Models · 096
Sung Jin Park
Life & Career
- Nationality
- South Korean
Early life
Sung Jin Park grew up in Busan and studied art as a student. In a 2013 interview he recalled an interest in art that he ultimately did not pursue professionally, while preferring streetwear to high fashion. His visual interests preceded modeling, but the career emerged through a specific opportunity rather than a predetermined plan.[1][2]
Entering the profession
An introduction through his cousin connected him with ESteem and prompted a move to Seoul. He recalled starting around 2010, while another profile gives 2009; the early career should therefore be placed around those years. He remembered a Juun.J show as his first runway experience, followed by positive responses to magazine work.[1][2]
The breakthrough
He moved into the New York market in 2012 and gained international runway exposure, entering Models.com’s Hot List in 2013 and later its Top 50. He emphasized understanding clients and translating direction into performance. His account places communication and professional interpretation alongside appearance in explaining success.[1][2][3]
Defining work
Campaigns for Calvin Klein, Hugo Boss, and Iceberg, alongside work for houses such as Hermès and Bottega Veneta, required versatility across menswear. His recognizable appearance provided continuity, while runway and advertising assignments demanded different attitudes and performances. Repeated clients demonstrate adaptation as well as individuality.[2][4]
Expanding the practice
He also worked in music under the name Goretex, linked in a Musinsa interview to his interest in functional clothing. His preference for practical, frequently worn garments expresses a personal language distinct from commissioned brand imagery. Modeling and music coexist in this account; the latter does not establish retirement from fashion.[4]
Latest documented work
Published credits include Gucci’s Seoul show in 2023, a Wallpaper China cover in 2024, Kith in 2025, and Arena Homme+ Korea’s twentieth-anniversary cover project in March 2026. Agency portfolios also remain available, but dated credits provide a firmer basis for documenting recent activity than representation listings alone.[3][6]
A place in fashion history
He belongs to a generation demonstrating sustained international demand for Korean male models. Rankings mark particular moments; repeated work across brands and media establishes the longer history. His musical identity also shows interests beyond commissioned imagery, connecting his early visual interests with a career combining professional collaboration and personal expression.[1][3][4]