"Acting never gets easier. Every time I meet a new character, it feels as though I'm starting from scratch all over again—as if I've forgotten everything I know."
That is how Jung Ho-yeon describes her approach to acting today.
After first becoming an internationally recognized fashion model and later breaking out as an actor through Netflix's Squid Game, Jung now makes her feature-film debut in Na Hong-jin's HOPE, taking on one of the film's most physically demanding roles while continuing to redefine the trajectory of her career.
News Culture recently sat down with Jung at a café in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, where she spoke about joining HOPE, working with acclaimed filmmaker Na Hong-jin, and the lessons she has learned since Squid Game transformed her life.
HOPE follows Beom-seok, the head of a police outpost near the Korean Demilitarized Zone, whose quiet village is thrown into chaos after reports emerge of a tiger roaming the area. As disbelief gives way to unimaginable reality, the town is forced into a desperate fight for survival. The film marks Na Hong-jin's first feature in a decade following The Wailing, starring Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung and Jung Ho-yeon.
Jung plays police officer Seong-ae, delivering everything from intricate gunplay to high-speed vehicle sequences herself. Alongside the action, she balances emotional depth with flashes of understated humor, creating one of the film's most memorable characters.
Looking back on the period following Squid Game, Jung admitted that overwhelming global recognition also brought uncertainty.
"I was incredibly grateful for all the love Squid Game received, but I also felt anxious," she said. "I wanted to give myself time instead of rushing into another project."
Rather than chasing immediate leading roles, she deliberately sought opportunities to work alongside established filmmakers and actors.
"Several senior actors advised me that I would learn the most by surrounding myself with experienced performers," she explained.
"That's why I chose projects like a special appearance in Chicken Nugget with Ryu Seung-ryong and later Disclaimer starring Cate Blanchett. HOPE came from the same mindset. I wanted to work with Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung, director Na Hong-jin and cinematographer Hong Kyung-pyo."
She also reflected on her first meeting with Na, revealing that she had no idea actor Hwang Jung-min had recommended her for the project.
"I only knew the director wanted to meet me casually," she recalled. "Before we met, I was unbelievably nervous. From the moment I received the call, my heart wouldn't stop racing. I couldn't sleep. I just wanted to make a good impression."
The tension disappeared the moment they began talking—but not because Na made things easier.
"The first thing I thought when I saw him was, 'There's absolutely no pretending in front of this person.' His gaze was incredibly intense," she laughed. "I felt like I didn't blink once during the entire meeting, so I even told myself not to blink."
She quickly added with a smile, "I'm joking. I simply tried to be myself."
Toward the end of the meeting, Na handed her the screenplay.
"I'll never forget that feeling," she said. "Most of our conversation had been about everyday things, and I was so nervous I barely remember what I said. Then he gave me the script."
She still vividly remembers another unexpected gesture.
"He bought me gan-jjajang because he said that's what people do in Chungmuro," she said with a laugh. "On the way home, I couldn't put the script down for a second. I wanted it to become mine so badly that I wrote my own name under the title on the cover. That's how desperately I wanted this role. After reading it, I became even more certain because Seong-ae was such a fascinating character."
Na Hong-jin has long been known for his exacting standards, and Jung said every rumor about his perfectionism proved true.
"He never compromises, and for a newcomer like me, that was a blessing," she said. "He filled in details I hadn't considered and found ideas I would never have reached on my own. Even when we did countless takes, I believed there was always a reason. None of the takes felt wrong. I trusted that he would find the best moment in the editing room, so I never felt pressured."
One of Jung's most talked-about scenes is her explosive first appearance in HOPE, which drew enthusiastic applause when the film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. Her entrance shifts the momentum of the story, transforming the hunters into the hunted through an extended action sequence.
"We filmed the entire sequence—from stepping out of the vehicle, through the gunfight, and back into the car—in one continuous take," she explained. "We repeated it about 24 times. We captured everything, from versions where I still had plenty of energy to moments when genuine exhaustion naturally came through. The director selected the take that best fit the rhythm of the film."
