They show chemistry with clothes during photo shoots or fashion shows. And they wear clothes for any gender, they’re asexual. Women aren’t the only ones who can be muses. We met four fascinating male models.
Nam Joo Hyuk
Kim Tae Hwan
Jang Ki Yong
A young boy giving a cold impression opens the door and walks in. He doesn’t speak much during a first meeting. When left alone, he listens to music or sit by himself which doesn’t seem to bother him. However, when you talk to him, his friendly personality allows him to keep up with the discussion and show a lot of aegyo. It seems that he’d also be a good actor because his face shows nuances and expressiveness. In real life, he’s actually very interested in acting and singing. Being a model was the starting point for his desire to broaden his expression spectrum. A gem that wants to shine through its own ability and not through clothes, this is Jang Ki Yong who has been a model for two years.
You received the fashion model award at the 9th Asia Model Festival Awards ceremony in 2014.
I was very happy. When I first heard about this award, I asked my agency CEO what I should do to get this award. Isn’t this by doing various activities? It’s a priceless reward for me. There might be an exception, but being a fashion model is a job with an expiration date, so I wonder if this is an award I would have been able to receive if it wasn’t for now?
Are you majoring in acting?
I’m really interested in singing, dancing and acting. My college major is about things related to musicals. I’m changing path to get into acting. As I was thinking about what expressing yourself through your body was, I thought modeling was a suitable answer. When I moved from Ulsan to Seoul, I was determined and I looked for an agency. The first time I walked the runway, I was so nervous that all I could think about was “do not fall!â€. The stage was longer than I thought it was. I felt like that whole world was looking at me. I still get nervous, but I’m able to enjoy the lighting or the music now.
When people say Jang Ki Yong, the first thing that comes to mind is the photo shoot(s) with you smiling while you had braces.
It was when I was getting my teeth straightened. I wondered if it would be okay and I just went. I’m relatively okay with smiling in front of a camera. I think it brings out this feeling that only I can give.
You smiled a lot in IU’s music videos for “The Red Shoes†and “Fridayâ€. Did IU choose you to be the lead actor?
I also thought it was strange, so I asked IU why she chose me. She said they needed a face that would bring out a fresh feeling. It was fair enough since I have this bright and cheerful image, just like you see it for the photoshoot where I have my braces. Shooting a video is different from modeling. It was a new and interesting experience. I found myself thinking that I’d like to do some acting on any kind of stage or for any genre. Not long ago, my agency organized a collab with musicians Lovelybut and Eyekiss and we recorded a song together. I realized how much fun it was.
The weather is stil cold. Aren’t you cold with what you’re wearing?
So does it mean I look like I am? I wear layers of clothes, even long johns. I have a lot of clothes, but I’m not really interested in the way to wear them. My summer uniform is usually a t-shirt with skinny jeans. If my outfit can express fairly how my body is, it’s enough for me. I don’t even wear accessoiries. I hope people would see me more than the fashion I wear.
Is there something you’d like to accomplish this year?
More of “meâ€. I want to show more a good image of “meâ€. I want a big opportunity to do it.
Park Hyeong Seop
Original article: Nylon Translation: @onesunnylady
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