9 Famous Korean Models Taking Over Fashion

A decade ago, it was rare to see a Korean model open a Paris show. Now Korean faces are everywhere, from Louis Vuitton campaigns to Chanel front rows, and Seoul has become one of the most exciting style capitals in the world.

Part of that is the K-wave, sure. K-dramas and K-pop put Korean style on the global map. But the models below did the hard work too, grinding through casting calls in New York and Paris until the industry couldn't ignore them.

Here are 9 famous Korean models, from runway regulars to actresses and K-pop stars who became fashion's favorite faces.

Runway Stars

Sora Choi

Sora Choi is basically runway royalty. She won season three of Korea's Next Top Model, and in 2015 she became the first South Korean model chosen as a Louis Vuitton exclusive. She's since walked for just about every big house, appeared in over 100 international campaigns, and was voted Readers' Choice Model of the Year by models.com in 2020.

Soo Joo Park

Korean-American model Soo Joo Park dyed her hair platinum blonde after moving to New York, and it didn't take long for Chanel and Tom Ford to notice. That icy hair became her trademark, and she went on to become one of Karl Lagerfeld's favorite faces at Chanel. Alongside stars from our roundup of top Asian models like Liu Wen, she helped change who gets booked for the biggest campaigns.

Irene Kim

Irene Kim grew up in Seattle with Korean parents and is fluent in both languages. In her early modeling days, she was known for her ever-changing rainbow hair. Her Instagram handle, @ireneisgood, became so iconic that she turned it into the name of her own label.

Hyun Ji Shin

Hyun Ji Shin is one of the busiest Korean models on the international circuit, a regular at fashion weeks in New York, Paris and Milan. She's also famously close with K-pop royalty, including BTS's J-Hope and the members of BLACKPINK.

From Runway to Screen

HoYeon Jung

Before the whole world knew her as Kang Sae-byeok in Squid Game, HoYeon Jung was already a serious model. She started at 16, placed runner-up on Korea's Next Top Model, then moved to New York with the fiery red hair that became her signature. Models.com named her one of its top 50 models in 2018, and after Squid Game she became a Louis Vuitton global ambassador.

Lee Sung-kyung

Lee Sung-kyung started out as a runway model in Seoul before switching to acting. She won fans everywhere with Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo, a K-drama that's still a comfort watch for a lot of people, and her model background shows in every red carpet look.

Jang Yoon-ju

Jang Yoon-ju is one of Korea's original supermodels, a fixture at Seoul Fashion Week for years. She later surprised everyone with a scene-stealing role in the hit action film Veteran and has become a popular TV personality.

K-Pop Stars Who Became Fashion Faces

Jennie

They don't call her "Human Chanel" for nothing. BLACKPINK's Jennie has been one of Chanel's biggest global ambassadors for years and has fronted campaigns for Calvin Klein too. She's not a model in the traditional sense, but few people move fashion the way she does. When Jennie wears something, it sells out.

Jisoo

BLACKPINK's Jisoo became Dior's global ambassador and has been a front-row regular at its Paris shows ever since. She's also a Cartier ambassador and has acted in K-dramas like Snowdrop, proving her star power goes well beyond music.

Final Thoughts

From Sora Choi's Louis Vuitton exclusive to Jennie's Chanel takeover, Korean models and stars have gone from rare to everywhere in just over a decade. With Seoul's fashion scene this strong, expect plenty more names to join the list soon.

Want to see who's leading the way next door? Meet our 10 famous Japanese models, from 1970s pioneer Sayoko Yamaguchi to Kiko Mizuhara and Koki.