Jeongyeon of the K-pop girl group TWICE has parted ways with JYP Entertainment, becoming the first member to leave the agency since their debut in 2015.
The 29-year-old singer announced her departure in a handwritten letter posted to Instagram on Monday, August 10, concluding an 11-year professional relationship with the company. In her message, she referred to JYP as her «second home» since her teenage years but stated she is preparing for a new chapter.
Following the announcement, Jeongyeon signed an exclusive contract with VARO Entertainment, a management agency that also represents her older sister, actress Gong Seung-yeon.
Reassurances for fans
Despite the move, Jeongyeon stressed that her departure from JYP Entertainment will not affect her ongoing involvement with TWICE. She reassured the group’s dedicated fanbase, known as ONCE, that standing before them as a TWICE member remains her top priority.
«The one thing I truly want to tell ONCE is that even though I am moving on to a new chapter to take on new challenges, TWICE, the centre of my life, will remain unchanged,» she wrote.
She acknowledged that leaving a familiar environment felt daunting initially but credited her fellow bandmates and fans for giving her the courage to make the transition. As the first of the nine members to branch out into a different management agency, her decision marks a significant shift in the group’s operational structure. However, collaborative musical releases and promotional activities are expected to continue seamlessly.
Acting ambitions and dual representation
The transition to VARO Entertainment, sometimes stylised as Baro Entertainment, appears to signal a strategic pivot towards acting. The boutique agency boasts a roster of notable South Korean actors, including Byeon Woo-seok and Lee Chae-min.
In a public statement, VARO Entertainment expressed delight at the newly formed partnership, praising Jeongyeon’s diverse charm alongside her «sincere attitude and genuine passion for acting». The company pledged unwavering support for her upcoming endeavours as an actress whilst ensuring her rigorous group activities are fully accommodated.
Jeongyeon, whose full name is Yoo Jeong-yeon, recently completed the «This Is For» world tour with TWICE in July, which included a highly anticipated stadium stop in the Philippines.
Reflecting on her lengthy tenure, she spent a total of 16 years at JYP Entertainment when accounting for her early training period before the group’s official launch.
The artist thanked fans, members and the broader corporate family for fostering her growth over the past decade. Under this new arrangement, she noted she will prepare every step with sincerity, whether advancing her established music career or embracing fresh on-screen challenges.
