Ji Soo is a South Korean actor and model who has been in a number of films and television programs since his debut in the short film ‘Beastie Boys’ in 2007. Ji began performing in high school and college with theatre and has been in various short films as an acting and martial arts aficionado. And as he became increasingly well-known for his commanding on-screen presence and excellent looks, he began to receive more television parts. His first claim to fame came in 2015, when he was cast in the hit TV sitcom ‘Angry Mom,’ which catapulted him into the spotlight and made him a household name. Several drama roles followed, with audiences appreciating his vast acting abilities in TV series such as ‘Page Turner,’ ‘Cheer Up,’ and ‘Moon Lovers,’ as well as films such as ‘Seoul Mates’ and ‘One Way Trip.’ Apart from that, his enthusiasm for acting led him to the web series platform in 2015 with ‘The Lunchbox,’ and he afterwards appeared in various Korean television variety shows such as ‘I Live Alone’ and ‘Showbiz Korea.’
Childhood and Adolescence
Ji Soo was born on March 30, 1993, in Seoul, South Korea’s capital city. In an interview, he spoke openly about his desire to perform since he was a child. He admitted to being addicted to watching television and reading about the lives of various actors in tabloids and on entertainment news channels.
Growing up in a typical South Korean family in Seoul made him restless, and he wanted to pursue a new career path. He was already practicing for Judo in elementary school, so it was either acting or martial arts for him. He also competed in national Judo tournaments, winning a number of them. He was so enamored with Judo that he considered pursuing a career in the sport throughout his early adolescence, but during his middle school years, he fell in love with performing arts and abandoned judo totally.
He began acting in high school and performed in a number of theatre shows at the time, including ‘The Dreamers,’ ‘Monsters,’ and the ’13th Hero.’ He also continued to hone his acting skills by appearing in a number of low-budget short films, including ‘Beastie Boys’ and ‘Boy in Pain.’ After acquiring experience in the early years, he was already a highly competitive actor, and when he eventually started with professional acting parts, he felt instantly at ease in front of the camera.
After winning an open audition, his acting ambitions lead him to JYP Entertainment’s office in 2012, where he was accepted as a trainee, an opportunity he gratefully accepted in order to master different aspects of the art of acting. He began holding auditions, and prior acting experience, as well as a nice height and attractive features, worked in his favor.
Career of Ji Soo
Ji Soo was chosen for one of the initial tryouts for a series called ‘To the Beautiful You,’ in which he played a student. Ji Soo’s role was only for a few minutes, and it was a cameo appearance. However, even in such a minor role, he managed to get the attention of a few producers, which made it easier for Ji to land further minor roles.
His major performance in the low-budget independent film ‘Seoul Mates,’ which he starred in in 2009, became one of the finest testaments to his talent.
In 2012, he appeared in another cameo in the TV series ‘Family,’ and for the next two years, he continued to appear in cameo roles in various TV series and performed short films to keep himself well practiced.
Finally, in 2015, he struck gold when he landed a key role in the smash series ‘Angry Mom,’ in which he played Go Bok-dong. It was a family drama series about a young high school student who drops out after giving birth to a child. The show was a huge success, winning accolades at the MBC Drama Awards and the APAN Star Awards. Naturally, the show benefited the entire group, including Ji Soo.
Ji Soo was also seen in another career-defining role in the same year. In the high school drama ‘Cheer Up!,’ he played the complicated role of Seo Ha-joon. He portrayed a suicidal high school kid who is one of the best students in the school but is always pushed to perform better by his father. The series was also a hit, paving the stage for Ji Soo to have a strong start to 2016, which turned out to be the best year of his professional career.
He made his acting debut in the miniseries drama ‘Page Turner,’ about three high school kids who dream to be pianists. The plot centred around a girl who was blinded in an accident and sought assistance from Ji’s character, who was also an aspiring pianist.
Ji also starred as Kim Soo-cheol in the medical drama ‘Doctor Crush’ as a guest star in numerous episodes. Then followed ‘Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo,’ a historical drama that catapulted Ji to the forefront of the best young supporting performers. Ji took up the role of Wang Jung, the 14th prince. Despite the fact that his role was minor, it was noticed by the critics, and Ji was praised for his performance.
Ji Soo starred as a lawyer in the 2016 drama series ‘Fantastic,’ in which he changed his ways after falling in love with a girl. Ji Soo also starred in the film ‘One Way Trip,’ which was a critical and commercial success and recounted the story of four closest friends embarking on a journey that would change their lives forever.
Ji wrapped out the busiest year of his life with a cameo in the series ‘Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-ju,’ and kicked off 2017 with a cameo in the series ‘Strong Woman Do Bong-soon.’ He is currently scheduled to participate in the series ‘Bad Guys 2: City of Evil’ later this year.
Ji Soo has been nominated for a number of awards, including the MBC Drama Awards, Blue Dragon Arts Awards, and Baeksang Arts Awards, and in 2015 he won the Rising Star Award at the 11th Max Movie Award.
Aside from his film and television performances, he is a frequent on variety shows such as ‘I Live Alone,’ ‘Knowing Bros,’ and ‘Showbiz Korea.’
Personal Experiences of Ji Soo
Ji Soo has been openly unmarried since 2014, claiming that he hasn’t found time for relationships, although he would want to fall in love with the right women.
Kim Hee-sun, Ji’s ‘Angry Mom’ co-star, is the object of his celebrity crush.
Ji Soo was hospitalized for a short time in September 2016 due to a bone marrow infection for which he underwent surgery.
Estimated Net Worth
Ji Soo net worth is about $15.1 Billion. He earned this handsome amount from the acting and the modeling career.