Although she knew when her character would appear, she never expected the sequence to leave such a strong impression.
"My focus was simply on executing the scene as effectively as possible," she said. "I'm grateful the director let us keep trying. And honestly, that moment became even more powerful because Hwang Jung-min had already carried the emotional weight of the film for nearly an hour before I entered."
Preparing for Seong-ae required months of physical training.
Before filming, Jung revisited Sigourney Weaver's performance in Alien, studying how the legendary actress reacted to an unknown lifeform.
"I wanted to understand those instinctive reactions when facing something beyond human understanding," she said.
Action training itself lasted six months.
"The rifle weighed about five kilograms," she explained. "Knowing Director Na liked to shoot many takes, I realized weight training was essential. I gained about four kilograms, and more than 90 percent of that was muscle. I also kept doing cardio to build endurance."
Driving proved just as demanding.
"I originally had an automatic driver's license," she said. "For this film I earned a manual license and trained with professional racing instructors to learn drifting."
The car chase, however, became one of the production's biggest challenges.
"I was actually driving, and Hwang Jung-min was sitting beside me," she recalled. "Everyone—from the camera crew to the stunt team—kept giving me instructions about safety. There was so much information coming at once that my mind went completely blank."
Then Hwang quietly changed everything.
"He simply looked at me and said, 'Just drive the way you want.'"
"He probably had more reason to be nervous than I did, but hearing that helped me focus instantly. I suddenly gained confidence. Maybe I became a little crazy in the best possible way," she laughed. "We nailed the speed we wanted right away, and the very first take was approved."
Even while enjoying the experience, safety remained her priority.
"I tried not to think about having fun," she said. "I concentrated on avoiding accidents and staying fully present. Gunfights are also very different because you have to move in sync with the camera. Every part of the experience was completely new to me."
Asked whether she has always been fearless, Jung smiled.
"I didn't realize it until this project, but apparently I don't scare easily. Even Director Na told me, 'You're fearless.'"
Working on HOPE also confirmed that surrounding herself with veteran artists had been the right decision.
"Watching Hwang Jung-min perform made me want to reach that level someday," she said. "The way he built every emotional beat was incredible. That's when I understood what leading a film truly means."
She eventually asked both Hwang and Na the same question.
"'How do you get there?'"
"Their answer was exactly the same: 'Don't try too hard.'"
"That made me realize experience can't be forced," she continued. "If you calculate everything or try too hard, people can see it. Real depth only comes with time. For now, all I can do is keep working, keep learning, and keep throwing myself into every challenge."
She laughed again while recalling another coincidence.
"Director Hwang Dong-hyuk, Director Na Hong-jin, and most recently Director Kim Jee-woon all described me as a 'wild horse.' Hearing the exact same thing from all three was pretty funny."
Jung first entered the fashion industry at 17 and rose to become one of Korea's most recognizable international models before unexpectedly beginning a second career as an actor.
"Acting wasn't my childhood dream," she admitted. "When I was modeling overseas, I spent a lot of time alone. That's when I started watching films—especially works by Alfonso Cuarón. Somewhere around my mid-twenties, I realized I wanted to become an actor."
She believes modeling prepared her in unexpected ways.
"As a model, I constantly had to adapt to different people and environments. That flexibility has helped me enormously as an actor."
Even so, acting still humbles her.
"It's incredibly rewarding, but it's also incredibly difficult," she said. "Every new role makes me feel like I've forgotten how to act and have to learn everything all over again."
Looking ahead, Jung hopes her next challenge won't be another film set—but a stage.
"I really want to perform in theater," she said. "I want to see how far I can expand what I have as an actor. More than anything, I want to experience performing face-to-face with a live audience."
HOPE opens in theaters on July 15.
Reported by News Culture M.J._mj94070777@nc.press
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