By any measure, Netflix\u2019s Squid Game<\/strong> is a runaway hit.<\/p>\n The Korean drama-slash-horror series about a battle royale conducted via children\u2019s playground games \u2014 think Red Light, Green Light or tug of war but with a lot more blood \u2014 debuted on September 17 and became an instant sensation, rocketing to the top of Netflix<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s most-viewed releases and generating memes across social media.<\/p>\n After barely three weeks on the platform, Squid Game has not only become the most popular Korean drama in Netflix\u2019s history, but it\u2019s on track to surpass Bridgerton as the most popular show in Netflix history.<\/p>\n Squid Game\u2019s success is such a fantastic payoff for Netflix\u2019s decision to invest $500 million in Korean entertainment in 2021 that it is causing the company\u2019s stock to boom. That might be somewhat ironic given that Squid Game is all about socioeconomic divides, the exploitation of the poor by the rich, and the desperation of Korea\u2019s financially destitute class of laid-off workers.<\/p>\n Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk came up with the idea for the show after years spent reading manga and manhwa (Japanese and Korean comics, respectively) with similar themes, including the influential horror satire Battle Royale, which kicked off the contemporary trend of ensemble casts battling each other to the death in elaborate high-stakes gaming arenas. He paired these concerns with the Korean entertainment industry\u2019s ongoing interest in the socioeconomic plight of a growing number of downwardly mobile workers, once solidly middle class, who\u2019ve found themselves forced into lower-paying jobs due to Korea\u2019s changing economy and decreasing reliance on industry.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In the modeling world, Hoyeon Jung\u2019s resum\u00e9 is more than impressive. Hailing from Seoul, the now 27-year-old entered the industry as a young teenager. In 2013, at 19, she placed second on Korea\u2019s Next Top Model.<\/p>\n That was but the start of a burgeoning career. In 2016, she landed her first major runway with Louis Vuitton, her freshly-dyed fiery red hair soon becoming her trademark. It was her international debut.<\/p>\n\u201cSquid Game\u201d Star Hoyeon Jung on Her Rapid Rise, BLACKPINK\u2019s Jennie, and What\u2019s Next<\/h2>\n