From Squid Game breakout star to big-screen newcomer, Hoyeon found herself facing an entirely different kind of challenge while filming her feature-film debut, Hope.
The South Korean actress and model, who became internationally known for playing Kang Sae-byeok in Squid Game, admitted that she often felt like the least experienced person on the set of Na Hong-jin’s ambitious sci-fi thriller.
Despite her global success, Hoyeon was surrounded by some of Korea’s most established film professionals, including director Na Hong-jin and veteran actors Hwang Jung-min and Zo In-sung, as well as Hollywood stars Alicia Vikander and Michael Fassbender.
Hoyeon Faced a Steep Learning Curve
Hope demanded far more than acting. Hoyeon plays Sung-ae, a rookie police officer caught up in a mysterious crisis in a remote Korean community near the Demilitarized Zone.
For the role, she spent about six months preparing for the film’s physically demanding sequences, including driving and other action-related training. She has described filming scenes while simultaneously acting and handling complicated technical requirements as particularly challenging.
That preparation did not completely erase her nerves.
Hoyeon said the scale of the production—and the experience of the people around her—made her feel like a newcomer all over again. Her comments offer a glimpse into the pressure of transitioning from a globally successful television role to a major feature film.
Alicia Vikander Helped Calm Her Nerves
One of Hoyeon’s co-stars, Alicia Vikander, also played an important role in helping her manage the pressure.
In an interview with PEOPLE, Hoyeon recalled receiving advice from Vikander to focus on the excitement of attempting something new rather than allowing anxiety to take over.
That mindset appears to have helped Hoyeon embrace the physical demands of Hope rather than allowing her lack of film experience to hold her back.
Interestingly, Hoyeon has also suggested that being inexperienced could work in her favor. In an interview with ELLE, she explained that her lack of experience gave her a certain fearlessness when approaching the film’s demanding action sequences.
From Squid Game Breakout to Movie Lead
Hoyeon’s transition to film comes after her explosive acting debut in Netflix’s Squid Game.
Her portrayal of Kang Sae-byeok turned her into an international star and earned her an Emmy nomination. Hope now gives her the opportunity to demonstrate a different side of her acting, placing her in a large-scale genre film alongside major Korean and Hollywood performers.
Critics have also taken notice. The Associated Press highlighted Hoyeon as part of the film’s strong ensemble, while other reviews have pointed to her performance as one of the movie’s notable elements.
Why Hope Is Generating Global Buzz
Directed by Na Hong-jin, whose previous films include The Chaser and The Wailing, Hope marks his return to feature filmmaking after roughly a decade.
The film premiered in competition at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival and combines science fiction, monster-movie elements, action and dark humor. Its international cast includes Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung, Hoyeon, Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander and Taylor Russell.
The production has also attracted attention for its reported scale and ambitious action sequences, making Hoyeon’s move from Squid Game to Hope one of the more closely watched Korean-to-global film transitions of 2026.
For Hoyeon, however, the experience was less about arriving on set as an established star and more about learning from the people around her.
Her willingness to embrace that uncertainty may be one of the most revealing parts of her Hope journey: even after becoming one of Korea’s most recognizable young stars, she still approached her first major film as a student.
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