Jihyo parts ways with JYP Entertainment after 21 years, launches own company EMITHAUS

After 21 years with JYP Entertainment, TWICE leader Jihyo is ready to take a major step towards independence. Having spent much of her life under the agency, the singer is now preparing to chart her own course.

Her decision marks a significant shift in how she will manage her career, but it also raises a question for ONCE: what will this change mean for her future with TWICE?

TWICE’s Jihyo launches EMITHAUS after leaving JYP Entertainment

Jihyo announced her decision through a personal Instagram post, sharing the news directly with fans. Rather than viewing her departure simply as the end of a long association, the singer described it as a decision about the life and career she wants to build next.

In her message, she explained the meaning behind her new company, EMITHAUS, and her hopes for the opportunities ahead.

“To me, going on my own is not so much a decision based on the time that has passed, but a choice about how I want to live going forward. My first step in this new chapter is establishing my own company, EMITHAUS. Just as “EMIT” means to “express or release,” I hope this will be a place where I can freely explore and bring to life the possibilities within me that I have yet to discover myself. As I move away from a familiar environment and begin working in new areas, I will approach every decision and every endeavor with even more thoughtfulness and responsibility.”

The statement signals a new phase for Jihyo, who is looking to explor possibilities beyond the familiar structure of her longtime agency while taking greater responsibility for her individual activities.

Jihyo becomes the third TWICE member to leave JYP Entertainment

Jihyo’s move follows similar changes involving fellow TWICE members Chaeyoung and Jeongyeon, who have also moved towards separate management arrangements for their individual careers.

Chaeyoung is set to pursue solo activities through her LIL FANTASY project, while Jeongyeon has reportedly moved to VARO Entertainment to focus on acting.

Meanwhile, the contract situations of the remaining members — Nayeon, Momo, Sana, Mina, Dahyun and Tzuyu — remain a subject of speculation. There have been rumours circulating about Tzuyu exploring overseas or specialised management options for her solo activities, but no official confirmation has been provided by the label.

These individual career moves have put the spotlight on how TWICE’s members may manage their solo ambitions while continuing their work as a group.

Is TWICE disbanding after Jihyo’s departure from JYP?

Despite the changes in individual management, Jihyo’s departure does not mean TWICE is disbanding. Leaving JYP Entertainment for solo management is separate from a member’s participation in the group, and the departed members have expressed their commitment to continuing their journey with TWICE.

Group activities, including albums, comebacks and concert tours, are still coordinated through JYP Entertainment. JYP Entertainment has yet to confirm any reports about the other members’ contracts, leaving their individual management plans uncertain.

For ONCE, the key distinction is that Jihyo is beginning a new chapter as an individual artist, not closing the door on TWICE. EMITHAUS may mark a major turning point in her career, but her story with the group is far from over.