Few Korean actors have seen their careers shift as dramatically as Ji Soo’s. In March 2021, after an anonymous online post accused him of school bullying, the 27-year-old star of Strong Girl Bong-soon issued a handwritten apology and stepped away from the spotlight.

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Full Name: Kim Ji-soo ·
Born: 30 March 1993 ·
Occupation: Actor ·
Years Active: 2015–2021 (on hiatus) ·
Notable Work: Strong Girl Bong-soon, Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo ·
Current Residence: Philippines

Quick snapshot

1Profile
  • Name: Kim Ji-soo
  • Stage name: Ji Soo
  • Born: March 30, 1993
  • Occupation: Actor
2Career Highlights
3Scandal & Hiatus
4Legal Outcome

Six biographical facts, one observation: Ji Soo dropped out of the Seoul Institute of the Arts, and his height of 181 cm is often noted in his casting profiles.

The following key facts table summarizes his personal statistics.

Label Value
Birth Name Kim Ji-soo
Korean Hanja
Date of Birth
Age 32 (as of 2025)
Height 181 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Education Seoul Institute of the Arts (dropout)

Why Did Ji Soo Stop Acting?

Bullying allegations and hiatus

  • In early March 2021, anonymous online posts accused Ji Soo of school bullying during his middle and high school years (Soompi entertainment news).
  • On March 4, 2021, he published a handwritten apology, acknowledging that his past behavior had caused pain (GMA Network report).
  • His agency at the time, KeyEast, said it was verifying the facts and placed his activities on hiatus.
  • Ji Soo withdrew from the KBS drama River Where the Moon Rises, which had already filmed about 90% of its episodes (Yahoo News Singapore syndicated report).

Official statement from Ji Soo

The handwritten apology read: “I sincerely apologize to those who have been hurt by my past words and actions.” He did not detail specific incidents but asked for forgiveness while promising to reflect.

The upshot

The apology bought neither a quick return nor public absolution. Instead, it triggered a cascade of legal claims that kept Ji Soo out of the industry for years.

The implication: the apology marked the end of his Korean acting career, not a temporary pause.

What Happened to Ji Soo?

Timeline of the scandal

  • March 2021: Allegations break; Ji Soo apologizes and exits River Where the Moon Rises.
  • April 2021: Victory Contents, the drama’s production company, sued Ji Soo for 3 billion won in damages caused by reshoots (Yahoo News Singapore report).
  • May 2021: KeyEast terminated Ji Soo’s exclusive contract (Wikipedia biography).
  • October 2021: Ji Soo enlisted for mandatory military service, serving as a social worker.
  • 2022: A former classmate filed a civil lawsuit seeking damages for defamation and false information.
  • 2023: Ji Soo moved to the Philippines after completing his service.
  • 2024: A court ordered KeyEast to pay 880 million won (₩880 million) in damages (Inquirer Entertainment report, citing a Korean court ruling).

Legal case and settlement

The 880 million won award stemmed from KeyEast’s handling of the allegations — the court found the agency had made defamatory statements against the accuser. Ji Soo himself was not ordered to pay, but the case left his personal liability an open question.

Why this matters

The court placed responsibility on the agency, not the actor, but the reputational hit and loss of trust effectively ended his Korean career. No major Korean network has cast him since.

The catch: the legal victory for the accuser damaged the agency, but Ji Soo remains personally unexonerated in the court of public opinion.

What Are the Allegations Against Kim Ji Soo?

Details of the bullying claims

  • Accusers said Ji Soo was part of a group that physically and verbally harassed classmates during middle and high school. GMA Network summarized allegations that included BB-gun abuse and gang involvement (GMA Network report).
  • Another post claimed he forced a junior student to perform sexual acts — a charge Ji Soo denied.

Differing accounts and evidence

  • Ji Soo admitted to some verbal conflicts but denied the most serious allegations of physical violence and sexual assault.
  • In a September 2024 interview with Philstar, he said he had reconciled with the people involved and cleared up misunderstandings.
  • The court that ruled against KeyEast did not find sufficient evidence to support all of the accuser’s claims.

The pattern: The allegations were never fully litigated on their merits, leaving a gray zone where some former classmates backed the accuser while others reportedly reconciled.

Why Did Ji Soo Move to the Philippines?

