Top South Korean Model Park Heejung Embraces New Beginnings

For 10 years, South Korean model Park Heejung has ruled the runways and starred in fashion campaigns. She’s still doing what she does best: Park recently walked the Ami Spring/Summer 2023 show in Seoul, and was part of Maria Grazia Chiuri’s lineup for Dior’s Cruise 2023 show in Seville.

This year has also brought exciting new challenges Park’s way — the model watched Dior’s Spring/Summer 2023 show in Paris from the front row. After the show, the model wrote on Instagram: “It was such an amazing experience to witness the show from the front of the house, which was very different from walking the show.” And soon, Park will make her K-drama debut with Netflix’s The Fabulous, which also features Choi Min-ho and Chae Soo-bin.

Congratulations on 10 years of modelling! What have been some of your favourite moments?

Whenever I walk down the runway, I enjoy every single moment of it. I think the pleasure of walking a “new show”, which wasn’t on the list of what I have walked before, is indescribable. Due to the pandemic, I couldn’t go abroad for a while and from last year, after the situation got better, I was able to go abroad again for runway shows. But there weren’t many models that I used to work with before, and I realised then that the times we worked together are very precious and meaningful to me.

It has been a big year for you as you walked the Dior Pre-Fall show in Seoul, and the Dior Cruise 2023 show in Seville. Has there been a standout moment of 2022 for you?

The standout moment of this year is probably when I went to Paris to watch the Dior Spring/Summer 2023 show. During fashion week, I normally work hard for castings and am really busy for about a month and a half. As a model on runway, I am used to presenting the new collection, but this time, I was sitting in the front row and watching Dior’s new looks, the new concept, and the models coming out on stage. This was a new experience for me.

How did it feel being in the audience rather than on the runway?

The biggest difference is that I was able to enjoy the whole collection and fully focus from the opening to the finale. When I participate in shows as a runway model, I have to present my look in the best way, so I have to focus on that part and I can’t really see other looks in the collection. It was such a pleasure and an exciting experience to enjoy the entirety of the collection, and when my close friends came on stage to walk down the runway, I watched with a big smile on my face.

What is the secret to your success as a model?

I think patience and steadiness is the secret to my success. If there is something I want to achieve, I tend to do a lot of research and think about it constantly until I can find my way to achieve that goal. As the saying goes, “life is all about timing”. If you are ready, your time will come, whether it is earlier or later. So I would say that my know-how seems to be in being patient and preparing until my time comes. And that way, I was able to seize the opportunity when it came.

What’s next for Park Heejung?

I started acting, and as it’s my debut as an actor, I’m very excited and hope that people enjoy my acting. In the future, both as a model and as an actor, I want to become a person who gives healthy and positive energy to people. My personal goal is to live a healthy life both physically and mentally, and with plenty of my own hobbies.

FASHION DIRECTION Ian Lee

PHOTOGRAPHY JI+DOH

STYLING Pillsung Lee