Models · 070
Hoyeon Jung
Life & Career
- Nationality
- South Korea
Early life
Hoyeon Jung grew up in Seoul with parents who ran a restaurant. She began modeling as a teenager, initially finding opportunities herself. What family first viewed as a passing interest became sustained work. Seoul shows and shoots preceded worldwide acting recognition. Her modeling years were a profession in their own right, not merely an unimportant prelude to screen success.[2][3][4]
Entering the profession
Hoyeon Jung became a joint runner-up in Korea’s Next Top Model season four in 2013. Domestic editorials and runways continued before international representation and a move to New York in 2016. Red hair became a recognizable fashion-week feature. Beyond appearance, overseas work required castings, fittings, travel and long periods alone in unfamiliar surroundings.[1][3][4][6]
The breakthrough
Hoyeon Jung appeared as a Louis Vuitton exclusive in Paris in 2016 under Nicolas Ghesquière, then worked for Chanel, Fendi, Miu Miu and Marc Jacobs. International editorial assignments followed. She recalled turning to films and stories during time alone abroad. That experience connected to acting interest, while becoming an actor still required separate preparation and auditioning.[1][3][5]
Defining work
Hoyeon Jung made her acting debut as Kang Sae-byeok in Netflix’s Squid Game in 2021, preparing a video audition while still modeling. Understanding the character’s circumstances and emotions required new work. The series brought an audience far larger than fashion recognition. Its performance achievement cannot simply be attributed to prior visibility; acting required sustained characterization and interaction.[1][2][3]
Expanding the practice
Hoyeon Jung won the 2022 Screen Actors Guild drama-series female acting award and received an Emmy nomination. An American Vogue solo cover connected the two careers visually, while her Louis Vuitton global ambassador role linked an existing fashion relationship to new public stature. Awards, covers and brand roles represent different achievements within that transformation.[2][5]
Latest documented work
Hoyeon Jung expanded into English-language acting in Alfonso Cuarón’s Apple TV+ series Disclaimer, discussed in ELLE in 2024. Fashion work continued with a July Vogue Australia cover and September AnOther and Mastermind covers in 2026. Announced film projects are distinguished from released work, so unverified release schedules are not presented as completed achievements.[4][5]
A place in fashion history
Hoyeon Jung connects Korean fashion and television, international runways and a global streaming platform. The red-haired model and screen character are memorable images, but domestic work, relocation and training lie between them. An overnight-success label hides that time. Modeling experience can inform acting without making the crafts identical; both continuity and difference explain the career’s range.[1][2][3][4][5]
