South Korean actor Kim Ji Soo, a familiar face to many for his roles in hit dramas, received a heartwarming Filipino welcome as he stepped into Bahay ni Kuya as a special house guest for Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition.
The Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo star expressed his excitement in the confession room, sharing his hopes for his time inside. "This year, I'm turning 32 years old, so I'm also Kuya for them, and during these days I wanna make more friends here," he thoughtfully shared.
Ji Soo was greeted with enthusiasm by housemates Charlie Fleming and Bianca De Vera, quickly settling in and chatting with the male residents. The warm reception continued later as Bianca, Charlie, Kira Balinger, AZ Martinez, Klarisse de Guzman, Mika Salamanca, and Esnyr brought the house to life with an energetic performance of the iconic Filipino song, "Sikat Ang Pinoy."
The camaraderie was evident in the 24/7 livestream, where housemates were seen making plans to include Ji Soo in their group chat and even organize a samgyeopsal feast once they leave the PBB house.
Ji Soo's arrival yesterday marked a special occasion as he is the first non-Filipino celebrity to enter the current edition of the popular reality show.
Before his guest appearance, Ji Soo built a solid acting career, making his debut on stage in 2009. He gained early experience in several short films, notably taking the lead in the Korean-Filipino independent film Seoul Mates. His breakthrough came with the high school drama Angry Mom in 2015.
Since then, his career has flourished with roles in popular television series such as Cheer Up! (2015), Page Turner (2016), and the widely loved Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016), as well as the film One Way Trip (2016). In 2017, he captured hearts as a passionate rookie police officer in the JTBC fantasy romance comedy Strong Woman Do Bong-soon, followed by a role in OCN's crime drama Bad Guys 2.
Continuing to showcase his versatility, Ji Soo starred in JTBC's drama special Ping Pong Ball in 2018 and the Netflix youth romance drama My First First Love in 2019.
In 2020, he signed with KeyEast Entertainment. However, in 2021, a controversy arose when he was accused of school bullying and assault. While initially cast as the lead in the drama River Where the Moon Rises, he was ultimately replaced after six episodes. Shortly after, KeyEast announced the termination of his contract in May 2021.
Despite the challenges, Ji Soo enlisted for his mandatory military service in October 2021 and served in the social worker department after completing basic training.
Since mid-2024, Ji Soo has found a new chapter in the Philippines, returning to his passion for acting through GMA Network. He made a guest appearance in the action drama Black Rider and played a recurring role in the medical drama Abot-Kamay na Pangarap. This new beginning was solidified on 28 August 2024, when he officially signed a contract with GMA's talent agency, Sparkle.