Actor So Ji-sub (蘇志燮) gifted gold to the 300 cast and crew members of the SBS drama 'The Art of Negotiation' (金特務：本色回歸), according to Korean media reports. Each piece of gold weighed 1 gram, with the total value reportedly close to 100 million won. This lavish gift was a token of appreciation for the team's dedication and hard work over several months. So previously made headlines for gifting half-don gold to the cast during the filming of Netflix's 'A Killer Paradox' (살인자ㅇ난감) last year.
'The Art of Negotiation' is an action-revenge drama dubbed a 'father universe' story, where an ordinary father transforms into the world's most dangerous man to find his only daughter. The series stars So Ji-sub, Choi Dae-hoon (崔代勛), Yoon Kyung-ho (尹敬浩), Son Na-eun (孫娜恩), and Joo Sang-wook (朱相昱). It achieved over 20% viewership by its fourth episode and recorded its highest rating of 23.1% by the eighth episode. Although the drama has concluded, two special episodes were added. Additionally, the production team is scheduled for a celebratory reward vacation to Guam from August 18 to 21.
Previously, So Ji-sub explained his reason for gifting gold in an interview, stating that he wanted to avoid any misunderstanding of product sponsorship and hoped that if the recipients ever needed emergency funds, they could sell the gold. He chose gold for its practicality.
So Ji-sub is famously known by the nickname 'So Ganji' (소간지). This moniker combines his surname 'So' (소) with the Korean slang 'Ganji' (간지), which originates from the Japanese word 'kanji' (感じ) and implies 'stylish, cool, or charming.' Thus, 'So Ganji' symbolizes So Ji-sub's unique charisma, whether in his appearance, aura, or fashion, and is a beloved nickname among his fans.
Korean Netizen Comments
1. Usually, celebrities give products they endorse, but giving gold is truly extraordinary.
2. He's so cool! I hadn't seen 'I'm Sorry, I Love You' before, but after watching 'The Art of Negotiation,' I want to watch all of So Ji-sub's past works.
3. This is insane! 'The Art of Negotiation' was really good.
4. It's been a long time since I've seen such a great K-drama. I hope 'So Ganji' earns a lot of money so he can continue to make good works. I'm always grateful to him and hope to see his new projects soon. Every time I see him, I think, 'This is how money should be spent.' He's always so cool.
5. Truly admirable, sharing his success with the hard-working crew.
6. So cool, Chief Kim!
7. No wonder everyone calls him 'So Ganji,' he's unbelievably cool.
8. What an amazing gift! And it's a gift that appreciates over time.
9. Wow, his way of doing things is truly 'Ganji' ㅋㅋㅋㅋ He completely lives up to the 'So Ganji' nickname.
10. Among male actors his age, it's rare to see someone live so freely and do what they want. You can't help but root for him.
11. Wow, just his involvement in film investment and distribution already gives such a good impression.
12. Oh my god, I envy 'So Ganji.' I wish I had the financial means to give gold to everyone.
13. It's been so long since I watched a K-drama ㅠㅠ, 'The Art of Negotiation' was incredibly good.
14. It's thoughtful of him to consider that they might need to sell it for cash later. That's very sensible.
15. Honestly, given So Ganji's status, no one would say anything if he gave sponsored products, but he still thought of the crew and gave gold... truly cool.
16. The reason for choosing gold as a gift is so cool and tasteful.
17. So Ji-sub is genuinely cool. You can see his passion for both the film industry and the entire media world.
18. So Ji-sub is really good at making money, and also good at spending it, always in worthwhile ways.
19. During the pandemic, when remote learning started, So Ji-sub donated about 500 tablets to elementary schools in Gyeonggi Province. That's truly remarkable.
20. He truly lives up to his nickname 'So Ganji.' The reason for choosing gold is excellent.
21. I heard he always prepares gifts when he goes to different places. He's a true gentleman.
22. As a film fan, I will always support So Ji-sub.
23. What's cool isn't just giving gold, but the thought he put into choosing the gift. It's truly heartwarming.
24. Wow... this person... his heart... even his thoughts are amazing...
25. To avoid being mistaken for sponsored products, he just gave gold. That's wild.
26. So cool ㅋㅋ I binged it yesterday, it was incredibly good!!!
27. Being so good to the crew is really cool! While any gift would be appreciated, receiving gold must be even happier.
28. Just yesterday, I saw news that he had a simple wedding and donated 50 million won. It turns out there are more and more heartwarming stories about him.
29. So Ji-sub once explained in an interview that he chose gold to avoid any misunderstanding of brand sponsorship and also hoped that if the recipients ever needed it, they could sell it for living expenses. That's why he chose practical gold as a gift.
30. Oh my god ㅋㅋ He's literally Chief Kim himself! Dad, I want one too!
31. No wonder everyone calls him 'So Ganji'... Personally, I'm not usually comfortable with large age gaps in marriage, but if it's So Ganji, I can accept it ㅠㅠ If it's a man like him, I'd marry him even with a 30-year age difference ㅋㅋㅋㅋ.
32. He's truly generous in spending money on meaningful things. He's an actor I have a lot of admiration for.
33. He's always been so charming and stylish ㅋㅋㅋㅋ.
34. Wow, the recipients must have been incredibly happy. It's clear there's a reason why someone so capable at work can remain popular for so long without any negative news.
