Jihyo TWICE has officially announced her departure from JYP Entertainment after spending 21 years with the agency.
On October 21, Jihyo shared a heartfelt handwritten letter on her personal social media account, revealing that she is wrapping up her long journey with JYP Entertainment and stepping into a new beginning.
Reflecting on her time at the agency, Jihyo stated, “I am concluding my journey with JYP, a company I have been with for 21 years since I was a child. Summarizing 21 years in just a few sentences is harder than I thought. From my childhood through my teenage years and into adulthood, most moments of my life were spent at JYP.”
She continued, “There were good days and days that weren’t, but it is certain that all of those times have shaped who I am today. I sincerely thank the JYP staff who stayed by my side for a long time and helped me grow. I will cherish the time and feelings we shared for a long time.”
Regarding her decision to establish independence, Jihyo explained, “Rather than being a conclusion to the time I’ve passed through, this is closer to a choice about how I want to live my future.” She announced the founding of her new company, EMITHAUS.
Jihyo expressed her aspirations by saying, “Just like the word ’emit’ which means to radiate, I aim to freely unleash aspects of my potential that I haven’t discovered yet. As I step out of a familiar environment and build work in a new way, I will approach every choice and activity with even more caution and a sense of responsibility.”
She also reassured fans that leaving JYP does not mean leaving TWICE. Jihyo emphasized, “TWICE is an inseparable and precious part of my life. Just as much as the time we have spent together, I am looking forward to the time we will share in the future. I want to continue standing on the same stage with the members and keep the moments we create together going for a long time.”
Finally, Jihyo thanked her fans, stating, “Above all, thank you to ONCE who has trusted and watched over me for the past 11 years. I know very well that watching someone’s numerous changes and growth over a long time is never a given. Thank you for giving me courage through your unwavering faith and support over such a long time.”
Prior to Jihyo, fellow TWICE members Jeongyeon and Chaeyoung also announced new beginnings outside of JYP, while Tzuyu and others are reportedly discussing contract renewals with the agency.
