A Seoul picture shoot reunites the worldwide actors as they speak about their modeling days, being Gucci and Louis Vuitton ambassadors (respectively) and their risk-taking pink carpet seems to be: "I’m an individual who doesn’t like boring issues."
It’s an August morning within the Gangnam district of Seoul, South Korea, the place a pair of A-list, Emmy-nominated Squid Sport stars have convened at a five-star resort. After wrapping a photograph shoot, Jung Ho-yeon is on Zoom, flashing a large smile and elevating each palms to kind a coronary heart form to explain the expertise, one she says was made even sweeter as a result of it supplied the possibility to reunite with pal Lee Jung-jae.
They’ve not had a lot face time recently, as Lee has been busy selling his directorial debut, Hunt, whereas she’s been filming Alfonso Cuarón’s Apple TV+ collection Disclaimer reverse Cate Blanchett. They are going to get one other likelihood to hold collectively Sept. 12, when the Squid Sport crew descends upon Los Angeles to attend the Emmy Awards, for which the Netflix collection is nominated for 14 trophies together with finest drama collection and particular person nods for Lee and Jung.
Win or lose, Hwang Dong-hyuk’s South Korean collection already delivered one thing not constructed for a shelf: record-setting viewership for Netflix as essentially the most watched collection within the streamer’s historical past, with 1.7 billion hours seen. Starring on the planet’s hottest TV present furthered Lee’s international fame — the Seoul-born 49-year-old was already an enormous star in his homeland with greater than three dozen credit — whereas cementing a brand new profession path for 28-year-old model-turned-actress Jung together with her first main credit score.
And Jung’s hand gesture can simply be utilized to her work. Her character, Kang Sae-byeok (Participant 067), was the guts of the blockbuster collection, whereas Lee’s Seong Gi-hun (Participant 456) was the soul, in addition to the final man standing at season one’s finish. Creator Hwang has informed THR that season two will deal with the journey of Gi-hun after he turned a “completely new individual” by the finale.
Their time onscreen as rivals within the lethal sport has ended, however their careers as in-demand trend stars dwell on — and are thriving: Jung serves seems to be as an envoy for Louis Vuitton, whereas Lee has an enviable pact with Gucci. They signed with the style homes final fall, not lengthy after the present took off. Forward of the Emmy Awards, the actors chatted with THR (with the assistance of translator Hyewon Park) about all issues type and their shared roots within the modeling enterprise.
You each began your careers as fashions; how did that affect your type and trend sense?
LEE JUNG-JAE I wasn’t actually a trend mannequin. I modeled for commercials largely, and whenever you’re doing commercials, it's important to make the product stand out and the mannequin shouldn’t overshadow the product. So I didn’t have to decorate fashionably again then. I've to say that I actually didn’t do modeling as a result of I wished to.
JUNG HO-YEON After I was modeling, I had lots of alternatives to attempt outfits with totally different ideas, so one factor that I’ve discovered is to not be afraid of exploring totally different types and selecting to experiment, even off digicam.
How did your type evolve whenever you began appearing?
LEE After I first began appearing within the early Nineteen Nineties, actors [in South Korea] needed to put together their very own garments for TV reveals and movies. From ’93 to in regards to the 12 months 2000, I did my very own styling, and after I picked out my garments, I attempted to decide on clothes that finest match the character. I wished to go for colour schemes that may spotlight the feelings of my character in a selected scene. That was the time after I put essentially the most thought into trend.
JUNG I don’t suppose the evolution had something to do with switching to appearing as a result of in my early years as a mannequin, I was actually on the market. I might placed on actually fierce make-up and outfits. However as I went by my profession, I obtained actually exhausted and gave up on dressing fashionably. I used to put on solely sweats and informal garments. Round 5 years in the past, I discovered a stability the place I’m modern however not an excessive amount of, with simply the correct amount of hipness.
How would you describe your pink carpet type right this moment?
LEE I’m an individual that doesn’t like boring issues. There are various totally different types of pink carpets, and all of it is determined by the ambiance of the occasion. If it’s a extremely formal occasion, I might go together with fewer equipment. If it’s not that formal, I attempt to go for an uplifting sort of wardrobe.
JUNG For the pink carpet, I take heed to my group about their opinions and I might describe it as a really pure but detailed type.
How would you describe your type whenever you’re not working?
JUNG I actually put on the identical factor day by day — both denims or Adidas monitor pants — after which I simply change the T-shirt. I even have a deal as an envoy for Adidas, so it’s very straightforward.
