PARK GYUYOUNG
HAS CHANGED THE GAME

If actor Park Gyuyoung comes across more like a fashion insider than follower, it’s probably because she studied it at college. Talking off set at the COS Spring Summer 2026 campaign shoot, when our conversation turns to style, she can relate far more with it being about an energy or attitude that comes from within, rather than looks or trends. A hint at the sense of calm inner confidence you can feel in everything the South Korean model and breakout star of Netflix juggernaut Squid Game does. It was also while majoring in fashion that Park was unexpectedly cast by TV talent scouts. Coincidentally, she still remembers when her coursemates back in Seoul first discovered COS. ‘Everyone was talking about this new brand’, she says, unconsciously reaching for the well-used COS bag she always travels with. ‘You could wear it every day, but it felt timeless, and the same goes today.’

Already well known for her roles in homegrown shows such as Sweet Home and the International Emmy-nominated It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, it was playing the pivotal character of Kang No-eul, a guard with a complex backstory in the second season of Squid Game, that earned Park global acclaim. Later, when we discuss the huge popularity of K-Content outside of South Korea, she attributes its success to a brand of dramatic storytelling that can resonate with any audience. Given that she had never once considered a career on the screen, her part in that is even more impressive. ‘Acting was never my plan’, she says. ‘I only started by chance. Until that point, I was an ordinary student, so it was very challenging at first because I had no idea what to expect. Any achievements are due to the people around me who gave so much love, support and encouragement.’

‘Korean style is all about restraint and perfectly placed details, which is probably why I always prefer simple and comfortable over flashy things’, she says, talking about what she thinks of the COS collection. ‘So far it feels so classic but also very strong and chic.’ As an actor with such a considered yet passionate approach to her genre-hopping work – Park’s comfort zone seems infinite – it comes as no surprise that this quiet balance of creativity and control appeals.

Here, before jumping back on set, she explains how her own life experiences have helped shape the characters she plays and why film characters rather than style icons influenced her fashion sense growing up.

MOVIE NIGHTS

‘I didn't know it then, but I loved watching old films with my family growing up. Instead of sitting in front of our favourite TV shows, my parents would go to a video shop and rent us a movie that mum liked. The Sound of Music, My Girl, Home Alone, that kind of thing. Those memories of quality time spent together feel very nostalgic now.’

SHARED STORIES

‘K-Culture generally is super popular right now, whether it’s food or music, but I think the reason why South Korean TV and film get so much attention globally comes down to emotion. Even though we’re talking different languages we still convey emotion in a direct and relatable way and I feel very thankful to be part of that.’

CHARACTER TRAITS

‘I feel like I have all these personalities inside of me that help me connect with new characters in a way that feels authentic. Some of them have just naturally always been there, and some are characteristics that are shaped by experiences and situations in my life. If I can just amplify or expand on one, it really helps me to empathise with what a character is going through and become one with them.’

SIMPLE LIVING

‘Between projects I stay home most of the time and try to relax. All I do is watch TV and organise the house, as well as working out and doing ballet during the week. I find simple things like this important for helping me recharge.’

FASHION INSTINCTS

‘I never had style icons as such when I was a teenager. Rather than being inspired by others, I would just try different things that I thought were interesting. But what I did pick up on was film characters who seemed naturally cool and less made up. They had this effortless sense of style that was closer to an attitude than a look.’

BUILDING ON PERSONAL EXPERIENCES

‘As an actor you feel lucky to get a big plot twist in your character’s storyline, but unexpected events in your personal life can also be really inspiring. They make you feel different emotions that you can use later when something happens to your character that you might not have experienced yourself.'

SETTING LIMITS

‘Working outside of my comfort zone is not something I particularly like but that doesn’t mean that I hate challenges. I love playing diverse roles but even when what I’m doing is tough, I still feel connected to myself and comfortable in what I’m doing.'

EXPERIMENTING

‘Being around fashion so much through my work has allowed me to try out lots of different ideas and looks to see what works for me. Over time I’ve combined all those different elements into something that feels unique and personal.'

TO BE CONTINUED

‘The more I study acting, the more interested I am in all the different processes that intersect with it. Scriptwriting is one of them – the way you take all these characters and somehow tell their stories in this short amount of time. But that curiosity really comes down to my desire to keep on building and learning as an actor. I do want to write my own story one day, but not yet.’

QUICKFIRE Q&A

COS Nights out with friends, or home alone?   

PG I’m a total homebody

COS One fashion item that defines your style?                 

PG My beanie hat

COS Is it more fun playing heroes or villains?                  

PG Villains are always more attractive

COS Food you crave the most when travelling?                

PG Cheese, even though I don’t drink wine