Jung Ho-yeon

Jung Ho-yeon (; born June 23, 1994) is a South Korean fashion model and actress. She began her career as a freelance model in 2010, walking in Seoul Fashion Week shows for two years. In 2013, she competed on the fourth season of Korea's Next Top Model and placed as a runner-up. She became known for her "fiery" red hair after making her international runway debut during New York Fashion Week. She was a Louis Vuitton exclusive in 2016 and became a global ambassador for the brand in 2021.

Jung made her acting debut in 2021, starring in the first season of the Netflix series Squid Game as Kang Sae-byeok, which brought her worldwide attention and critical acclaim as the series' breakout star. For her role in the series, she won the Actor Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series and earned a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. In 2024, she received the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism's Commendation state honour by the Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards.

Early life Jung Ho-yeon was born on June 23, 1994, in Myeonmok-dong, Seoul, South Korea, She graduated from Dongduk Women's University College of Performing Arts, where she majored in modeling.

Career 2010–present: Modeling career

Jung started taking modeling classes at age 15, and began working as a freelance model in 2010 at age 16,Efn|Sources state that Jung began modeling in 2010, when she was 16 years old. Jung herself has said that she started modeling when she was 17 years old. She signed with ESteem Models in 2012 and went on to compete on the fourth season of Korea's Next Top Model in 2013, where she placed as a runner-up. She also signed to Elite Model Management and Nomad Management. Before moving to New York, Jung inadvertently dyed her hair a "fiery" red color, which became her signature look.

After her booking to walk as an exclusive for Alexander Wang was canceled, she made her international runway debut in September 2016 at Opening Ceremony's S/S 2017 show at New York Fashion Week. Shortly after, she walked in shows for Marc Jacobs, Alberta Ferretti, Chanel, Max Mara, and Fendi; appeared in Harper's Bazaar, Love, and W; and was featured in campaigns for Sephora and Gap. Also in 2016, she made her Paris Fashion Week runway debut as an exclusive model for Louis Vuitton at their S/S 2017 show, selected by Nicolas Ghesquière and casting director Ashley Brokaw. In September 2018, Models.com named Jung on their list of the top 50 models.

Jung has walked in runways for Burberry, Miu Miu, Jason Wu, Chanel, Schiaparelli, Giambattista Valli, Bottega Veneta, Emilio Pucci, Prabal Gurung, Jacquemus, Gabriela Hearst, Jeremy Scott, Tory Burch, Jean Paul Gaultier, Acne Studios, Brandon Maxwell, Gucci, She has also appeared in advertisements for Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Hermès, and Bottega Veneta, and on the covers of Vogue Korea, Vogue Japan, CR Fashion Book, and Harper's Bazaar Korea.

Jung appeared in a promotional video for Pharrell Williams and Chanel's collaborative capsule collection in March 2019. In October 2021, she was named Louis Vuitton's Global House Ambassador for Fashion, Watches and Jewelry. That same month, she partnered with Adidas Originals for their Adicolor campaign. In 2022, she became one of the faces of N°1 de Chanel. In 2022, Models.com listed Jung on the "New Supers" list, calling her a "supermodel for the modern era."

2020–present: Acting career

Jung decided to start her career in acting because of the short lifespan of modeling careers, which she felt as her work in modeling began to decrease. While modeling overseas, Jung periodically returned to South Korea during holidays to take acting lessons, accumulating three months' worth of lessons altogether. She also improved her English in order to aid her acting studies. One month after signing with Saram, she was given three scenes from the show's script, and auditioned for the role via video while in New York for Fashion Week. She was then asked by director Hwang Dong-hyuk to audition again in person in South Korea, where she was given the part immediately.

Sae-byeok became a fan favorite, and Jung was hailed by critics as Squid Games breakout star. For her performance on the show, Jung won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series at the 28th Screen Actors Guild Awards. This nomination made her the second actress of Asian as well as Korean descent to receive an individual SAG Award nomination. Her win, along with costar Lee Jung-jae winning the respective male award, made history for the show becoming the first non-English language television series to win at the SAG Awards. She was also nominated along with her costars for the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.

In November 2021, she signed a contract with Creative Artists Agency, an American talent agency. Jung appeared in the music video for The Weeknd's song "Out of Time" in 2022 as well as two of NewJeans' music videos released the following year.

In 2024, she made her first cameo in the comedy mystery series Chicken Nugget as Hong Cha, a renowned food blogger. The same year, she appeared in Alfonso Cuarón's thriller miniseries Disclaimer. Jung made her feature film debut in Na Hong-jin's film Hope.

In January 2025, Jung signed with Korean talent agency BH Entertainment.

Public image While working as a model, Jung became known by designers as the "red-haired Asian". Vogues Monica Kim called her "one of Seoul's top modeling talents" in 2015.

Personal life Jung began dating actor Lee Dong-hwi in 2015. On November 26, 2024, both Lee and Jung's agencies released a joint statement saying that the two have separated after nine years of dating.

Filmography Film + Year Title Role Notes 2026 Hope Sung-ae TBA The Hole Post-production

Television + Year Title Role Notes 2011 Korea's Next Top Model Herself Season 2 semi-finalist 2013 Season 4 contestant and runner-up 2024 Chicken Nugget Hong Cha Cameo; 3 episodes Disclaimer Jisoo Miniseries; 3 episodes

Music video appearances + Year Song title Artist 2014 "Beat" 100% 2022 "Out of Time" The Weeknd 2023 "Cool with You (side A)" NewJeans "Cool with You (side B)"

Accolades

Awards and nominations + Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination Award ceremony Year Category Nominee(s)/Work(s) Result APAN Star Awards 2022 Best New Actress Squid Game Popularity Star Award, Actress Asia Artist Awards 2021 U+Idol Live Popularity Award – Actress Jung Ho-yeon Baeksang Arts Awards 2022 Best New Actress – Television Squid Game Blue Dragon Series Awards 2022 Best New Actress Buil Film Awards 2026 Best New Actress Hope Critics' Choice Super Awards 2022 Best Actress in an Action Series Squid Game Director's Cut Awards 2022 Best Actress in series Best New Actress in series Korea First Brand Awards 2021 Rookie Actress Jung Ho-yeon MTV Movie & TV Awards 2022 Best Breakthrough Performance Squid Game National Film Awards UK 2022 Best Supporting Actress in a TV Series Primetime Emmy Awards 2022 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Screen Actors Guild Awards 2022 Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series They are awarded to those who have contributed to the arts and South Korea's pop culture. 2024Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism's Commendation

Listicles