Model-actress Jung Ho-yeon is now the most-followed Korean actress on Instagram, with 13 million people following her account (@hoooooyeony) as of Oct 4.
And all this happened in just a span of over two weeks.
Before Squid Game premiered on Sept 17, Jung had only some 400,000 followers.
Presently, Jung has overtaken actress Lee Sung-kyung, who previously held the top spot with 12.9 million followers, as well as actress Song Hye-kyo – who has 12 million followers – to be the most-followed South Korean actress on Instagram.
Her two latest photos showcasing her participation in the Netflix hit series got her 5 million and 9 million likes respectively.
In a recent interview with Herald Pop, the 27-year-old spoke of this huge leap in Instagram followers.
She said: “In the beginning, I was very surprised as I checked in real-time. When I opened the app once, the number went up, and when I opened it again, it went up further.
“I thought that the love for Squid Game was being reflected in numbers, like fate, and I was thankful.
“Just the fact that so many people around the world are showing their interest puts me in a good mood.”
Squid Game centres on a mysterious survival game where 456 contestants participate in six rounds of games to win the prize money of 45.6 billion won (RM160mil).
With its tense plot, social commentary and impressive production, the nine-episode series has garnered the global attention and understandably fans are curious about the cast members.
Due to this, fellow Squid Game actors Lee Jung-jae and Park Hae-soo have also started their personal Instagram accounts.
Both Lee (@from_jjlee) and Park (@haesoopark_official) opened their IG accounts on Oct 2.
Likewise, South Korean actor-model Wi Ha-jun (@wiwiwi) and Indian actor Tripathi Anupam (@sangipaiya) have also gained a number of new followers after the premiere of Squid Game.
Wi's account currently has 5.5 million followers, while Tripathi boasts of 2.2 million followers.
With the ever-rising popularity of the series, it is natural that the actors feel a little overwhelmed with all the buzz.
“I was chatting with Park Hae-soo the other day, and he said, ‘Let’s keep our feet on the ground.’ Whenever I feel overwhelmed, I live with the thought that my feet are on the ground," Jung shared with Herald Pop.
The model who makes her acting debut with Squid Game added: “In terms of my acting, I think I was lacking in many ways. The director, senior actors, and staff put it all together for me, and I know that my personal skills are lacking.
“I’m thankful for all of the love people have been giving me despite this. And, I will work harder in the future to be better.”
Already a subscriber? Log in
Get 20% OFF The Star Digital Access
Cancel anytime. Ad-free. Unlimited access with perks.
