MANILA, Philippines — K-Pop girl Twice member Jeongyeon has announced her departure from JYP Entertainment after 11 years with the agency, but assured fans that her commitment to the K-pop group remains unchanged.
Jeongyeon, whose real name is Yoo Jeong-yeon, made the announcement Monday, Aug. 10, through a handwritten letter posted on her personal Instagram account. She debuted with Twice in 2015 after spending her teenage years as a JYP trainee.
“JYP has been my second home since my teenage years, a place where I’ve spent so much time and created so many cherished memories. I am now preparing to start a new chapter in a new place," Jeongyeon wrote in the English translation of her letter.
She acknowledged that leaving the agency was difficult because of how familiar it had become to her, but said the support of her fellow Twice members and fans, known as Once, helped her move forward.
“Leaving a place that feels so familiar to me was daunting at first, but I was able to find the courage thanks to the members and our Once who have always believed in me,” she wrote.
Jeongyeon also expressed gratitude to JYP Entertainment and the people who helped shape her career.
“I am deeply grateful to my members and Once. Words cannot fully express my gratitude. I am also very grateful to the JYP family who helped me grow into the person I am today,” she said.
Her departure from JYP will not mean an exit from Twice. Jeongyeon emphasized that the group remains central to her life and that she intends to continue group activities.
“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 center of my life, will remain unchanged, just as it is now,” she wrote. “Standing before Once as a member of Twice will always be my very first priority.”
Jeongyeon added that she would prepare for both sides of her career, saying, “I will prepare step by step with all my heart — both for my journey as Twice's Jeongyeon, whom you have loved so much, and for the new challenges ahead as Yoo Jeongyeon.”
Later Monday, Varo Entertainment announced that it had signed Jeongyeon to an exclusive contract. The agency, which represents actors including Jeongyeon’s older sister, Gong Seung-yeon, said it would support her as she takes on new challenges as an actress while continuing her activities with Twice.
“We are truly delighted to form a valuable relationship with Yoo Jeong-yeon, who possesses a diverse range of charms and infinite potential,” Varo said in a statement.
Jeongyeon’s move makes her the first Twice member to leave JYP Entertainment while remaining a member of the group.
Jeongyeon ended her letter by looking ahead with Once.
“Since we still have so much time ahead of us to create new memories, I will work hard to fill those moments even more beautifully with Once. Thank you always," she wrote.
