Sohyun Jung

If you ask Korean model Sohyun Jung, her career success has been a long time coming but slow and steady wins the race. Before her international runway debut for Alexander Wang in 2016, Jung toughed it out in her local market for years after appearing in model competitions, reality TV shows and walking in Seoul Fashion Week. A chance encounter brought the gamine beauty to New York and she never looked back – editorial pages in CR Fashion Book, Vogue Italia, and Vogue Japan, along with lookbooks for top luxury clients make her one of the hardest working models in the business presently. What’s more, first-rate runway appearances season after season has placed Jung and that assuredly confident walk of hers with the brands that matter with campaign bookings for Wang, Givenchy, Michael Kors, and Versace.

Visit her Models.com page and click or tap the Lists button to favorite Sohyun and keep track of her work.

Photography by Sebastian Kim for Models.com

Styling – Vanessa Chow
Hair – Hiro + Mari | Makeup – Steven Canavan

Editor Stephan Moskovic
Text & interview by Irene Ojo-Felix

Above: Denim Bodysuit – TRE by Natalie Ratabesi | Pants – Nili Lotan

The Graduates, since its conception in 2013, has become a Models.com mainstay featuring the foremost models of the moment. More specifically, when a Hot Lister moves up in rank to Top 50 through their own accomplishments, it’s deserving of recognition, each a worthy addition to this ongoing series.

To see where you’ve come from an where you’ve gone, it’s been amazing to track your career. I wanted to give our readers an idea of where you’re from and how you got scouted.
My name is Sohyun Jung from South Korea. I’m 24 years old, and six or seven years ago in South Korea, I did a competition there. I met my first Korean agency and they decided to give me a contract. That was the first step and then I did the Elite Model Look and Korea’s Next Top Model. A lot of competitions and TV programs, and of course Seoul Fashion Week. Usually, two or three years is enough to get many jobs in Korea but I wasn’t a popular model there. So I decided to move to another city. I met my mother agent that I’m still with, Roman Young. He loved me and three years ago he took me to visit New York to get my agency. I visited every agency – IMG, Ford, Elite, One, Wilhelmina, every New York agency. Then I choose One Management

How hectic does it get for you during fashion week for you? I always see you on our street style round-ups all around the globe.
Actually, I’m not too tired during the fashion or couture week, because I don’t have much scheduled. I did Givenchy Couture last Summer season and that was all. The hair was like a bird and the backstage was crazy. Hermes, Givenchy, Alexander Wang, everybody always gives to me the best outfits. They know how to make me look beautiful on the runway.

Which is amazing. You’ve done so much, but do you have a certain moment that’s been your big moment in your career that took you to the next level? What’s your next plan?
The Givenchy, Versace, and Alexander Wang campaign last year for sure. And, I don’t have any plans, I never had one. I just think of how better things are than last year, than last season, than yesterday. I keep this mindset, focus, and that is all. I’m just trying to do my best as things happen. I don’t want to imagine what is the next thing. That is too stressful.

“I don’t have any plan, I never had one. I just think of how better things are than last year than last season than yesterday. I keep this mindset, focus, and that is all. I’m just trying to do my best as things happen. I don’t want to imagine what is the next thing.”

I will say that you’ve been doing a lot of great print work – every month it’s another shoot. Which do you like more, runway or shooting editorials and campaigns?
Two years ago when I started overseas modeling, I was afraid of shooting editorials. The runway is very comfortable for me, I did a lot in Korea. Editorial is a little bit of a stressful thing for me because everybody is watching just me. On the runway, you know it’s an army of us models. Even if I do a little bit of a mistake on the runway, people don’t know that. On set, there used to be a little bit of stress before I got on set, but now I learned how to enjoy shooting.

I wonder do you have anyone that you look up to in the industry? Model-wise or maybe someone who’s looked out for you?
No. I’m just doing my own thing. That is best, I think. I don’t want to follow someone, I don’t want to be acting like someone else. I’m just making my characters to be like myself.

Do you have to think of a character when you’re getting in front of the camera to psych yourself out?
Case by case. Sometimes the client wants someone who is very sporty, sometimes they want someone very feminine. I try everything, so I enjoy that really. Shooting as a model always puts me in different moods and feelings. That is the most favorite part of modeling.

How do you maintain a good mental state? Are there times when things can get too hectic?
I’m a really lucky person because the people around me are so very helpful for my career and my manager really cares. They’re always asking “are you okay?”, “are you feeling good”, “are you feeling better”, “if you want we can say no.” They focus not only on my job but also my mental and body health too.

Which is very important. It’s very important to have someone in your corner, looking out for you in that sense.
Yeah for sure. Modeling is a very easy job to get stressed. Jet lag. This shoot tomorrow, this shooting the next day.

Early mornings, late nights. I don’t envy it. That being said it’s a great position to be in. As far as you’ve done so much, is there anything that you still want to do? Like a dream job for you?
A top show for me, since from when I started modeling, is the Haider Ackermann show. That’s my dream!