A report has claimed that TWICE's Jihyo is preparing to leave JYP Entertainment after 21 years with the company and pursue an independent career. According to JoyNews24 on July 14, citing multiple sources in the music industry, Jihyo has decided to establish her own one-person agency as her exclusive contract with JYP Entertainment nears its expiration. The report stated that Jihyo has been meeting with various industry professionals and plans to actively expand her solo career under the new arrangement. In response, JYP Entertainment issued an official statement, saying, "TWICE is currently in the process of discussing contract renewals, and the members are carefully reviewing their options. We will provide an update once any decisions have been finalized." Jihyo joined JYP Entertainment as a trainee in 2005 and trained for 10 years before debuting as TWICE's leader and main vocalist in 2015. After establishing herself as one of the group's core members, she made her solo debut in 2023 with her first mini album, 'ZONE.' Industry insiders believe that even if Jihyo signs with a different company for her individual activities, she is likely to continue promoting with TWICE under JYP Entertainment. This would follow the increasingly common model of separating individual management contracts from group contracts.
Several major K-pop acts, including Big Bang, BLACKPINK, and Super Junior, currently operate under similar arrangements, with members represented by different agencies for solo activities while continuing group promotions together. All nine TWICE members renewed their contracts with JYP Entertainment in 2022. As those contracts approach their expiration, rumors have also emerged regarding the futures of other members, including Jeongyeon, Tzuyu, and Chaeyoung. Since debuting, TWICE has achieved significant commercial success in both the Korean and international music markets. According to cumulative shipment data from the Korea Music Content Association's Circle Chart, TWICE has sold more than 10 million albums across releases in Korea and Japan. The group also demonstrated its global commercial strength when its 13th mini album, 'With YOU-th,' debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in 2024. Hanteo Chart data shows that 'With YOU-th' sold more than 530,000 copies during its first week of release, making it a half-million seller. Jihyo's solo debut album 'ZONE' also reached No. 14 on the Billboard 200, while its title track amassed tens of millions of streams on Spotify shortly after its release. Meanwhile, under the Korea Fair Trade Commission's standard exclusive contract for popular culture artists, entertainment contracts are limited to a maximum term of seven years. Introduced in 2009, the regulation requires idol groups to decide whether to renew their contracts with their agencies around the seventh anniversary of their debut.
