At a time when the world is in the grips of a growing obsession with Korean pop culture, following on from smash hits Squid Games, and Parasite, Taemin Park is making waves in the international modelling circuit.

During a group interview with fellow celebs, on Korean Broadcast show, ‘Many Chat’; rising star Taemin Park explains his nickname, ‘Prada Boy’. It’s a reference to his high-class contracts. These include deals with major labels in three capital cities, one of which is Paris. When fellow guest, Cha Tae-Hyun asks, “What is a city exclusive contract?” he explains, “Since it is a city exclusive contract, only one brand can be contracted in one city.” Upon hearing this, Shin Hyun-Ji observes,

“When Tae-min first appeared, it felt like a comet.”

The beautiful Korean model’s long hair, sharp face, and hollow cheeks endow him with the high-fashion look that brings luxury labels knocking. Entering the fashion world in 2016, Park made his debut at the 2017 S/S Seoul Fashion week. The young Korean model instantly becomes the most anticipated rookie model in his native country; among the new faces who made their debut in 2016.

At the 2018 F/W Blindness Collection Show, he starts looking towards the international market. when presented with an overseas modelling opportunity by a British reporter. Within months he had signed a contract with the Parisian modelling agency Bananas Models, before making his international debut at the 2019 S/S Fashion Week. In his premiere season, he appeared on the runways of many luxury brands, including Fendi, Hermes and Ferragamo, as well as editorial campaigns for Prada, Calvin Klein, Dior Homme and Givenchy.

His first season abroad, he became the first Korean model to sign exclusivity contracts with Prada. Those in Milan, Dior in Paris, and Calvin Klein in New York place him firmly in the public eye. The versatile model has continued to grow from strength to strength in the high fashion world, his androgynous beauty now gracing countless luxury fashion campaigns.

Rise to Prominence

Park’s rise to international prominence has contributed to elevating the image of the male model in the Korean public perspective, which has had to undergo a massive social upheaval in the past two decades. The career path of ‘male models’ in Korea was not recognised until the mid-1990s. At that time, male fashion models were treated like misfits, or dandies, as the public perception viewed fashion models as the victims of designers’ weird clothes.

Since 2020, he consistently ranks as one of the top 50 male models in the world by models.com. Since then, his star continues to rise. We are only in March of 2022 and the 28-year-old model is already the face of Hermes S/S 22. He also features in the Ambush S/S 22 Campaign. He walked for Kenzo, Maison Margiela and Prada at Milan fashion week, and has no signs of slowing down. With an Instagram following of 112,000 Taemin’s social presence is growing as fast. His international modelling career, placing him firmly in the ranks of emerging male models.

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