“The Moment” with So Ji Sub – 9 Apr 2017

Honoured to have the opportunity to write my maiden review of So Ji Sub’s Fansmeet “Twenty: The Moment” in Singapore for Korea Monthly.

Do check out their website for updates on Korean culture, food, fan meets, concerts, movie and drama reviews at http://www.koreamonthly.com/ !

You can also check out the full review at: http://www.koreamonthly.com/review—so-ji-sub.html

 

The 2-hour fan meet left many “Mrs So” yearning for more, yet their hearts brimming full of love and contentment, after sharing “The Moment” with talented actor, So Ji Sub, to commemorate his 20th Anniversary in showbiz.

The Long Road to Fame

The phrase “Go Jor” (Get Lost) has been etched in viewers’ minds since the romantic-comedy “Master’s Sun”. He shines in melancholic roles but the switch to a livelier character proved his versatility. It was so well-received that “Joo Joong Won” brought So Ji Sub to our shores for “Let’s Have Fun in Singapore” FM in 2014. Now, he’s back to express gratitude to his fans for their unwavering support.

Having survived 20 years in the Korean entertainment industry is no easy feat. Slowly but surely, he made his way to become one of the top-notch actors in Korea. He now owns a management agency, 51K. What didn’t change in the course of 20 years is undoubtedly his humble personality.

I first noticed him in “The Glass Slippers”, but it was his collaboration with Jo In Sung and Ha Ji Won in “What Happened in Bali”, that captivated me. Their intriguing performance was one of great teamwork and chemistry. His breakthrough came in 2004, when he propelled to fame across Asia as “Cha Moo Hyuk”, a scam artist who only had months to live in “Sorry, I Love You”.

So Ji Sub is a very charismatic and natural actor, with eyes that tell a sad and sorrowful story. From low-time thug, scam artist, doctor, soldier, mercenary CEO, witty detective to personal trainer, he nailed it all.

He was trained to be a professional swimmer but debuted as a jean model. Acting was never in his dictionary but he excels in it and has since bagged many Top Excellence and Best Actor awards.

Hot vs Cold

There’s this clashing allure about So Ji Sub that draws you to him like gravity. He’s a cool, tough guy who loves the cute Minions. He’s generally shy but would turn into an energizer bunny bouncing around when he performs his favourite Hip Hop songs.

He’s a combination of oozing manliness on one end and an affectionate guy on the other spectrum. Beneath that cool and nonchalant outlook, lies a very warm and sincere soul. It takes time for him to open up and the best way is through some heart-to-heart conversations over drinks.

Friend for Life

He doesn’t make friends easily, but if he treats you as one, then you are a friend for life. His few close friends in showbiz are Hallyu stars Song Seung Heon and the late Park Yong Ha.

You would never see Ji Sub oppa in the same light again after Park Yong Ha’s demise. It was so heart warming, yet heart wrenching to see what he has done for his best friend and also taking care of his family like his own. He’s not just a true and loyal friend, but also very dependable, like a “shelter” to everyone around him.

Q&A

 

 

 

 

 

The MES Theatre is a small but cosy venue for the actor and his fans, with close interactions filled with much fun and laughter. Many came from all over Asia (Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea) just to share this moment with him.

The mysterious Scorpio is low profile, down-to-earth and a man of few words, but he seems more at ease and much happier now.

Given an option, he would choose bed scene over kiss scene because the former may be awkward in the beginning, but aids in building up chemistry over time. He reiterated that he doesn’t enjoy bed scenes or exposing his body unless it is really necessary. He also said no to a Korean remake of “50 Shades of Grey”.

One fan asked if a miracle would happen, what would it be? He hopes that everyone would be happy and free from worries. He’s pretty much a homely person and would only leave the house to hit the gym or meet friends for dinner and drinks.
When asked what he wishes to do when he reaches 40 years old, he joked that he is already 41 in Korean age. He was more worried about how to act well in his younger days. Now, he is more concerned about how he could portray roles that the audience can better relate to. He is not picky but would constantly challenge himself to taking on different roles.

Sweet & Thoughtful

The thoughtful hunk makes it a tradition to prepare handmade gifts for his fans. It was a customised ring the last FM tour. He also made candles and now a specially concocted peach fragrance perfume for a lucky fan in Singapore! How sweet.

The hunky star was generous with his hugs to the lucky ones who went on stage. The awkward & hilarious moment came when the 3rd fan rejected him and he had to request her to give him a back hug instead.

Doing What He Loves Most

While hip hop may not appeal to all, his fans have no qualms in showing their utmost support by standing up, grooving and shouting the lyrics together. This is what he enjoys doing most for he can share his personal stories and innermost thoughts through his songs.

This is the 2nd time I watch him perform with Soul Dive. They are really good at jiving up the atmosphere and instantly turned the theatre into a clubhouse. The upbeat songs that got the hall on its feet were the catchy “Boy Go”, “So Ganzi”, “Cola Bottle Baby”, “AOAOA”.

He also performed a rap ballad, “Picnic” and his latest single “Are you with Me?”, which is dedicated to his fans. He would continue acting as long as they still support him.

Road of No Regrets

What distinguishes every fan meet is not the rundown or games played, but the effort, sincerity, customisation & level of engagement. His responses are short and straightforward but we love his candidness compared to politically correct answers. Lack of love and attention were the main factors to his unhappy childhood. He never believed in Santa Claus or went shopping with his family. He hated swimming 8 hours daily just to become a professional swimmer. He didn’t exactly like acting but took it on for survival.

This proves that he is one determined guy who excels in whatever he puts his mind to. Be it the ups or downs in his life, he does not regret any moment for he has given his best shot. He would not want to change anything as he’s contented with where he is in life now. There’s no looking back for this toughie, but more of clicking the “going forward” button. His choice is to live in the moment. This is something I truly admire.

Life Philosophies

There are some life philosophies that you will learn from So Ji Sub’s fan meets.

He taught us to “Say only the good things to your other half. It makes them feel loved and will love you more in return. Focus on their good points instead of enlarging their flaws.” in his previous FM.

The biggest message that he would like to convey to his fans for his “Twenty: The Moment” FM tour is certainly, to “Live in the Moment”.

​Do not regret your choices or only to realize you have not lived your life the way you wanted to until it is too late.
He’s been through a lot of hardships in his younger days but he proves that he is the master of his own fate.  He’s thankful for his fans because he believes that he would not be here today without them.

If given a chance to speak to his younger self 20 years ago, he would not tell him what the future would hold, but for him to explore and learn things the hard way and finally, to be happy with what he achieves.

The fan meet ended on a high note with “Pick Up Line”. We know it is never enough, but it would have been great if there were more in-depth conversations and a “Hi-Touch” session.

 

Up next, we will see him acting alongside Hwang Jung Min and Song Joong Ki in “Battleship Island” (to be released later this year) as a street fighter in a labour camp. We can anticipate how he’s going to take his acting to yet another level. It is in his pipeline to shoot a new drama by end of 2017 as well.

Thank you for the fun and memorable night, Ji Sub oppa.

We look forward to your future works and sincerely hope that you will continue to do whatever makes you happy. May our Master find his Sun soon!