The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    BTS producer encourages anticipation for future messages from group

  • 3

    Korean shorthairs among favorite cat breeds as more people choose to adopt pets

  • 5

    Uhm Jung-hwa enjoys second heyday with JTBC series 'Doctor Cha'

  • 7

    Tom Cruise to visit Korea to promote new film

  • 9

    Korea beats Nigeria to advance to semifinals at FIFA U-20 World Cup

  • 11

    S. Korea, Japan agree to prevent recurrence of maritime dispute

  • 13

    Korea sees record-high number of flu patients for late spring

  • 15

    Concerns rise over Samsung SDS' growing intra-group transactions

  • 17

    Election watchdog under fire for refusing to accept inspection

  • 19

    Shipbuilding stocks rally over hope for 'super cycle'

  • 2

    Senior citizens land low-wage jobs after retirement: report

  • 4

    From hip-hop idols to global superstars, BTS shatters records over decade

  • 6

    LIFE'S OLLE TRAILS 1How hiking Jeju's 437km of trails changed my life

  • 8

    REVIEW'The ODD Of LOVE' concert: Taeyeon shows why she is among K-pop's top vocalists

  • 10

    3 EXO members file antitrust complaint against SM Entertainment

  • 12

    Korea denies discussion with EU on sending ammunition to Ukraine

  • 14

    Baritone Kim Tae-han wins Queen Elisabeth Competition

  • 16

    Korean bio firms to seek new opportunities at int'l convention in Boston

  • 18

    K-food transforms global culinary industry

  • 20

    Agency launched to offer exclusive support for overseas Koreans

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Tue, June 6, 2023 | 19:08
Korea's next top model targets New York Fashion Week
Posted : 2016-01-10 17:07
Updated : 2016-01-19 12:44
Kim Jae-heun
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
Jung Ho-yeon hits the runway during the 2015 Fall/Winter Seoul Fashion Week at Dongdaemun DesignPlaza, in March last year. / Courtesy of Esteem
Jung Ho-yeon hits the runway during the 2015 Fall/Winter Seoul Fashion Week at Dongdaemun Design
Plaza, in March last year. / Courtesy of Esteem

This is the fifth in a series of interviews on Korea's leading models. ― ED.



By Kim Jae-heun


A positive attitude and persistent efforts are considered the most important factors to meet success in any field. But 22-year old fashion model Jung Ho-yeon has a gifted physique and the talents of an entertainer to make her undoubtedly Korea's next top model, as cited last year by renowned fashion website, Vogue.com.

Jung debuted six years ago as a freelance model, not knowing much about the fashion industry. She had no agency representing her to cast meetings with fashion designers but managed to find them herself and distribute enough profile photos and contact numbers to appear in an average three to four shows at Seoul Fashion Week for two years.

"I was only proud of myself that I made it to the catwalk on the country's top fashion stages among many models," said Jung during an interview with The Korea Times last Dec. 19, while she was preparing for her New York fashion show this year. "Whether it's a big job or a small job, I worked indiscriminately to build my career so that when the chance comes, I can grab it firmly. I've done photo shoots for fashion brand catalogues and participated in graduation shows for fashion colleges."

Jung, soon, tried out for audition at one of the country's biggest fashion agencies, Esteem, and signed a contract on the spot. The young modeling talent did not depend on the agencies to find her work and built on her own portfolio with photographers and hairstylists who wanted to work with her.

Jung Ho-yeon hits the runway during the 2015 Fall/Winter Seoul Fashion Week at Dongdaemun DesignPlaza, in March last year. / Courtesy of Esteem
Model Jung Ho-yeon during a photo shoot for fashion magazine "Grazia." / Courtesy of Grazia

Jung's exposure rapidly grew to the point where she would walk 10 shows on average at the biannual Seoul Fashion Week by 2013. However, she did not confine herself to her comfort zone and turned her eye to broadcasting, appearing on OnStyle's reality fashion-survival show, "Korea's Next Top Model 4." It was a show where many new models appeared to promote themselves and Jung, whose name was already well known in the field, would only lose if she did not win.


