TWICE's First Member Leaves JYP
· news
TWICE’s First Domino: Jeongyeon Leaves JYP, Setting Off a Chain Reaction
The news that Jeongyeon has become the first member to leave JYP Entertainment since TWICE’s debut in 2015 is significant. It signals a shift in the dynamics within TWICE and may set off a chain reaction across the K-pop industry.
The Exception That Proved the Rule
TWICE’s long-standing nine-member lineup was an anomaly in the K-pop world. While most groups underwent significant lineup changes after their initial success, TWICE stood out for its cohesion and consistency. Only about a dozen groups have managed to maintain their original lineups across the decades – TWICE being one of them until now.
This longevity has raised questions about how Jeongyeon’s departure will affect the group’s dynamics. The loss of a key member can be felt throughout the industry, as seen in the recent lineup changes affecting various K-pop acts. This year alone has been marked by significant departures and contract expirations that often lead to fracture.
The “Separate but Together” Model Under Scrutiny
Jeongyeon’s move to VARO Entertainment suggests she intends to maintain a balance between solo activities and group commitments. Similar strategies have been adopted by groups like BLACKPINK, leading to mixed results. While this model allows for flexibility and can boost individual members’ careers, it also poses logistical challenges.
The example of Girls’ Generation comes closest to TWICE’s situation. Members leaving SM Entertainment while others stayed led to a period of minimal group activity before eventually returning with a new album in 2022. This pattern suggests that the impact of Jeongyeon’s departure will be felt across the industry, not just within TWICE.
Watching the Dominoes Fall
As we move forward, it will be interesting to see how JYP and VARO manage this change. Will other members follow Jeongyeon out of JYP? How will this affect TWICE’s future activities and performances? The departure of Jeongyeon serves as a reminder that in K-pop, where groups are often seen as an assembly of individuals rather than a cohesive unit, the relationships between agency, group, and individual can be complex.
Jeongyeon’s departure has set off a chain reaction that will reverberate across the K-pop landscape. The next few months and years will be crucial in determining how this change impacts not just TWICE but also the broader industry. As Jeongyeon embarks on this new chapter in her career, one thing is certain – she has marked the beginning of a different trajectory for herself and possibly for TWICE as well.
Reader Views
- CMColumnist M. Reid · opinion columnist
While Jeongyeon's departure from JYP Entertainment marks a significant shift in TWICE's dynamics, it also raises practical questions about how the group will manage its busy schedules and promotional activities with reduced personnel. Will SM Entertainment take note of this development and reevaluate its own approach to roster management, given Girls' Generation's past experiences? A closer look at the business side of K-pop lineups is needed to understand the full implications of Jeongyeon's move.
- EKEditor K. Wells · editor
While Jeongyeon's departure from JYP is undoubtedly significant, we mustn't overlook the business realities driving this move. The music industry's emphasis on solo activities and branding individual members has created a precarious balancing act for groups like TWICE. As more K-pop acts adopt this "separate but together" model, they risk losing cohesion and sacrificing collective momentum in favor of member-specific gain. It remains to be seen whether Jeongyeon's strategy will pay off or ultimately fragment the group.
- ADAnalyst D. Park · policy analyst
The departure of Jeongyeon from JYP Entertainment highlights the industry's growing acceptance of member departures and solo endeavors. What's less clear is how this trend will impact the financial stability of established groups like TWICE, whose long-standing lineup has been a key factor in their commercial success. With many members now having individual contracts with varying levels of autonomy, it's possible that we'll see a shift towards more fragmented revenue streams and creative control – a potential consequence that's yet to be fully explored by industry analysts.