In a momentous development for the global K-pop industry, TWICE member Chaeyoung has officially announced her departure from JYP Entertainment after spending 14 years with the company as both a trainee and an artist.
On August 13, 2026, the 27-year-old singer-rapper took to her personal Instagram account to share the major news directly with fans, known collectively as ONCE.
Her announcement marks a significant turning point in her artistic career, making her the second member of the iconic nonet to leave the agency following bandmate Jeongyeon’s recent shift to Varo Entertainment.
Despite concluding her longtime contract with JYP Entertainment, Chaeyoung provided immediate reassurance that her commitment to TWICE remains completely steadfast as she steps into this new era of independent musical exploration.
Chaeyoung’s journey under JYP Entertainment began over a decade ago when she joined the agency as a young trainee, eventually earning her spot in the global supergroup TWICE during the 2015 reality survival show SIXTEEN.
Over the course of nine years as an active member of TWICE, her distinct rap style, artistic vision, and songwriting contributions played an integral role in shaping the group’s massive success across domestic and international markets.
As contract renewal discussions unfolded, Chaeyoung made the conscious decision to establish a new creative framework for her individual projects while keeping her identity as a TWICE member fully intact.
Chaeyoung’s Direct Message and Personal Reflection
Addressing her global audience through a heartfelt personal statement posted in both Korean and English, Chaeyoung expressed genuine enthusiasm for her artistic future while extending warm gratitude to those who supported her throughout her 14-year tenure.
In her message, she reached out to her supporters first, writing:
“I wanted to share this with ONCE first, my family who has always been by my side.”
Delving into her personal artistic trajectory and her solo concept, Chaeyoung revealed her excitement for building her individual creative brand, stating:
“I’m so excited to step into a new chapter and bring my new ‘LIL FANTASY,’ a world where I can explore and build my music.”
She took care to express deep appreciation to the company staff, management, and fellow bandmates who have been by her side since the beginning of her training days. She wrote:
“I want to deeply thank everyone at JYP and Team TWICE for believing in and supporting me over the past 14 years.
And to my TWICE members, who are always my strength and biggest supporters, thank you, and I love you beyond words.”
Reassurance to Fans and Future Group Commitment
Understanding the potential concern that agency departures can cause within a fandom, Chaeyoung emphasized that leaving JYP Entertainment for individual management will not alter her status within TWICE or impact group performances.
Reassuring fans directly, she declared:
“Most of all, please know that nothing changes with TWICE. Everything I’ve received is thanks to my time as TWICE, which will always be my roots.”
Her words underscore a shared determination among the members to maintain the group’s integrity as a nonet even as individual members pursue distinct corporate or agency paths for their solo endevors.
Her new direction centers on “Lil Fantasy,” a personal creative concept and entity that serves as the foundation for her solo musical identity following her solo project releases.
While discussions regarding her official individual representation or agency alignment remain ongoing, Chaeyoung’s dual commitment to her independent music and TWICE establishes a flexible modern model seen increasingly across top-tier K-pop groups.
Fans around the world have voiced overwhelming support for her decision, looking forward to witnessing both her growth as an independent artist through Lil Fantasy and her continued presence alongside her groupmates in TWICE’s upcoming schedule.