"I applied for Korea's Next Top Model 2 when I was a freelance model, but I dropped out right after making it to the top 30. It left a resentment in my heart," said Jung.

The young model did not win the show but finished runner-up to gain more public recognition, whereas she had only been known in the fashion industry before. Jung shot photos with K-pop idol Taeyang of Big Bang and cover photos for popular fashion magazines such as Vogue and W. Her challenge has paved a new path for her.

"I am 176 centimeters tall, which is considered average for models," Jung said. "If I were taller, I would've been active in the high-end fashion industry and if I were shorter, I would be a popular commercial model appearing on magazine and TV shows. But I realized with my height I can do both high-end and commercial fashion and I am surprised that I have become the model that I dreamed of."

Now, she is planning the next phase of her life in New York. Jung wanted to debut on international stage as fast as possible when she was young, but with all the knowhow she has accumulated, she can perform better as a debuting veteran.

"Normally, when models do well in the local market, they do not want to go abroad because there is no guarantee that they will succeed and when they come back, they can lose everything they have accomplished," Jung said. "I am cautious about becoming lazy. When I debuted, new people and new environments made me nervous and pushed me to the limit. But now I am starting to find myself in a comfort zone again."

Jung hopes to join giant fashion agencies in New York like IMG or Elite and advance to the Paris or Milano Fashion Week. She prefers high-end fashion to commercial, which is why her ultimate destination is Europe. New York is a steppingstone to her dream. Then, she wants to become a supermodel like Karlie Kloss, who is very strong in visual works.

"Kloss was a modern dancer, which made her a distinguished model with dynamic poses. I am also a model with active and dynamic poses, and I learned a lot from her," she said.

Emailjhkim@ktimes.com Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
wooribank
Top 10 Stories
1Korean shorthairs among favorite cat breeds as more people choose to adopt pets Korean shorthairs among favorite cat breeds as more people choose to adopt pets
2Agency launched to offer exclusive support for overseas Koreans Agency launched to offer exclusive support for overseas Koreans
3[ANALYSIS] S. Korean economy feared to follow in Japan's footsteps ANALYSISS. Korean economy feared to follow in Japan's footsteps
4Korea's export dependency on China dips below 20% Korea's export dependency on China dips below 20%
5Retail investors bet on wrong horse despite KOSPI rally Retail investors bet on wrong horse despite KOSPI rally
6Retailers use recycled, biodegradable plastic to attract eco-conscious consumers Retailers use recycled, biodegradable plastic to attract eco-conscious consumers
7Memorial event to be held for fallen Thai soldiers of Korean War Memorial event to be held for fallen Thai soldiers of Korean War
8Stats agency to use Naver's AI chatbot to offer tailored data for firms Stats agency to use Naver's AI chatbot to offer tailored data for firms
9HD Hyundai, Hanwha Ocean to compete in Busan to sell naval ships HD Hyundai, Hanwha Ocean to compete in Busan to sell naval ships
10Korea pushes digital technology exports to Middle East, Japan, ASEAN Korea pushes digital technology exports to Middle East, Japan, ASEAN
Top 5 Entertainment News
1[REVIEW] 'The ODD Of LOVE' concert: Taeyeon shows why she is among K-pop's top vocalists REVIEW'The ODD Of LOVE' concert: Taeyeon shows why she is among K-pop's top vocalists
2Baritone Kim Tae-han wins Queen Elisabeth Competition Baritone Kim Tae-han wins Queen Elisabeth Competition
3Busan Film Festival accepts director Huh Moon-yung's resignation Busan Film Festival accepts director Huh Moon-yung's resignation
4[INTERVIEW] 'One Day Off' star Lee Na-young, director on creating subtle, feel-good series INTERVIEW'One Day Off' star Lee Na-young, director on creating subtle, feel-good series
5'HyeMiLeeYeChaePa' producer Lee Tae-kyung hopeful of second season 'HyeMiLeeYeChaePa' producer Lee Tae-kyung hopeful of second season
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group