TWICE leader and main vocalist Jihyo has officially parted ways with JYP Entertainment after spending more than two decades with the company.
The twenty-nine-year-old artist announced her departure directly to fans via Instagram, confirming that she has founded her own independent agency, EMITHAUS, to oversee her individual career projects.
Alongside her statement, Jihyo shared archive footage of herself training and performing at the JYP offices as a young child.
“After 21 years, my journey with JYP Entertainment, which began when I was just a child, has come to an end,” Jihyo wrote. “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. 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.”
Jihyo first entered JYP in 2005 at the age of eight after placing second in a child talent contest, eventually undergoing a decade of training before debuting in 2015 as the anchor of TWICE.
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Reassuring Fans on the Future of TWICE
Her exit from the company does not mean leaving the group that brought her global recognition.
Jihyo made sure to put ONCE, the group’s international fandom, at ease by stressing that all nine members plan to keep performing as a united unit.
“I also want to make it clear that this decision does not mean saying goodbye to the team I’ve been part of for so long,” she stated. “TWICE is an irreplaceable part of my life. Just as I cherish all the years we’ve shared, I look forward to all the moments still ahead of us. I will continue to stand on stage with my members and keep building more memories together for many years to come.”
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Jihyo extended her gratitude to followers who watched her grow up on stage: “Above all, I want to thank ONCE for believing in me and standing by my side 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.”
Launching EMITHAUS Under the Separate But Together System
The launch of EMITHAUS marks a deliberate step toward creative self-determination for the singer, who previously debuted as a soloist in 2023 with her mini-album Zone.
The label draws its identity directly from the verb “emit,” meaning to radiate or release outward.
“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,” Jihyo explained. “As the first step in this new chapter, I have established 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 even the possibilities within me that I have yet to discover.”
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Her move reflects an industry shift where established idols manage personal pursuits externally while leaving collective operations with their original company. Groupmate Jeongyeon previously departed JYP in August to pursue acting opportunities with Varo Entertainment, followed days later by Chaeyoung launching her own venture.
Members Nayeon, Momo, Sana, Mina, Dahyun, and Tzuyu remain under individual representation with JYP Entertainment as the full group coordinates upcoming international schedules.
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