Jung Ho Yeon: From Louis Vuitton exclusive model to Squid Game star and friendship with Jennie

From the exclusive model of Louis Vuitton, Jung Ho Yeon became an A-list star overnight when participating in the movie Squid Game. In addition to her career, the female model's love story and friendship also made the public admire.

The Korean TV series Squid Game is only 9 episodes long. But the content revolving around the game of life and d.eath, distinguishing between good and evil, and dealing with difficulties has conquered the global audience.

In the film, the main character cast is a combination of both veteran and young actors. One of the key protagonists is played by Jung Ho Yeon. In the realm of movies, she could be a rookie. But in the fashion field, she is a relatively familiar character, having performed on runway shows in the fashion capitals.

Starting from Korea's Next Top Model

Jung Ho Yeon was born in 1994 in Seoul, South Korea. From the age of 16, she entered the modeling village. In the beginning, the young g.irl campaigned on her own, signed up for a show at Seoul Fashion Week without an agency. Thanks to that, Jung Ho Yeon was signed with ESteem Models, the company that helped her navigate the next steps.

In 2013, at the company's request, she signed up to participate in the Korea's Next Top Model season 4 model search show. Just in episode 2, she was eliminated, but then returned to the race to return to the race. episode 5. At the end of the show, she was one of the models with the best achievements, reaching the top 3 in the end.

Exclusive model of Louis Vuitton

After reaching the top 3 of Korea's Next Top Model, Jung Ho Yeon worked hard at fashion photography and shows. She appeared in a series of high-fashion South Korean publications. But, this g.irl has never stopped at the domestic market. Her goal is to attack the international market.

Three years later, Jung Ho Yeon successfully crossed the border, coming to international fashion weeks.

For the spring-summer 2017 season (taking place at the end of 2016), Jung Ho Yeon came to New York to perform the Opening Ceremony show - this is also her first international catwalk show. Then there are Marc Jacobs also in New York, Alberta Ferretti and Fendi in Milan. And finally Louis Vuitton in Paris. At the same time, she was selected as an exclusive model of Louis Vuitton that season, appearing in the French fashion brand's global campaign Pre-Fall 2017.

Many people wonder how Jung Ho Yeon can do these things in such a short time? Maybe it's because she understands how to attract attention on the catwalk.

In the first days of entering the international army, Jung Ho Yeon dyed her hair red. Originally, it was difficult for Western audiences to distinguish between Asian faces. For an Asian model to resonate in the Western market, at the moment, is very difficult. But Jung Ho Yeon, thanks to her red hair, is easily remembered (just like Fernanda Ly, the pink-haired model with a silly haircut).

Besides, Jung Ho Yeon also built her personal style outside of the catwalk. She is known to be one of the Korean models with a very cool street style. Street style photographers often photograph Jung Ho Yeon during fashion seasons, when she shows for Jean Paul Gaultier, Chanel Haute Couture, or Bottega Veneta.

In 2018, W magazine even made a series of photos following Jung Ho Yeon backstage at New York fashion week. In addition, Jung Ho Yeon made history as the first Asian and Korean star to appear independently in American Vogue.

The chance to become an actor

Although pursuing a modeling career, Jung Ho Yeon actually wanted to become an actor. Maybe it's because she's a loner.

"In 2018 when I focused on modeling, I felt myself exhausted. At that time I was very lonely. I flew abroad alone, worked, stayed at a hotel alone, ate alone... At first, this lifestyle worked for me, but the longer it lasted, the more tired it became.

At that time, I could only find solace in movies. After watching a lot of movies, I feel that I want to show the expressions of the actors on the film," Jung Ho Yeon confided.

Jung Ho Yeon is the type of person who will be stubborn if f.orced. But if you like it, you will follow it to the wharf. She revealed, "First, I went to learn more English every day, while I was working in the US. I think that if I'm good at English, I'll understand the script faster. After that, every time I have the opportunity to return to Korea, I took a short acting course again."

Then the pandemic happened. This is an opportunity for Jung Ho Yeon to change her career: "Now that I think about it, if it weren't for that period, I would never have become an actor."

Kang Sae Byeok in Squid Game is Jung Ho Yeon's debut role

After studying acting, in early 2020, Jung Ho Yeon started looking for a job through an agency in Korea. The first script that came to her was Squid Game. She sent the crew a audition tape. And finally given the role - well deserved.

In Squid Game, Jung Ho Yeon plays Kang Sae Byeok. It was a poor young g.irl who had just escaped from North Korea. She brought her younger brother to South Korea, but because she could not afford the expenses, she had to send him to an orphanage. At the same time, she also wants to save her mother who is still stuck in North Korea. So, Sae Byeok steals, pickpockets to live through the day, then participates in the game of life and d.eath in the hope of making a quick fortune.

To prepare for the role, Jung Ho-yeon "watched a lot of documentaries about people who escaped from North Korea. I also practiced speaking Korean with a Korean accent with a phonetics teacher," she shared. .

At the same time, she thinks she can easily play the role because she has many similarities with Kang Sae Byeok: "In 2016, I had to leave Korea to develop my international career. At that time, I was really lonely. Very similar to how Sae Byeok felt when he entered South Korea."

Jung Ho Yeon and powerful best friends

After filming, Jung Ho Yeon is also more open about the people who are important to her. It's boyfriend - actor Lee Dong Hwi, and best friend - singer Jennie of BLACKPINK.

Jung Ho Yeon began to know Lee Dong Hwi from 2016. They did not hide their relationship like other couples in the entertainment industry. Lee Dong Hwi is also 9 years older than Jung Ho Yeon, so she has maturity and creates peace for her. "He's a senior, a friend, a good friend. Sometimes he's like my father," she said of their relationship.

And Jennie BLACKPINK is the one who has been cheering for Jung Ho Yeon since she tried to change her career. Jennie sent a coffee truck to the set and also visited her best friend when she had time. "Jennie was so excited for me when I got the role. She even posted all over social media to promote my role. She congratulated me as if she had gotten the role herself. Jennie was real. is an angel," Jung Ho Yeon shared with TenAsia.

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