TWICE‘s Jihyo is parting ways with JYP Entertainment and starting her own agency.
The 29-year-old K-pop singer announced her departure from the entertainment company in a message shared to her Instagram account on Tuesday night (Oct. 20).
“Trying to put 21 years into just a few words is harder than I thought it would be. From childhood through my teenage years and into adulthood, I’ve spent most of my life at JYP,” she wrote in an English-language version of her statement. “There were good days and difficult ones, but one thing I know for certain is that every one of those moments has shaped who I am today.”
She continued, “I want to express my sincere gratitude to everyone at JYP who has been by my side and helped me grow over the years. I will always cherish the time we shared and the memories we made together.”
Jihyo then announced the launch of her new company, EMITHAUS, while noting that the word “EMIT” means to “express or release.”
“To me, independence is not so much a conclusion about the time that has passed, but a choice about how I want to live going forward,” she said further into her statement. “I hope this will be a place where I can freely explore and bring to life even the possibilities within me that I have yet to discover. As I step away from a familiar environment and begin working in new ways, I will approach every decision and every endeavor with even greater thoughtfulness and responsibility.”
Elsewhere in her statement, Jihyo clarified that she will remain a member of TWICE, calling the group “an irreplaceable part of my life” and that she looks forward “to all the moments still ahead of us.”
The singer concluded her statement by thanking fans, known as ONCE, for their support for the past 11 years.
“I know that watching someone grow and change through so many stages of life and continuing to support them along the way is never something to be taken for granted,” she wrote. “Thank you for giving me the courage to keep moving forward through your unwavering trust, love, and support. I will continue to fill the years ahead with choices and efforts that stay true to who I am and keep growing as an artist who lives up to all the love and support you’ve given me.”
Jihyo’s exit from JYP is preceded by her fellow TWICE members Jeongyeon and Chaeyoung.
Jihyo joined JYP Entertainment in 2005 as a trainee, spending a decade in the rigorous K-pop training program. She successfully participated in the JYP-produced reality competition Sixteen, landing a spot in TWICE.
She officially made her debut as a member of TWICE in October 2015 with the single “Like Ooh-Ahh” and their debut EP, The Story Begins.
Along with her bandmates Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu—the nine-member group went on to become one of the most successful K-pop groups of all time with hits like “What is Love?,” “FANCY,” “Feel Special,” “TT,” and more.
Jihyo made her solo debut in 2023 with the mini-album Zone and the single “Killin’ Me Good.”
Shop for TWICE plus more K-pop music and merch at Complex.
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