19 Korean Stars Who Have Become The New Fashion Royalty
Luxury houses are tapping into the star power and influence of Korean idols - and why it's such a genius move
Gone were the days where only Hollywood celebrities and supermodels were appointed as brand ambassadors of global fashion houses. With the rise in Korean inclusivity and the power of the Korean wave, more Korean celebrities have taken up those appointments as ambassadors, either for Korea or the global market.
Ahead, weâve rounded up a list of Korean celebrities who have fronted luxury fashion brands.
If youâve been binge-watching All Of Us Are Dead on Netflix, then you would know this familiar face. Yoon Chan-young, who played Lee Cheong-San in the show, has just been appointed as Coachâs first brand ambassador for Korea. In partnership with the House, Chan-young is said to be fronting the campaigns for Coachâs leather goods, ready-to-wear and footwear beginning with the Spring 2022 season. Embodying Coachâs values of championing optimism and the courage to be oneâs authentic self, we canât help but think that the position is well befitting for the breakout star.
Excited to be a part of the Houseâs story, that young star also states that he is âthrilled to be an ambassador for Coach,â and he also mentioned that the brand fits his personal style and inspires him.
You may have known him back in 2009 for his lead role in the ever-so-popular K-drama, Boys Over Flowers, or even The Heirs which aired back in 2013. But thatâs more than meets the eye with this superstar. And while he did rise to stardom back in the day, Lee Min-Ho shows no signs of slowing down. This time âround, the South korean superstar was recently appointed to be the new ambassador luxury fashion house, Fendi.
The news about his new appointment first surfaced when his agency, MYM Entertainment, made an announcement on its Instagram page, posting photos of the actor in Fendi.
The caption read, âThe first meeting of Lee Min-ho and Fendi, the global fashion house, is now officially confirmed.â
The actor also shared in an official statement with Fendi, âIâm very honoured to be a part of the Fendi family as an ambassador, a Maison that to me is rich in heritage as well as creativity.â
Lee Min-Ho joins fellow South Korean K-drama actress, Song Hye Kyo, who was appointed to be Fendiâs brand ambassador in February 2021.
Kim Woo-bin, best known for his roles in K-dramas like Heirs (2013) and School (2012), was appointed as the brand ambassador for Jaeger-LeCoultre in June 2021. The South Korean actor and model made a comeback at The Sound Marker exhibition in Seoul after his recovery from nasopharyngeal cancer.
In response to his ambassadorship, the superstar says, âI am very delighted to be a Friend of Jaeger-LeCoultre, with a long history of 188 years and great watchmaking expertise. I look forward to the new journey with Jaeger-LeCoultre.â
Instead of tracksuits, we will be seeing Squid Gameâs player 456 in more snazzy suits now.
On Nov 11, Lee Jung-jaeâs agency announced that he was appointed Italian luxury house Gucciâs global ambassador. Lee shared a few snaps of himself in sharp suits on his Instagram account (@from_jjlee).
He was also seen in photos with Gucciâs chief executive Marco Bizzarri, Netflixâs head honcho Ted Sarandos and Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio.
On 11 Nov 2021, Gucci also announced model-actress Shin Min-A as its newly appointed global ambassador. Shin Min-A was most recently seen in Netflixâs Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha.
She joins other Gucci ambassadors such as Lee Jung-jae, K-pop boy band Exoâs Kai, South Korean singer-actress IU, and Chinese stars Lu Han and Xiao Zhan.
The Korean actress, known for her roles in Korean dramas such as Descendants of the Sun and Autumn in my Heart, was chosen as the brand ambassador for Chaumet not only in Korea, but Asia Pacific, in December 2018. And we reckon her elegance makes her a perfect fit for the brand!
In February 2021, Song was also appointed as the brand ambassador for Fendi in Korea, presumably thanks to her timeless appeal. Sheâs soft, strong and elegant all at once. More recently, she was featured in the #FendiPeekaboo video â in celebration of the Maisonâs iconic Peekaboo bag designed by Silvia Venturini Fendi.
