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This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
You left Korea in 2016 to pursue modeling, and now youve found yourself back there makingSquid Game.
Without those years, maybe Sae-byeok wouldnt be here.
How did you approach playing Sae-byeok?I tried to find the why?
behind every line that Sae-byeok had and tried to look into her real emotions versus fake ones.
Id almost say that I physically accumulated all of her experiences to express her character.
Will you ever share any of those diaries?
[In English] No.
I cant … Its just like … Too shy!
[hides behind her hands]
Fair enough.
Thats the biggest personal change that I went through.
I didnt have a sense of responsibility; it was more about my well-being and goals.
I had to ask myself,Would I be able to do that if I were in her shoes?
I have become someone who cares more for my family and friends.
It was difficult to let go of her.
I want to ask aboutyour modeling career.
Theres always an audience, theres always the magazine reader thats going to judge you.
Every time Im in front of the camera, I feel like all my traumas are exposed.
How do you move past all of that?These are occupations where you really have to prove yourself.
I know that everything takes time, so I take it one day at a time.
How do you approach hard times differently now that youve acted inSquid Game?I ask the question why?
I didnt really go into the why of it.
Since I started acting and studying humans, I question why people say certain things or make certain choices.
That approach has deepened my personal relationships as well.
Have you seen how much people love the scenes between Sae-byeok and Ji-yeong (Lee Yoo-mi)?
What was it like working with her?I cannot be more grateful for that.
From the first time we met, we instantly connected, and we had great conversations about acting.
We cherish the scenes we had together and the fact that so many loved it.
It was such an amazing and humbling experience.
We got chills because of the fan reaction; its an indescribable feeling.
If you, as Jung Ho-yeon, could say a few words to Sae-byeok, what would you say?
[In English] I would say, you did good.
Shes been struggling all her life, for her family, and she tried really hard.
I think she did her best.
