Namita Nayyar:
You’re represented by elite agencies in Paris, Czech Republic, Dubai, and Spain. What was your single most “un-glamorous” moment on the path to this global circuit—and how did that moment become a pillar of your success story?
Yeong Kim:
There are many moments in this industry that are far from glamorous, but the casting process remains one of the most defining.
It is, in many ways, a continuous exposure to evaluation. You enter spaces where you are observed, compared, and often dismissed within moments. There is little explanation, and even less closure. But beyond the external environment, the more difficult aspect is internal. There are times when the contrast becomes almost disorienting—between the most elevated, visible version of yourself and the moments where you feel depleted, uncertain, or even diminished.
To confront all versions of you simultaneously—the celebrated and the unseen, the desired and the overlooked—is not an easy process. There are moments where one can feel, quite plainly, reduced. Financially, emotionally, even physically. And yet, those moments demand certain honesty. They strip away illusion and force a confrontation with what remains when external validation is absent.
Over time, I came to understand that these experiences were not obstacles, but foundations. They taught me that identity cannot be contingent on circumstance. And in that realization, there is a form of stability that no success alone can provide.
Namita Nayyar:
You translate “complex human emotions into high-end visual narratives.” Share one recent emotion (e.g., grief, awe, quiet rage) that you are currently exploring for a 2026 editorial concept.
Yeong Kim:
Recently, I have been exploring an emotional state that feels both deeply human and inherently contradictory—the simultaneous desire for intimacy and fear of it. From a psychological perspective, this can be understood through the lens of anxious-avoidant attachment dynamics. There is a genuine longing to connect, to be seen, to experience closeness. Yet at the same time, there exists an equally strong impulse to withdraw, to protect, and to maintain distance.
This creates a subtle but persistent tension—a movement toward connection that is immediately followed by retreat.
What interest me is not the extremes of this dynamic, but the space in between. The hesitation before a gesture, the ambiguity within a gaze, the body that both opens and closes at once. Visually, it translates into restraint layered with vulnerability. A presence that invites yet resists.
I believe this tension reflects a contemporary emotional condition—one shaped by both increased connectivity and heightened self-protection. And it is within that tension that I find a compelling narrative to explore.
Namita Nayyar:
Looking ahead to 2027 and beyond: Do you foresee yourself stepping fully behind the camera as a creative director, or will you continue to walk runways? What is the one role (e.g., Head of Image for a structuralist house, academic lecturer on fashion philosophy) that you have not yet been offered but are preparing for?
Yeong Kim:
I do not see my future as a choice between being in front of the camera or behind it. Rather, I see it as an expansion of the same intention across different positions.
On the runway, I embody a vision. I translate a concept into movement, into presence, into something immediate. But behind the scenes—within the structure of a project—there is an equally important process of shaping that vision before it is ever seen.
My aspiration is to remain a central figure in both spaces. Not only as someone who presents the final image, but as someone who contributes to the formation of it.
I am particularly drawn to the space between Paris and Seoul. These are two environments with distinct aesthetic languages, cultural histories, and emotional sensibilities. Yet precisely because of these differences, there exists a powerful potential for dialogue and convergence.
I want to position myself within that intersection—not only as a participant, but as a connector. As someone who can translate between systems, and in doing so, create new forms of expression. This is not simply about career progression. It is about commitment. To engage with the industry not passively, but with intention, discipline, and continuity. To contribute to spaces where creation is not only executed, but understood.
Namita Nayyar:
Finally, if your future legacy reads as a single line in fashion history, what do you want that line to say about Yeong Kim’s contribution to the intersection of intellect and elegance?
Yeong Kim:
If my legacy were to be reduced to a single line, I would hope it reflects not only what I have done, but how I have approached the work. Perhaps it would read as someone who understood elegance not as ornament, but as structure. In haute couture and high-end visual environments, there is often an emphasis on surface refinement. But what has always interested me is what exists beneath that surface—the psychological experience that informs how something is seen, felt, and remembered.
I have tried to approach each project with an awareness that extends beyond appearance. To consider not only how an image is constructed, but what it communicates on a more internal level. If there is any contribution I hope to leave, it is the integration of intellect and aesthetics. The idea that beauty does not need to be simplified to be understood, and that complexity, when held with clarity, can become its own form of elegance.
Not something loud or immediately defined, but something that remains—quietly, and with intention.
Yeong Kim: Rapid Fire:
- One scent that embodies “Old Money” structure: A powdery iris with restrained depth.
- A book on your nightstand right now: A philosophical text exploring emotion and form.
- The exercise you hate but always do: Prolonged core holds.
- Your Mother’s Day 2026 wish: Enduring health, and a quiet, unwavering sense of peace.
Your modeling journey has been unwavering commitment to women’s leadership, is an inspiration. We look forward to seeing your vision of strength continue to rise. Your intellectual rigor and structural aesthetic you are known for, is there in your answers of moving beyond typical fashion interview clichés. We are thankful for your time.
Yeong Kim Social Media Presence
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slice_of_ys/
Credits
Photographer : Junessa Sarendon @junessarendonphotography
Stylist : Bryan The Stylist @bryan.thestylist
Makeup Artist : Yra Mantaring @facesbyyramantaring
Hair : Matt Ledesma @matt.doeshair, Gabriel Garcia @zycho.dlq @hair_by_zychotic
Model : RIAN YEONG K @slice_of_ys
Agency : Blake model management @blake.modelmgmt
The Name Management @tnm_management
Creative Direction : VALEUR
Production @valeur.modelpsyche
Brand : Artinie Jewels @artinjewels
Disclaimer
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