TWICE’s Jeongyeon Leaves JYP: A New Chapter and the Shifting Landscape of K-Pop Contracts

• by Shimanta Das
• August 11, 2026

In a heartfelt handwritten letter, TWICE’s Jeongyeon announced her departure from JYP Entertainment after 11 years, marking the first time a member has left the agency since the group’s debut in 2015. The news, which broke on August 10, revealed that she has already signed with new management, Baro Entertainment, the agency that also represents her older sister, actress Gong Seung-yeon. While this move signals a significant shift in her career, Jeongyeon was quick to reassure fans that her commitment to TWICE remains unwavering, stating that being with the group and ONCE will always be her top priority.

Jeongyeon’s decision to leave JYP but continue with TWICE highlights a common practice in the K-pop industry that is often misunderstood internationally. In South Korea, it is not unusual for idols to leave their original agencies while maintaining their group activities. This flexibility was legally solidified in 2009 when the Fair Trade Commission introduced a standard contract limiting the maximum contract duration to seven years, effectively curbing the infamous ‘slave contracts’ of the past. This regulatory framework has allowed groups like Girls’ Generation, KARA, and GOT7 to continue promoting together even after members moved to different agencies. For instance, GOT7 famously left JYP entirely in 2021 but retained their group name and continued to release music independently.

In contrast, Japan has lagged behind in such regulatory reforms. The entertainment industry there, particularly the former Johnny’s Entertainment (now STARTO), has historically enforced strict exclusivity, making it difficult for idols to continue group activities after leaving their agency. It wasn’t until 2019 that Japan’s Fair Trade Commission issued a warning to Johnny’s, and only in 2025 did the commission publish guidelines addressing these restrictive practices. This 10-to-16-year gap in regulatory evolution explains why the Japanese idol system has been slower to embrace the ‘leave the agency, stay in the group’ model. While some STARTO groups have recently begun to allow such transitions, it is often a result of high-profile scandals and public pressure rather than proactive legal reform.

Jeongyeon’s move to Baro Entertainment, where she will likely pursue acting alongside her idol career