Jung Ho-yeon bio, age, height, boyfriend, career path, family 2025

Biography of Jung HoYeon

HoYeon Jung is a breakout South Korean model and actress who became a global sensation starring in Netflix's "Squid Game" when it premiered in September 2021. She's become an international icon, landing major campaigns with luxury powerhouses like Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Hermès.

Childhood

Born on June 23, 1994 in Seoul, the future star grew up in a bustling household. She was raised alongside two brothers and a sister. Her father, a successful businessman who owned the Gukbap restaurant, made sure his kids had everything they needed.

During her school years, Jung Ho Yeon got involved with Seoul Fashion Week – but strictly as a volunteer. She helped organize shows and worked closely with models behind the scenes.

After high school, she enrolled at the private Tongguk University to study "Modeling Art." She'd always been taller than her classmates, so modeling felt like a natural fit.

Her parents wanted her to follow in her father's footsteps and join the family business. But after graduation, she stood her ground and promised she'd make it as a model. Her father gave her the opportunity to do what she loved without worrying about money.

Modeling Career

HoYeon's modeling breakthrough came at just 16 when she was invited to walk at Seoul Fashion Week. There, she caught the attention of both Esteem Models agency, who offered her a contract, and editors from major fashion magazines. Vogue even compared the Seoul native to international supermodels Cara Delevingne and Hanne Gaby Odiele.

HoYeon Jung - Runway Collection

Jung captivated model scouts with her striking height, distinctive features, and especially her fiery red hair that made her stand out from the crowd.

The real breakthrough in HoYeon's career was participating in the show "Korea's Next Top Model" in 2013. Landing second place in the finale was anything but a setback: during filming, international agencies were already offering her contracts, and she quickly landed shoots with Vogue Girl Korea, Nylon Korea, and ELLE Wedding.

HoYeon in the show 'Korea's Next Top Model'

Jung made her international runway debut in 2016, participating in the Louis Vuitton show in New York. She went on to collaborate with luxury fashion houses including Chanel, Fendi, Dolce&Gabbana, Burberry, and Versace, starring in their ad campaigns.

HoYeon Jung's Elimination on KNTM

Soon, the rising star was gracing not just the pages of fashion magazines but their covers too, including Vogue Korea, US, UK, and Japan editions, plus South Korea's Harper's Bazaar.

Jung Ho Yeon often appears on the covers of glossy magazines

In 2017, the site Models.com named the girl Model of the Year and awarded her the "Best Debut" nomination. Since 2019, she has been included in the top 50 best models in the world.

Squid Game and Other Roles

In 2020, Jung decided to try her hand at acting. She approached the decision seriously, knowing that looks alone wouldn't cut it in this industry. After taking acting classes, she signed a contract with Saram Entertainment. According to Ho Yeon, having spent so much time abroad, she wanted to channel her feelings of loneliness and emptiness into her screen performances.

Just a month after hiring an agent to look for roles in Korean films and TV shows, she got a letter asking her to submit an audition tape for a new Netflix drama series.

Ho Yeon didn't expect to land the role on her first try, but something incredible happened – the director spotted her talent among all the other hopefuls. What's remarkable is that she held her own alongside seasoned, well-known actors. For instance, Lee Jung Jae, who played the lead role of Seong Gi Hun (№ 456), had been in over 40 projects by that time.

In the plot, 456 people with massive debts end up in a game with a multi-billion dollar prize. What looks like child's play at first glance quickly reveals the dark side of human nature – competition, cruelty, and greed all emerge as the story unfolds. Jung was given the role of Kang Sae Byeok, a North Korean defector and thief. Her character dreams of saving her younger brother from an orphanage and bringing her family to South Korea.

Hoyeon Jung All Scenes - Squid Game

The actress prepared thoroughly for the shooting. To convincingly play a pickpocket, Ho Yeon had to completely unlearn the polished runway walk she'd perfected over years of modeling. She also immersed herself in the culture, talking with actual defectors and mastering the North Korean dialect known as saturi.

The actress admits that during the shooting, she felt insecure and often asked herself: "Do I really belong here?". Her inexperience and fear of disappointing the team made it hard for Jung to feel confident on set. But the director put her at ease, telling her she just needed to be herself.

Personal Life of Jung Ho-Yeon

Despite all the attention from fans, especially male admirers, her heart has been taken for years. Since 2015, Jung Ho-Yeon has been dating actor Lee Dong-Hwi, who is nine years her senior.

Jung Ho-Yeon is dating actor Lee Dong-Hwi

As Jung puts it, he's not just her boyfriend but also her best friend and creative partner. Her boyfriend is well-known in Korea for his work in films and TV shows, including the thriller "The Handmaiden" and the action-comedy "Extreme Job". The actor also engages in music and loves to dress stylishly.

Lee fully supported his beloved in preparing for her first role and, according to the man himself, he was sincerely happy for her successful debut. According to SBS Broadcasting Company, the supermodel and her partner ranked third in the ratings of the most stable couples in the South Korean show business.

Squid Game's Jung Ho-yeon Finally Talks About Her Boyfriend

Jung Ho-Yeon Now

Jung Ho-Yeon's breakout performance in "Squid Game" catapulted her to fame beyond anything she could have imagined. In just a couple of weeks, more than 20 million people followed her on Instagram.

Beyond her massive fanbase, this breakout role landed her ambassador deals with luxury fashion house Louis Vuitton and sportswear giant Adidas.

In 2022, she took on a supporting role in Alfonso Cuarón's mini-series "Disclaimeral" (playing Journalist Kim) and made a memorable appearance in The Weeknd's "Out of Time" music video.

Jung Ho-Yeon in The Weeknd's music video

In 2023, she landed major roles in the South Korean sci-fi thriller "Hope" and the Spanish drama "The Governesses" alongside Lily Depp.

Interesting Facts

Ho-yeon's love for adventure rivals her passion for modeling and acting. "I went skydiving once when I was around 19 – we were in Guam with friends. We just love to travel," she reveals.

She's also an action movie buff who dreams of one day starring in a Quentin Tarantino film. Among the films that most influenced her, Ho-yeon cites Ari Aster's "Midsommar," the Coen brothers' "Fargo," and Tarantino's "Kill Bill."

Ho-yeon is fluent in English, which she learned not just to communicate with international designers and colleagues, but also to prepare for the acting career she was eager to launch.

During "Squid Game" filming, Ho-yeon received support from her close friend Jennie Kim of Blackpink. Jennie even had a food truck delivered directly to the set. The girls have been communicating on social media since 2019.