HoYeon Jung – Bio, Career, Age, Achievements

INTRODUCTION

HoYeon Jung is a South Korean fashion model and actress who rose to worldwide fame for her breakout role as Kang Sae-byeok in the Netflix global phenomenon Squid Game (2021). Before acting, she was already an established international model known for her signature fiery red hair and work with luxury fashion houses including Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Bottega Veneta.

Birth Name

Jung Ho-yeon (정호연)

Career

Fashion model and actress

Birthday

June 23, 1994

Age

32 years old

Zodiac Sign

Cancer

Birthplace

Myeonmok-dong, Seoul, South Korea

Nationality

South Korean

HOW BIG IS HoYeon Jung ON THE NET?

HoYeon Jung’s Instagram following skyrocketed after Squid Game premiered, making her one of the most followed Korean actresses on the platform. She was featured on the cover of the February 2022 issue of Vogue, making her the magazine’s first solo Korean cover star. Models.com listed her on the “New Supers” list in 2022, calling her a “supermodel for the modern era.”

HOW DID HoYeon Jung become famous?

HoYeon Jung first gained recognition in the modeling world after competing on the fourth season of Korea’s Next Top Model in 2013, where she placed as a runner-up. She became known internationally for her fiery red hair after making her international runway debut at New York Fashion Week in 2016. Her worldwide breakthrough came in 2021 when she starred as Kang Sae-byeok in Netflix’s Squid Game.

BEFORE THE FAME

Jung Ho-yeon was born in Myeonmok-dong, Seoul, South Korea. Her parents are restaurateurs and she has two sisters. She started taking modeling classes at age 15 and began working as a freelance model in 2010 at age 16. She signed with ESteem Models in 2012. She graduated from Dongduk Women’s University College of Performing Arts, where she majored in modeling.

CLOSE WITH (ASSOCIATED)

HoYeon Jung has been associated with many notable figures, including Lee Jung-jae (Squid Game co-star), Nicolas Ghesquière (Louis Vuitton), Alfonso Cuarón (Disclaimer director), Na Hong-jin (Hope director), The Weeknd (appeared in his “Out of Time” music video), and NewJeans (appeared in their music videos).

Personal LIFE and Relationship

HoYeon Jung keeps much of her personal life private. For her performance on Squid Game, she won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series — making history as part of the first non-English language television series to win at the SAG Awards. In 2024, she received the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s Commendation at the Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards. In January 2025, she signed with BH Entertainment.