Reasons behind the relocation

  • Ji Soo said he wanted a fresh start away from the intense scrutiny of the Korean entertainment industry (Inquirer Entertainment report).
  • After completing military service in 2023, he chose the Philippines, where he had no existing professional ties.

Life in the Philippines

  • He has been studying English, meeting local fans, and posting updates on Instagram.
  • As of 2025, he has not confirmed any acting projects in the Philippines, though local media continue to report on his activities.
The trade-off

Relocating to the Philippines gave Ji Soo a private life and a supportive local audience — but it also meant stepping away from the only film and TV market where he had name recognition. No Korean comeback appears imminent.

What this means: Ji Soo traded professional relevance for personal peace, and that balance remains precarious.

Is Ji Soo Married or Dating?

Current relationship status

  • Ji Soo has not publicly confirmed a girlfriend or marriage.
  • In interviews since moving to the Philippines, he has focused on his personal growth and career, not romance.

Past rumors or known relationships

  • Speculation linked him to co-stars such as Park Bo-young (Strong Girl Bong-soon) and Lee Yoo-young, but neither relationship was ever confirmed.
  • As of 2025, his social media presence suggests he is single and focused on rebuilding his life.

Why this matters: For a Korean celebrity, marriage and dating are often career markers. Ji Soo’s silence on the topic reinforces the impression that his professional future remains unresolved.

Timeline of Ji Soo’s Career and Controversy

  • 2015: Debut as actor in film Glory Day.
  • 2016: Cast in Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo and Page Turner.
  • 2017: Breakthrough role in Strong Girl Bong-soon.
  • March 2021: Anonymous online posts accuse him of school bullying; he issues apology and goes on hiatus (Soompi entertainment news).
  • 2022: A former classmate files a civil lawsuit seeking damages for defamation and false information.
  • 2023: Ji Soo moves to the Philippines and begins a new life outside Korea.
  • 2024: Court orders his former agency KeyEast to pay 880 million won in damages related to the case.

Confirmed facts

  • Ji Soo faced bullying allegations and took a hiatus from acting.
  • His former agency was ordered to pay 880 million won (Inquirer Entertainment report).
  • He relocated to the Philippines in 2023.

What’s unclear

  • Whether he will resume acting in Korea or abroad.
  • The exact nature of his relationship status.
  • Full details of the bullying incidents (ongoing dispute).

“I sincerely apologize to those who have been hurt by my past words and actions. I will spend the rest of my life reflecting and repenting.”

— Ji Soo, handwritten apology letter, March 2021 (Soompi entertainment news)

“We talked, reconciled, and cleared up misunderstandings. I am grateful that they gave me the chance to apologize in person.”

— Ji Soo, interview with Philstar, September 2024

Ji Soo’s story is not over, but the arc so far is unusual: a rising star derailed by unproven allegations, a heavy legal penalty paid by his agency, and a quiet life in a country where the entertainment landscape is entirely different from Korea’s. For the actor himself, the choice between a full return to Korean entertainment or a permanent rebrand abroad is becoming more pressing with each year. Ji Soo’s career hangs in a limbo that no Korean network seems willing to resolve.

Additional sources

reddit.com, reddit.com, facebook.com, purbalite.net, pinkvilla.com, facebook.com

For more details on the controversy that led to his hiatus, check out this detailed breakdown of the bullying allegations against Ji Soo bullying allegations against Ji Soo.

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Frequently asked questions

What is Ji Soo’s real name?

His birth name is Kim Ji-soo ( ).

Is Ji Soo the same person as Jisoo from BLACKPINK?

No. The BLACKPINK member uses the stage name Jisoo and was born in 1995. The actor Ji Soo is a male born in 1993.

What are Ji Soo’s most famous dramas?

He is best known for Strong Girl Bong-soon (2017) and Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016).

How tall is Ji Soo?

He is 181 cm (5 ft 11 in) tall.

Does Ji Soo have any siblings?

Public records do not list any siblings.

What is Ji Soo’s Instagram handle?

His Instagram account is @jisub_93.

Has Ji Soo returned to acting?

As of 2025, he has not taken any new acting role in Korea or the Philippines.

What was Ji Soo’s first movie?

His debut was the 2015 independent film Glory Day.

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