Who Is Jihyo? The TWICE Leader Leaving JYP After 21 Years

“Jihyo” is one of the most-searched names in the US today, and K-pop fans know exactly why. On October 21, 2026, the leader of the world-famous girl group TWICE announced she is leaving JYP Entertainment after an incredible 21 years — and starting her own company.

Here’s who she is, why she left, and what happens next.

Who is Jihyo?

Jihyo, born Park Ji-hyo (she was born Park Ji-soo) on February 1, 1997, in Guri, South Korea, is the leader and main vocalist of TWICE — the nine-member K-pop girl group behind hits like “Cheer Up,” “TT,” and “Fancy.”

Her story is remarkable even by K-pop standards. She joined JYP Entertainment as a trainee at just eight years old, back in 2005, and trained for a full decade — one of the longest trainee periods in the history of K-pop. She earned her spot in TWICE through the 2015 survival show Sixteen, and the group debuted that October with the mini-album The Story Begins.

Her bandmates voted her the group’s leader, and she became its vocal anchor — the singer trusted with the big high notes and emotional moments on stage. In August 2023 she made her solo debut with the EP ZONE and its title track “Killin’ Me Good,” which went to number one on South Korea’s Circle Album Chart and reached number 14 on the US Billboard 200.

Why is she leaving JYP?

Jihyo announced the news herself, in a handwritten letter posted to Instagram on Wednesday morning. The key part, in her own words:

“After 21 years, my journey with JYP Entertainment, which began when I was just a child, has come to an end. … From childhood through my teenage years and into adulthood, I’ve spent most of my life at JYP. 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 made it clear this isn’t a sad ending. “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 wrote — and announced that her first step is launching her own company, EMITHAUS. The name plays on the word “emit,” meaning to express or release: she hopes it will be a place where she can freely explore possibilities she hasn’t discovered yet.

Is she leaving TWICE?

No — and she was very clear about that. “This decision does not mean saying goodbye to the team I’ve been part of for so long,” she wrote. “TWICE is an irreplaceable part of my life. … I will continue to stand on stage with my members and keep building more memories together for many years to come.”

So fans can relax: Jihyo’s solo career will be managed by her own company, but she plans to keep performing with TWICE. She also thanked ONCE — the name of TWICE’s fanbase — for believing in her for the past 11 years.

Why this is such a big deal

Twenty-one years at one company is almost unheard of in K-pop. JYP was celebrating her 20th anniversary with the agency just last year. TWICE renewed their contracts as a full nine-member team back in 2022, beating the industry’s so-called “seven-year curse” — and now the group is in another renewal period, with fans watching every move.

Jihyo isn’t the only member reportedly weighing her options. Industry reports have suggested fellow members Tzuyu, Chaeyoung, and Jeongyeon are also exploring arrangements for their solo careers while staying in the group — though none of those reports have been officially confirmed, so take them with a grain of salt.

The bottom line

After 21 years — most of her life — Jihyo is going independent with her own agency, EMITHAUS, while staying right where fans want her: on stage with TWICE. It’s the end of an era at JYP and the start of a new chapter for one of K-pop’s most respected performers.

Quick answers

Why is Jihyo trending?

Because on October 21, 2026, she announced she is leaving JYP Entertainment after 21 years and launching her own agency, EMITHAUS.

Did Jihyo leave TWICE?

No. She said explicitly that she will keep performing with the group. Only her management for solo work is changing.

How long was Jihyo at JYP?

21 years. She joined as a child trainee in 2005 at age eight, trained for 10 years, and debuted with TWICE in 2015.

What is EMITHAUS?

It’s Jihyo’s new independent agency. She said the name comes from “emit” — to express or release — and described it as a place where she can freely explore new possibilities.

What is Jihyo known for?

She’s TWICE’s leader and main vocalist, one of K-pop’s most stable live performers, and a solo artist whose 2023 debut EP ZONE topped charts in Korea and hit the US Billboard 200.