Jeon Min-cheol Channels Emotional Duality in Stunning Harper’s BAZAAR Korea Pictorial

South Korean ballet dancer Jeon Min-cheol graces the pages of Harper’s BAZAAR Korea in a captivating new pictorial, showcasing a bold contrast between his pure, delicate persona and an electrifying stage charisma. Shot just before his upcoming move to Russia to join the prestigious Mariinsky Ballet, the feature captures the essence of a dancer at the crossroads of ambition and artistic depth.

In the accompanying interview, Jeon reminisces about his recent performance as Hilarion in the Universal Ballet’s production of Giselle. He shared, “It was interesting because I could show a side of myself that’s very different from my natural personality. While preparing for the scene where I get angry at Hilarion, I came across a video of a lion and a hyena fighting. It made me question if I was being too composed and polished—so I pulled that wild emotion into my rehearsal.”

Reflecting on his first full-length lead role in La Bayadère last year, Jeon noted a shift in his mindset. “Back then, I was overly ambitious. Instead of hearing ‘You did great for your first time,’ I wanted to be told, ‘That was outstanding—no qualifiers,’” he said. “In La Bayadère, I displayed the youthful passion of Jeon Min-cheol the dancer. This time, I wanted to convey the life of the character, to truly live it onstage.”

Looking ahead to joining the Mariinsky Ballet, known for its rigorous tradition and expressive techniques, Jeon expressed a desire to evolve artistically. “What I want to absorb most is their style of expression. Russian dancers have such clear and grounded movements. And their emotions—they’re communicated so directly, you feel it instantly as a viewer,” he reflected. “That kind of intensity is still a bit foreign to me, but I think embracing it could bring a new palette to my performance.”

When asked what the stage means to him, Jeon answered with heartfelt conviction: “It’s my driving force. If you only look at a dancer’s life through the hours in a practice room, it’s easy to feel exhausted. But once I step on stage—no matter how small the role—the applause and cheers from the audience always give me the answer of why I do this. Even one minute onstage feels worth everything.”

The full editorial and interview with Jeon Min-cheol can be found in the May issue of Harper’s BAZAAR Korea and on their official website.