By: Racela Abundo
Meet Hye Won Jang, the charming Korean model who calls Manila home.
“You know, sometimes I consider myself more Filipino than Korean. I moved here when I was only four! Now, I guess you could say I’m very career-oriented and independent. I like taking things as they are, though, and taking chances. I graduated with a degree in Management Engineering. Usually, graduates holding that degree go into careers at banks, or FMCGs (fast-moving consumer goods). Me, I’m modelling, which I guess doesn’t seem directly related to my course, but school definitely influenced how I think and see the world. My training at Ateneo taught me the importance of drive, commitment, and discipline. So now my attitude is, when things happen, there’s always a way to deal with them.”
On her favorite perk of the job:
“Living abroad is different from traveling. You get to be in control, with freedom to explore, discover, change, and become more open-minded. So far, I’ve stayed in Hong Kong and Singapore for three months each, in Malaysia for two, and in Korea for four – that counts because I’m based here! I’ve also had the privilege of walking the runway in Dubai, Tokyo, and Cambodia, and I’ve learned a lot from those trips, too, including how to be more efficient! The Philippines is often a lot warmer though, literally and figuratively.”
Asian Persuasion
“Being a Korean model in the Philippines really has its advantages. There are not a lot of Korean models, so I have a niche market. There are a lot of beautiful mestizas, but whenever they need an Asian look, they call me!”
On the value of healthy skin over good make up
“For make up to look good and last long, we need to have a really good base, which is glowing skin! Plus, whenever I put on my own make up, I try to keep it light and very natural. If it’s hot, it’ll melt! That’s why I love Banila Co. It’s Korean, and they really make an effort to choose ingredients which don’t harm your skin. So I get to keep my bare skin as clear as possible, which is very important.”
Online discovery for the win!
“I used to see Banila Co around in Korea, and then I saw my favourite YouTuber, Jenn Im, raving about Clean It Zero. I tried it, and now I also have good things to say about it. This is still one of my favourite Banila Co products.”
