Jihyo and Tzuyu, members of the K-popK-popSouth Korean pop music, known for polished production, precise choreography, and highly organized fan communities. With a massive following in the Philippines, K-pop shapes fan culture, concerts, and fashion, andGo to K-pop Glossary girl group TWICE, are not renewing their contracts with the label JYP Entertainment, according to reports.
On Tuesday, July 14, JYP Entertainment told South Korean news outlet StarNews that the “What is Love?” hitmakers are “in a period of contract renewal discussions” and “proceeding with careful deliberation.” This comes as News1 and JoyNews24 separately reported that Tzuyu and Jihyo, respectively, had left the label. Neither has confirmed the news.
According to News1, industry insiders claim that Tzuyu has decided not to renew her contract with JYP, but will continue to join group activities with TWICE. The Taiwanese singer began training in South Korea in 2012 and joined the survival show Sixteen in 2015, which determined who would make it into TWICE. In 2024, she released her first solo EP, abouTZU, under JYP.
Reports state that group leader Jihyo plans to leave JYP to establish her own agency. She had trained under JYP for 10 years, starting in 2005, at eight years old, and debuted with TWICE in 2015 after winning Sixteen alongside other members. In 2023, she released her debut solo EPEPShort for extended play, a release longer than a single but shorter than a full album, usually three to six songs. EPs let emerging artists introduce their sound without aGo to EP Glossary ZONE.
Is It Possible to Join Group Activities Without an Individual Contract?
If the rumors turn out to be true, Jihyo and Tzuyu would not be the first K-popK-popSouth Korean pop music, known for polished production, precise choreography, and highly organized fan communities. With a massive following in the Philippines, K-pop shapes fan culture, concerts, and fashion, andGo to K-pop Glossary idols to leave a label without leaving the group. In December 2023, all BLACKPINK members, Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa, decided not to renew their individual contracts with YG Entertainment but still signed contracts to continue group activities.
“We recently signed a contract extension for BLACKPINK’s group activities and agreed not to proceed with separate additional contracts regarding individual activities,” YG Entertainment said in a statement. “We will do our utmost to support BLACKPINK’s activities and will warmly cheer for the members’ individual endeavors.”
In 2025, the four-piece started their “Deadline World Tour” ahead of their 2026 EP DEADLINE, officially marking the group’s comeback. By then, all members had already established their solo careers, with Lisa and Jennie setting up their own music labels.
Meanwhile, all members of TWICE last renewed their contracts in mid-2023, after releasing the EPEPShort for extended play, a release longer than a single but shorter than a full album, usually three to six songs. EPs let emerging artists introduce their sound without aGo to EP Glossary READY TO BE. This was followed by the album DIVE and EP STRATEGY in 2024, and three albums in 2025: THIS IS FOR, ENEMY, and TEN: The Story Goes On. Between releases, they also embarked on their “This Is For World Tour,” which ran from June 2025 to June 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
News1 and JoyNews24 report that Tzuyu and Jihyo, respectively, are not renewing their JYP Entertainment contracts. JYP has not confirmed this, saying only that renewal talks are ongoing.
Tzuyu is expected to continue TWICE group activities without an individual JYP contract, mirroring BLACKPINK’s setup following its members’ contract renewals in 2023. Jihyo’s reported plan to start her own agency hasn’t been confirmed to affect her group status.
Jihyo trained under JYP for a decade, starting in 2005, and debuted with TWICE in 2015. She released her solo EP ZONE under JYP in 2023.
In 2023, all four BLACKPINK members skipped individual contracts with YG Entertainment but signed separately to continue group promotions. Jihyo and Tzuyu’s reported JYP exit follows a similar split.
TWICE last renewed its group contract in mid-2023. Since then, it has released four albums and completed the “This Is For World Tour,” which ran from June 2025 to June 2026.
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