Jang Yoon-ju is Miss Multifaceted

We’re not exaggerating when we say that Jang Yoon-ju is a creative force that has almost done it all – she began modelling in 1997 and rose the ranks to become one of South Korea’s most successful models. In her 25-year career, she has posed with the likes of Kate Moss and Carla Bruni, and became a resident host and judge of 'Korea’s Next Top Model'. And that’s not where Jang’s talents end – over the years, she has co-authored a book, won a Best Radio DJ award, and released her own music albums including Dream and I’m Fine.

After dabbling in television and appearing in popular South Korean shows such as 'Running Man' and 'Knowing Bros', Jang sealed her status as an actress-to-watch in 2020 when she landed a starring role in the critically acclaimed film, 'Three Sisters'. Now, Jang is set to appear in Netflix’s 'Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area', a South Korean series based on the hit Spanish crime drama series, 'Money Heist'.

You recently visited Singapore in January. How was your trip, and what did you enjoy most?

It was the first time that I actually got to go around Singapore. The other time I visited was for a flight layover, so I only got to visit the airport and the surrounding areas previously. I enjoyed my trip. It's been a long time since I've travelled abroad, and what struck me the most was how clean the air felt in Singapore. Every day, I started my morning by opening the big balcony doors and taking in the fresh breeze and the smell of the trees.

I visited the National Museum of Singapore with my daughter, just the two of us. We learned a thing or two about Singapore as a country. Sentosa was also a good spot. The sea was not far off from the city centre. We even took pictures with the whales. It was an absolute wonderland for kids. I also have a lot of Korean friends that live in Singapore. Our family had a great time at Jiyoung's place, a fellow model who debuted before me.

You're a top model with about 20 years in the industry – thinking back, what have been some of the most memorable moments for you as a model?

I lived and breathed fashion, from the film era to the digital era. I miss the days when I travelled around the world for magazine shoots, from the late 1990s when I debuted until the 2000s. I think I visited about 40 different cities. If I had to pick the most memorable out of them all, that would be when I visited Kenya in 1999. I still remember the shock I felt then like it was yesterday. People strutting around wearing bold primary colours. Hordes of giraffes and elephants running around early in the morning – those images will always stay within me. My debut show also comes to mind. I made my fashion debut as the opening and finale model for designer Jin Tae-ok's 1997 Seoul Collection. Soon after I had my debut shoot. In the following year I went to New York, and that memory also holds a special place in my heart. Looking back, it seems every moment where I was doing something for the first time stayed with me the most.

As such an established fixture in fashion, do you have personal do's and don'ts when it comes to wearing fashion?

I believe fashion and style are comprised of 'fantasy' and 'creativity'. To continue playing your role as a model while still holding onto that fantasy and creativity, you must have a vast atelier of pictures and stories within yourself. I believe that to create that inner atelier, one must experience many different cultures around the world, and have a sharp eye to see things for what they really are. That is why I enjoy photo selections so much. It feels great when photographers or reporters and I come to a consensus on the best image. Now those are my personal do's. Now the don'ts: It’s the same with all artistic endeavors, you should avoid being stagnant. Fashion is the most ephemeral out of all the arts. A new trend is set and produced every season. The classics remain immortal, but you should be able to read the flow of the latest trend just like that.

That's why today's shoot was a good learning experience for me. It is a great opportunity to try on the latest clothes and accessories. There is a big difference between just looking at the clothes and actually trying them on, and the experience of putting on these new clothes and figuring out how to express them keeps my senses sharp.

As someone with such varied experiences, what kind of advice would you give our readers?

You can't beat someone who enjoys what they are doing. You need that hunger, but generally people who enjoy their work are more attractive. My first priority when it comes to selecting a job is: “Is this enjoyable?” It requires knowledge about the different characteristics of each media and a serpent-like wisdom. Spontaneous inspiration is, of course, a must. On top of that, enjoy what you do with all your charm. This is my biggest asset and advice.

International Women's Day falls on this month. Who are some women you admire?

There are so many women that I admire, but the one that comes first to mind is my mother. For more than 50 years, my mother has taken her bicycle every day, at the break of dawn, to church to attend service and give her prayers. She still does. I grew up with those prayers. I believe in the power of prayers. My mother's strength and mental fortitude is second to none. I admire her a lot and I am always grateful.

I can't leave out the great actress Youn Yuh-jung. If you take a look at her long career and personal history, you can't help but be amazed by her confidence, down-to-earth demeanour, wit, and sensibility. There was this one time I binge watched all of her interview footages. The fact that she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress is a great source of pride for Koreans everywhere, and this was also a big personal inspiration for me, as a woman and as a mother. Because I had a late start with my acting career, I have decided to move forward one step at a time, treating it like a marathon, not a race, and put in consistent effort just like actress Youn did. Through her, I learned a big lesson that you should take a long steady approach when it comes to acting or relationships.

Recently, I've fallen in love with Korean indie rock band Se So Neon Band. I want to send a heartfelt shout out to the band’s singer and guitarist Hwang Soyoon. I feel my dormant energy stirring from within whenever I see her play the guitar. She is much younger than me but her mad passion for music and talent demands respect and is something that requires a lot of effort.

You seem to have done it all – you're a very established model, you've co-authored a book, you've tried music, you've done television, you've starred in a film, and you've even been in a very cool video for K-pop group aespa. What can we expect from you next?

I want to be my own person. I'll go: “That person is cool, I should up my game”. But I have never really thought: “I want to be like that person”. There is only one me in the world, and there might be someone who treaded the path before me, but my path will inevitably be different from the one before me. Because the times are always changing and not everything goes according to plan, life is something that you can't really plan ahead of time.

I just want to live the life I have been given to the best of my abilities, and live as a person with my own inner stories, images, and melodies. I love working and I have never taken a break, but I am also the kind of person that enjoys selfdevelopment. Even when I am just chilling, I can have fun while doing it.

It’s great to have something that I can focus on. I am very focused when I am working out. When I’m exercising, I only focus on my muscles and how they feel from my own movement. I don't think about anything else. If I set myself on something, that's the only thing I think about. I'm also the kind of person that needs to see a project through from start to finish.

Sometimes I dream about going away and settling down somewhere else. I want to be the kind of person that can leave at any given time. I talk about that with my husband all the time.

My career is important, but what's most important is my family. I am always grateful for my family and they are a big source of my strength. While working, I enjoy it and focus on it but when I'm done, I just focus on my family. Family is a blessing that cannot be substituted by anything else.

I don't know how my future will turn out but I will keep on enjoying as much as I can and keep moving. I will be grateful for the work that is given to me, remain flexible, and walk my own path while keeping an open mind for spontaneity.