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[CELEB] Hoyeon stuns at SAG Awards, flaunting nod to her culture

Published: 02 Mar. 2022, 19:00 Updated: 03 Mar. 2022, 10:58

Actor Hoyeon won Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series at the 28th Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards on Sunday. [AFP/YONHAP]

Actor Hoyeon’s award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series at the 28th Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards wasn’t the only thing that shone bright on Sunday.

Hoyeon, whose real name is Jung Hoyeon, sported a Louis Vuitton dress matched with a traditional Korean hair ribbon, or daenggi, at the SAG Awards ceremony on which foreign press, especially fashion magazines like Glamour and Vogue, highly praised for its nod to Korean culture.

“The sweet story behind the hair accessory is that it was in fact inspired by the traditional Korean daenggi hair ribbon — an accessory that has been used to decorate braided hair for centuries, honoring Jung’s rich cultural background,” Glamour’s article titled “HoYeon Jung’s hair ribbon at the SAG Awards has an important meaning” wrote, dated Feb. 28.

Hoyeon's dress shown in Paris after it was finished customizing. [LOUIS VUITTON]

Hoyeon stunned in a custom-made Louis Vuitton gown with a black silk jacquard base and crystal embroidery, a slit at the front and spaghetti straps. The daenggi hung at the end of her sleek, low ponytail, which is how it is traditionally worn, and was made of the same fabric as the dress.

“It was a very special 2022 SAG Awards day to have been a part of,” Hoyeon’s hairstylist Jenny Cho told Vogue. “I can’t hide the fact that I was very emotional to be the one to style her hair into a modern version of sleek traditional Korean braids and to put the daenggi into Hoyeon’s hair. It was sincerely one of the most special glam moments to remember.”

Although Hoyeon is best known for her role in Netflix’s smash-hit dystopian series “Squid Game” (2021) as Sae-byeok, a North Korean defector who takes part in a series of deadly children’s games with 455 other contestants for prize money of 45.6 billion won ($38.7 million) in hopes of reuniting with her family, she has actually had quite a remarkable career as a fashion model.

She first appeared on the second season of “Korea’s Next Top Model” (2010-14), which aired on cable channel OnStyle. Although she failed to make it past the first round in the first episode, she returned to the show in its fourth season where she was a runner-up.

She won the “Asia Star Award” at the 2019 Seoul Asia Model Awards and has been named a top 50 model worldwide for four consecutive years since 2017.

The red ribbon tied at the end of the girl's braid here is an example of a daenggi, or a traditional Korean hair ribbon shown in MBC's historical drama series ″Dae Jang Geum″ (2003-04). [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Hoyeon became the Global Ambassador for Louis Vuitton in October last year and has an impressive history of appearing in international campaigns and advertisements for brands like Fendi, Bottega Veneta, H&M, Dolce & Gabbana and Miu Miu.

After “Squid Game,” Hoyeon’s Instagram followers shot up to 23.5 million followers as of March 1.

She also graced the cover of Vogue’s U.S. Edition for February as the first Korean celebrity to do so in the magazine’s 130-year history.

In November, Hoyeon signed with Creative Artists Agency (CAA), an American talent and sports agency that represents big names such as Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks and Zendaya.

Hoyeon played Sae-byeok, a North Korean defector who takes part in a series of deadly children’s games among 456 contestants for a prize money of 45.6 billion won ($38.7 million) in hopes of reuniting with her family. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Hoyeon in the fourth season of “Korea’s Next Top Model” (2010-14), where she made it as runner-up. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Hoyeon (Jung Hoyeon)

Date of birth: June 23, 1994
Zodiac sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Jungnang District, eastern Seoul
Debut: 2010 as a model
Agency: Saram Entertainment

Before Hoyeon appeared on the small screen with Netflix’s “Squid Game” (2021), she spent some 10 years as a model. Hoyeon debuted as a model in 2010 and appeared in the second and fourth season of “Korea’s Next Top Model” (2010-14), which aired on cable channel OnStyle. In 2012, she signed with ESteem, a renowned agency for models in Korea. She has since appeared in shows and advertisements for brands like Fendi, Bottega Veneta, H&M, Dolce & Gabbana and Miu Miu. In 2020, she switched agencies to Saram Entertainment, which usually manages actors. Hoyeon previously said in a press conference that after hearing that she had been cast in “Squid Game,” she canceled her plans for New York Fashion Week and immediately returned to Korea for the role. Last October, Hoyeon became the Global Ambassador for Louis Vuitton. She was also the first Korean to grace the cover of U.S. Vogue.

This information was confirmed by Saram Entertainment on March 2, 2022.

BY SHIN MIN-HEE [[email protected]]