Career highlights of the model-turned-actress before her breakout role on ‘Squid Game’
South Korean actress Hoyeon Jung is everywhere—and we’re not complaining.
The actress, who starred in what is now officially the most-watched show ever on Netflix, has quickly become a household name. In less than a month since its premiere, Hwang Dong-hyuk’s drama thriller Squid Game raked in 111 million views. Jung (who plays Kang Sae-byeok or player No. 067 on the show) similarly amassed 15 million followers in just three weeks, becoming the most followed South Korean actress on Instagram.
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For the 27-year-old, getting on the runway model-to-actress pipeline was something she considered a necessary, calculated move. In an interview with Teen Vogue, Jung explained that she felt her modeling career was slowly declining five years into it. She felt it necessary to broaden her horizons. “I started to worry about what I should do when I had no job at all,” she told Teen Vogue. “I started to think about my next steps and that’s when I figured maybe it could be a good idea to start acting.”
Unsurprisingly, though, the success of Squid Game meant a noticeable pivot back to fashion, with doors opening up for her. In early October, Jung was named one of the global ambassadors of Louis Vuitton. She then landed an adicolor campaign with adidas Originals. Now she’s capping off the month by fronting the Heron Preston for Calvin Klein campaign.
Hoyeon Jung has come full circle. While we sit tight until her next projects roll out—whether it’s her return to modeling, another series or film—here, we look back at the fashion moments that brought the once fiery red-headed stunner to our attention.
2014
Photographed by Hong Janghyun, Hoyeon Jung appeared with Big Bang’s Taeyang on the July 2014 cover of Vogue Korea. This was Jung’s first, albeit one that highlighted the aforementioned K-Pop cover star. This was also the year after she appeared on Korea’s Next Top Model season four, where she was a runner-up.
2015 to 2017
The years that followed involved a slew of print and editorial work for major fashion publications like Dazed Korea and Elle Korea. Then in 2016, Jung signed with modeling agency The Society Management, making her move from South Korea to New York.
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Jung made her Fashion Week debut at the Spring/Summer 2017 shows, appearing on the runways of Opening Ceremony, Marc Jacobs, Alberta Ferretti, Fendi, Max Mara. At Paris Fashion Week, plenty took notice of the statuesque redhead when she walked for Louis Vuitton. She would go on to walk for the European fashion house until 2019.
Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2017. Photo: Kim Weston Arnold |
Louis Vuitton Fall/Winter 2017. Photo: Umberto Fratini |
Ahead of the new year, Jung continued to make strides, securing campaigns and more print editorials alongside runway shows.
Acne Studios Spring/Summer 2018. Photo: Marcus Tondo |
Jean Paul Gaultier Spring 2018 Couture. Photo: Yannis Vlamos |
Fendi Spring/Summer 2018. Photo: Kim Weston Arnold |
2018
Jung continued to establish her runway presence through the seasons, adding highly-anticipated presentations like Bottega Veneta, Chanel, and Jean Paul Gaultier to her resume.
Schiaparelli Fall 2018 Couture. Photo: Kim Weston Arnold |
Bottega Veneta Fall/Winter 2018. Photo: Yannis Vlamos |
Sies Marjan Fall/Winter 2018. Photo: Marcus Tondo |
Burberry Spring/Summer 2019. Photo: Yannis Vlamos |
Thom Browne Fall/Winter 2019. Photo: Filippo Fior |
GCDS Fall/Winter 2019.
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Another factor that became a point of interest: Jung’s street style off-duty. Alongside fellow South Korean models like Sora Choi and Yoon Young Bae, too, she rose up as one of the fresh faces girls to watch.
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Vogue Korea November 2018 cover shot by Tae-Kyun Kim
2019
Before flying back to South Korea to take on acting classes, Jung appeared one last time on the runway. Jacquemus Spring/Summer 2020 in June and Moschino Menswear for Fall/Winter 2020 in December would be her final shows.
Jacquemus Spring/Summer 2020. Photo: Alessandro Viero |
Moschino Fall 2020 Menswear. Photo: Salvatore Dragone |
After securing an acting agent with Saram Entertainment, the first script to be sent over? Squid Game. You know the rest.
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Art Matthew Ian Fetalver