LEE I largely go for colourful garments. And folks already are conscious that I’m a trend icon, that I gown nicely, so I can’t actually go anyplace with out being attentive to my type.
Are you able to speak about working along with your stylists, Gianna Hwang (Lee’s stylist) and Aeri Yun (Jung’s)?
JUNG We resolve collectively, and typically it may be complicated as a result of we now have so many concepts, but it surely’s good as a result of we at all times hear to one another. We share images, like Audrey Hepburn. Or, again within the day, we used to attract and sketch concepts and share these and speak about what we like.
LEE We’ve been working collectively for six years now. She’s a really meticulous individual; she prepares very totally in order that I can have a number of type choices to select from.
You each have offers with main luxurious homes. Why did you resolve to associate with a model?
LEE When Gucci modified designers [naming Alessandro Michele creative director in 2015], I believed that Gucci was taking a really daring route by way of colour and design. It got here throughout as very new and progressive and complicated. I had an excellent impression of the model already, however then I began reaching for Gucci quite a bit. It was at that time that they reached out to me for a partnership, and I used to be very comfortable.
JUNG To begin with, I knew [Louis Vuitton creative director] Nicolas Ghesquière very nicely from after I was a mannequin, and I actually admired his designs as a result of I believed it was an important mixture of each modernness and antiqueness, in a means. I additionally admire the truth that he will get lots of inspirations from artwork and pays a lot consideration to the construction of his outfits. I actually wished to work with Louis Vuitton due to his signature design philosophy. And simply because, I imply, it’s Louis Vuitton!
Any favourite items that you just’ve worn for the model?
LEE It’s very onerous for me to decide on one, however after I first turned the Gucci ambassador, we had a photograph shoot for the official announcement. They despatched me three seems to be, and one in all them was a black swimsuit with fur. At first I believed it seemed too fierce and it won't go nicely with me. However after I tried it on, it seemed nice and I had lots of enjoyable [wearing it].
JUNG I can’t select only one, however I actually like my SAG Awards gown. And I simply so appreciated that [Louis Vuitton] made for me a daenggi hair ribbon, a standard Korean hair accent. I advised to my stylist that we might do it, and she or he requested them to make the accent and so they did. That was fairly an expertise, to signify custom in that means as a Louis Vuitton ambassador.
Have you ever ever seen the influence one thing you’ve worn has had amongst followers or the general public?
LEE I’ve been doing lots of promotion [for Hunt], and I went on a TV present carrying a pink jacket and an ivory-colored shirt. I unbuttoned the highest three buttons and wore a extremely daring pearl necklace. Folks had been actually all in favour of that and it was lined closely by the media. I feel which may be some of the influential gadgets I’ve worn.
I do know many individuals listing you as a mode icon, however who's yours?
LEE Timothée Chalamet. He attire in a really fascinating, intriguing means.
JUNG There are such a lot of! I actually like Jennifer Aniston’s ’90s type. She’s wonderful. I additionally like Winona Ryder and Cate Blanchett. I'm at all times googling images of ’90s type as a result of I feel the actresses seemed so iconic in that period.
What clothes gadgets do you have got your eye on for fall?
JUNG A knitted vest, corduroy pants, loafers and neckties.
What’s your important journey merchandise or two?
LEE I at all times convey my laptop computer and pill PC, as a result of I've to write down and watch movies.
JUNG Buckwheat tea and Cup O’ Noodles.
Is there anything you're into, like automobiles or timepieces?
JUNG A Contax T3 movie digicam.
LEE I like classic gadgets, so I've a number of classic watches and automobiles.
When you have a customer to Seoul, what are some locations you'd take them?
JUNG Consolation Seoul, a restaurant and bar with a view of town; Namsan, a park the place I prefer to go strolling; and Nemojip Korean BBQ, a super-good Korean barbecue restaurant.
Everybody can be being attentive to what you put on on the Emmys. Have you ever chosen your outfit already?
JUNG We don’t have it but, however I'll say that it’s going to be stylish. And detailed.
LEE For the reason that Emmys is such a serious, main awards ceremony, Alessandro Michele, Gucci’s inventive director, requested me the type I wished and he gave me a number of choices. I picked one out and he’s going to make a customized search for me that I'll put on.
Interview edited for size and readability.
This story first appeared within the Sept. 6 difficulty of The Hollywood Reporter journal. Click on right here to subscribe.