TWICE’s Chaeyoung Leaves JYP After 14 Years, Vows to Keep Group Active

K-pop singer Chaeyoung announced Thursday that she is ending her 14-year contract with JYP Entertainment to pursue solo music projects. The 27-year-old, who joined JYP as a trainee in 2012 and debuted with TWICE in 2015, shared the news in a handwritten letter posted to Instagram. She stressed that her departure will not affect TWICE’s activities as a nine-member group, saying the band remains her “roots.”

Why Chaeyoung left JYP after 14 years

Chaeyoung said she wanted to build her own music world called “LIL FANTASY,” the name of her debut solo album released in September 2025. The album earned critical acclaim, ranking No. 86 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 Best Albums of 2025 and No. 7 on Billboard and Forbes year-end K-pop album lists. She did not disclose details about her new agency, saying discussions were ongoing.

TWICE group activities will not change

In her letter, Chaeyoung stressed that nothing changes for TWICE. “Everything I’ve received is thanks to my time as TWICE, which will always be my roots,” she wrote. She thanked her bandmates for their support and said she hopes both her TWICE identity and her LIL FANTASY solo work will continue to create meaningful music for fans called ONCE.

Second TWICE member to leave JYP in one week

Chaeyoung’s departure follows bandmate Jeongyeon, who announced on August 10 that she was leaving JYP Entertainment. Jeongyeon, 29, signed with Varo Entertainment, the agency of her older sister, actress Gong Seung-yeon. Both members are pursuing solo projects while remaining active in TWICE. The other seven members’ individual contract situations are still being finalized.

TWICE’s global impact and future

TWICE debuted in 2015 under JYP and has become one of K-pop’s most successful groups. The nine-member band comprises members from South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan, aged between 27 and 30. They have released multiple chart-topping albums and held world tours, contributing to the global spread of K-pop. Members are currently negotiating contract renewals with JYP for both individual and group activities.

Final Thoughts

Chaeyoung’s exit marks a shift in K-pop management, where top artists pursue solo deals while staying with their original groups. With both Chaeyoung and Jeongyeon now independent, TWICE enters a new era of “separate but together” operations that may reshape how K-pop groups manage member careers.

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