Artistic Careers in 2020 — A Series |Jackson Hwang 황성현
The first steps in a career are never easy, and even for those who are more established, the path to growth isn’t always straightforward. Software engineers, branding professionals, actors — we all have growing pains. In this series, we will explore the lives of creatives at different stages of their careers, how they have been developing their skills for the past few months, and what they see for their future. This series includes designers, entrepreneurs, models, and musicians.
This is part four.
West Jordan
Preface: Of all the interviews I have posted so far, this is one that can speak for itself without much commentary. It will largely be a transcribed version of our conversation, which touches on the ambition and uncertainty of life that has been amplified for so many.
For a 20 year old who’s been working half a decade, experience comes in lifetimes. Hwang Seong-Hyun (Jackson) took a deep dive into fashion as a teenager, often having to forge his own path to avoid those trying to take advantage of his youth and presumed lack of experience.
I started modeling in high school — the first grade of high school — because of my father. My father was modeling before I was born, and he asked me first if I should do it. There was one model I really loved before I even thought of modeling. Sean O’Pry was everywhere in magazines. I remember just talking about him (with my father), and it gave me motivation.
I went to a modeling academy for three months. Then after that, when I got to the actual company, they always wanted me to do my job for free — no paid modeling. The thing about some Korean agencies is that they have a no-pay system because they want to save money early on, but I really disagree with that, so I left and joined the modeling academy for another three months with another company.
Hwang’s start wasn’t easy or straightforward. Lack of transparency and uneven work regulations in the industry caused a half-year delay in his professional growth, but his passion for the work allowed him to take risks and do independent research on possible paths of growth.
Interviewer: You did the academy one time, and then the agency you got wasn’t going to pay you, so you did the modeling academy again, right?
Yeah. I wasn’t expecting to do the academy again, but the new company said, “If you want to be a model here, you have to take the lessons again.”
The cost for the lessons was a big thing for me at the time, but I really wanted to join the company, so I took the lessons like they told me. And then after a while, I had a lot of fashion show experience, magazine work, even some filming. Then the company told me there was a company-organized job for me, so I signed on it.
Interviewer: How old were you then, when you finally got a paid contract?
It was a year before high school ended. 18 in Korea, so … 17. I was a teenager. Still a teenager, yeah.
Interviewer: And after this, until now, did you stay with the same company?
Well one thing I learned was that I didn’t have to only go through the company. I could make my own work. Like I would go to other brands and designers or meet other people that model and get information about opportunities that way. I found more auditions that way, when I didn’t use a company. The company I have now is kind of my partner, so now I can do my own thing; but if the company calls me for a job, I can do the work like that. I’m 21 in Korea right now — 20 in the US — so it’s been about two, three years of me doing that.
Interviewer: What was your plan for 2020?
Coronavirus ruined everything actually. Even before, the Korean modeling system had changed a lot recently. I noticed that no matter the age or style, designers were using foreign models, and the Korean models weren’t getting anything — or at least not as much. Many people started to quit. We were all losing opportunities. Before 2020, I was planning to go to Milan and New York to work with a designer I knew, but those events were cancelled. So I’m just traveling in the US right now. Right now… it’s my first time here. I’m trying to get used to it — how it feels to live here, to work here. I’m trying to plan things.
Interviewer: So the upside is that you got to get more experience in the US, and the downside is that you lost most events you were going to do.
Yeah. Well, no. It’s kind of a downside on everything (laughs). I’m trying to learn how modeling works in America, but I think I might approach it more as a hobby. I think I might have to get a new job because it seems pretty tough in America. I’ve been looking around here, and a lot of the time they tell me that if you want to be a model, you need to pay for things like photoshoots first, but it doesn’t make sense to me.
Interviewer: Oh no. Don’t do those. I know what you’re talking about. The good companies don’t do that, especially if you already have a portfolio.
Yeah. You know what I’m talking about. Right! Someone told me that in high school she paid $800 for modeling stuff. I think they want to trick young people starting to model. But I’m old in this. (laughs) So no thanks.
Interviewer: You said you want to start a new job. Have you gone to university? Is there anything you’re interested in?
Actually I want to go to university, but I don’t have… I’m not ready for the money stuff or have a stable place, so I want to work first and then go. I don’t know what major yet though. It’s kind of a new start.
I’ve been working as a model now for 4 years and a half. I thought of progressing as a model, but there is no opportunity, and I can see it. When I would do shoots around people, I could hear the progress in foreigner friends but by Korean friends? Nah. (laughs) Not really.
So I decided to be an international model in a more “hobby” way, I guess.
Interviewer: You have a lot of experience in fashion. Do you see yourself sidetracking in the fashion industry? Like becoming a stylist later on.
Maybe. Photographer would be fun or… Teaching lessons. I was actually teaching at the model academy. I was teaching the beginner lessons. I think I can be an academy teacher or do workshops in the future even if I don’t get back to modeling.
Interviewer: How do you see yourself in 2021? Ideally, if you could plan the best year for yourself.
I would say that I want to wait for the best opportunity for myself. I want to make sure of what I am going to do. This year will be a year where I think about my progress by myself. Yeah. A planning year. Because this year I can barely see… no clue actually, about the future. About modeling at least. Not only me, everyone I know.
Interviewer: If you were to ask the world for advice, or anyone for advice, what do you need help on?
Huh. Actually, I don’t know. Maybe how to build progress. Right now, I just feel like I’m not getting any steps, so I’m trying to figure it out and get out of this. I need help figuring out life progress. How to progress in life.
Interviewer: Yeah, I think that’s the youth angst of everybody, so that’s very relatable.
Yeah. (laughs)
Interviewer: You are young, right, but it seems you might have more life experience than many people just by being independent, living in different countries, and starting so young in an industry like fashion. What advice do you have for people — maybe in middle school or high school who might want to follow your path — or anything you think can be helpful from what you’ve learned in life?
Patience is a valuable thing, and sometimes you have to wait until your next step in life is ready. No matter the cost or if it’s painful. Once you can get past that step you will figure things out. I’ve learned that.
As of November 15, 2020, he is back in Korea continuing his modeling journey and preparing for expansion.
