eat something than to be be distressed after eating it. I’ve gotten used to this pain now. I think only of dieting 365 days a year.

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Sat, 13 Apr 2013 20:03:21 -0400