Since premiering on Netflix on 17 September 2021, Squid Game is the show everyone is talking about, for good reason.
The series about a dystopian survival TV show pitching its characters against each other in a mysterious game for a grand prize of ₩45.6 billion KRW (approximately $41 million USD) features a star-studded cast that is hard to ignore.
It tells of 446 strangers participating in the Squid Game, each with their own struggles of which the prize money clearly would alleviate a big part. One of the characters is Saebyok, or No 67, played by Hoyeon Jung, a rookie actor who has nonetheless stolen the hearts of many.
If you can’t get enough of her, here are five things to know about the model turned actor with elfin features and intensity in budding talent to match.
She models
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Long before she graced television screens, she was already owning cameras on the catwalk with her career as a fashion model, which kicked off when she participated in the fourth season of Korea’s Next Top Model. She placed third and went on to walk the runways at Seoul Fashion Week before graduating to international shows, walking the shows of Chanel and Jacquemus.
She was an exclusive for Louis Vuitton
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The first time she went international as a model, she was picked by Louis Vuitton creative director Nicholas Ghesquiere to be the exclusive model of the Louis Vuitton Fall/Winter 2017 show. With her flowing red hair back then, she caught the attention of many including the show producers at Gucci, Marc Jacobs and more, who quickly picked her up for their runways, too.
Squid Game is her first acting gig
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Her role of Saebyok for Squid Game is her first acting role, clinched upon signing with Saram Entertainment in early 2020. “I was preparing for New York Fashion Week when my agency asked me to send over an audition video. All I did during that time other than eat was to read the script,” she said at a press conference. “Later, the director wanted to meet me in person, so I flew back to Korea.” She readily packed her modelling bags and gave acting a shot, to much reward.
She is dating Lee Donghwi
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Since 2016, she has been seeing fellow actor Lee Donghwi, known for his role in the show Reply 1988. Lee also recently surprised fans with his musical talents, joining a project R&B group called MSG Wannabe with Simon D and Kim Jungmin as well as belting out a surprise number on the show Hanging Out with Yoo.
She is friends with Jennie from BLACKPINK
hoyeon and jennie pic.twitter.com/2HoA4tWmGN
— hoyeon jung pics (@hoyeonjungpics) September 18, 2021
She has some famous friends, among them including BLACKPINK’s Jennie, with whom she shares selfies often. She is also a very supportive friend, constantly wearing items from NIEEH, the clothing brand that Jennie is said to co-own.
Feature Image: Netflix