Since grabbing the spotlight as one of the stars of Squid Game, model-turned-actress Jung HoYeon has reportedly become South Koreaâs second most followed actress on Instagram â surpassing household names such as  Song Hye-kyo even. So it comes as no surprise that the 27-year-old has been named as the ambassador for Louis Vuitton, a label she has walked for numerous times since Spring-Summer 2017. Nicolas Ghesquiere, Louis Vuittonâs artistic director of womenswear said: âI immediately fell in love with HoYeonâs great talent and fantastic personality, and I am looking forward to starting this new chapter of the journey we started at Louis Vuitton a few years ago.â
There is no stopping Park Soo-young or Joy, as she is more commonly known. A member of the K-pop girl band, she just landed the coveted role of TODâs ambassador in South Korea, accompanying the brand in many of its activities in the country.
TODâs creative director Walter Chiappon says in an official release: âI am pleased to begin this new journey with a young talent with so much energy and Iâm sure Joy will add her personal touch to our future projects!âÂ
The ex Wonder Girls and 4Minute member who has carved a solo career as a singer-songwriter/rapper for more than a decade can now add global Loewe ambassador to her CV too. The experimental style star who released her seventh chart-topping EP Iâm Not Cool in January embodies what the Spanish house calls a âvibrant sense of styleâ.
HyunAâs announcement comes on the heels of Loeweâs take over of direct control of the brand in South Korea from a former local distributor.
The Thai-born K-pop singer/rapper is not only the brand ambassador for Bvlgari, but also the Global Ambassador for Celine! Speaking of which, just take a minute or two to admire the Celine bags Lisa has been spotted with.
The member of K-pop group Red Velvet is an influential star in her own right, boasting close to 10 million followers on Instagram. It is not surprising then that Italian house Salvatore Ferragamo has tapped the 27-year-old to be the global ambassador for the company, turning to her to front campaigns such as the one for its Letâs Dance shoe capsule collection.
In May 2021, Blackpinkâs Jennie starred in the Heron Preston for Calvin Klein campaign. Prior to this appointment, she also collaborated with other brands such as Chanel and Korean beauty brand Hera.
Otherwise known as one of the most renowned and influential groups in the world, BTS is making their mark in the world of fashion with their latest appointment as House ambassadors for Louis Vuitton.
Louis Vuittonâs Menâs Artistic Director, Virgil Abloh said: âI am delighted BTS are joining Louis Vuitton today. I am looking forward to this wonderful partnership which adds a modern chapter to the House, merging luxury and contemporary culture. I canât wait to share all the very exciting projects we are working onâ.
Louis Vuitton also shared on Instagram several images of BTS wearing clothes from the brand. The band also wore Louis Vuitton outfits to the Grammy Awards earlier this year, where their hit single âDynamiteâ was up for a nomination.
The singerâs appointment as the ambassador for Saint Laurent was announced in June 2020. The announcement comes after a series of images and videos posted on Saint Laurentâs Instagram page.
However, more recently, after her stunning solo debut, RosĂ© was also appointed as Tiffany and Co.âs latest global ambassador,fronting the 2021 Tiffany Hardwear collection.
Having worked closely with Dior over the past few years, Blackpinkâs Jisoo recently teamed up with the luxury house showcasing their latest Dior Cruise 2021 collection. Sheâs graceful, elegant and classy â truly the embodiment of Dior.
The Korean actress, known for her roles in Korean dramas such as Descendants of the Sun and Autumn in my Heart, was chosen as the brand ambassador for Chaumet not only in Korea, but Asia Pacific, in December 2018. And we reckon her elegance makes her a perfect fit for the brand!
More recently (in February 2021), Song was also appointed as the brand ambassador for Fendi in Korea, presumably because of her timeless appeal â soft, strong and elegant all at once.
Known for his slim stature and modelesque height, Kai was appointed as Gucciâs Korean ambassador in 2019. He was a regular at the front row of the Italian luxury labelâs fashion show in 2018 before the partnership with Gucci.
In January 2020, the actor was appointed as the global model for Calvin Klein, making him the first Korean actor to be given that appointment. According to reports, he was chosen as they found him a perfect fit with their young and modern image.
Back in 2017, G-Dragon was was appointed as Chanelâs ambassador, having attended their fashion shows for years prior. And he continues to be a friend of the French luxury house.
TEXT: Harper's Bazaar