K-actress Jung Ryeo-Won on happiness and letting go

How would you choose to live your life? For us, we’d gladly follow Jung Ryeo-Won’s wise words. “Always, always choose happiness,” she wrote on her Instagram post, announcing she's now part of the Chopard family.

The South Korean actress is one of seven leading ladies from around the world — including Deepika Padukone, Aja Naomi King, Sadie Sink, Anne Nakamura, Dorra Zarrouk and Yang Zi — to front Chopard’s latest Happy Diamonds campaign.

The Happy Diamonds collection traces its roots back to the 1970s. The forward-thinking Chopard designed Happy Diamonds to symbolise a truly free spirit. Hence, the pieces serve as a reminder for women from around the world to live limitlessly. Thanks to their trend-transcending looks, they make perfect additions to any modern woman’s everyday ensemble.

For Ryeo-Won, jewellery and Chopard hold a special spot in her heart. “A diamond is very extravagant and shiny. But it contains history,” she said.

“And so does the brand. Its history grows and, in the end, it’s not just a piece of jewellery or about luxury, it’s about brand power and identity. Chopard perfectly embodies this with its originality, history, and ‘artisan’ mindset and I firmly believe that this wonderful persona is clearly apparent to all.”

Below, Ryeo-Won tells us about happiness, the art of letting go, and more.

What makes you happy instantly?

Ryeo-Won: When I make some delicious mulled wine and my friends come over and just chat. You feel happier when you're spending time with people you love.

Any advice on how to master the art of letting go?

Ryeo-Won: When you’re young, you feel you can achieve anything you want so it’s easy to let go. But as time goes by, it becomes much harder.

These days, when I feel like I am grasping onto something, sometimes I realise that maybe it’s not for me after all. You can’t owe people. You can’t explain every little thing.

As I grow older, I am learning how to let go of things. I live more of a minimalist life these days, and try to reduce clutter as much as possible by giving away things.

Thanks to that, my home is becoming tidier, and I am happy with that. A “let it go” mindset is to avoid holding onto something in vain. That’s what I’ve come to realise, so I’m focusing more on my inner voice these days.

What part of your inner child remains today?

Ryeo-Won: I laugh a lot, often bursting into a big laugh that I still really can’t control. I think I still have certain habits, such as feeling excited when I see something pretty. Maybe that’s because I am still young.

What are your tips for happiness?

Ryeo-Won: I don’t like being idle with my time. I need to do creative things and I try to keep myself busy as much as possible. I've also been trying to focus on ways to make myself happy.

These days, my way of being happy is to spend time doing little things at home, such as baking and exercising. Keeping my hands busy is essential to my happiness.

What is being a free-spirited woman today about?

Ryeo-Won: A free-spirited woman is a woman who doesn’t try to satisfy the demands of society or fit into the mould, but instead tries to build her life in her own way.

Personally, I am going to make an effort to treasure myself more. When I was young, I used to try to satisfy other people, but now I feel like I should pay greater attention to my inner voice. So I want to live my life by focusing on myself to a greater extent.

How do you find happiness in your life?

Ryeo-Won: Be kinder to myself. Listen to my own voice a bit more. In the past, I didn’t know that I should be grateful for my youth.

Back when I had so much energy all the time, I would wonder why people are so tired at night? I didn’t understand but now that I’m older, I am starting to realise. The past shouldn’t be taken for granted. So, my resolution is to focus on myself and find a means of having a great life, both now and in the future.

Credit: VIVIENNE & TAMAS

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Ryeo-Won wears Chopard Happy Sport 33-mm watch in 18-carat ethical rose gold, and Happy Hearts Wings in 18-carat ethical rose gold and featuring dancing diamonds

Credit: VIVIENNE & TAMAS

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Ryeo-Won wears Chopard Happy Sport The First 33-mm watch in stainless steel, and Happy Hearts Wings in 18-carat ethical white gold set with diamonds and featuring dancing diamonds.

Credit: VIVIENNE & TAMAS

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Ryeo-Won wears Chopard Happy Sport 33-mm watch in stainless steel and 18-carat ethical rose gold, and Happy Hearts Golden Hearts in 18-carat ethical rose gold featuring dancing diamonds.

Credit: VIVIENNE & TAMAS

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Ryeo-Won wears Chopard Happy Sport The First 33-mm watch in stainless steel, and Happy Hearts Wings in 18-carat ethical white gold set with diamonds and featuring dancing diamonds.
Photos: VIVIENNE & TAMAS
Stylist: Lee Yun Mi
Hair: Baek Heung Kwon
Makeup: Cho Eun Jung
Manicure: Choi Ji Suk