Twice’s Chaeyoung Leaves JYP After 14 Years… Shares Drop 11% on Contract Renewal Risk

'Twice' 'Chaeyoung' leaves JYP after 14 years… declares a solo foray in 'LIL FANTASY'

Chaeyoung, a key member of 'Twice', South Korea’s leading girl group, is leaving the home of 'JYP Entertainment' after 14 years and striking out on an independent path known as 'being on her own'. After member 'Jeongyeon' found a new home, a steady drain of key staff has become visible in the background, drawing attention from across the global K-pop market.

On the 13th, 'Chaeyoung' first shared the breakup news with the fandom ONCE through her official social networking service (SNS). He said, "I want to build a new musical world in the world of my own 'LIL FANTASY'." Even though her exclusive contract with her agency has reached an endpoint, 'Twice' as a team remained a constant source of affection. 'Chaeyoung' dismissed fans’ concerns by saying, "Above all, group activities will continue without change," signaling that the band’s presence as a full lineup will remain firmly in place.

'JYP Entertainment' plunges 11% on an earnings shock… fallout from 'renewal uncertainty'

Renewal uncertainty surrounding members of 'Twice', the company’s marquee intellectual property (IP), immediately rippled through the stock market. According to the Korea Exchange on the 13th, 'JYP Entertainment' shares closed at 40,850 won, a steep drop of 11.20% from the previous trading day. The figure strongly reflects concerns about a real impairment to corporate value beyond mere psychological unease.

To make matters worse, the second-quarter results announced the day before added fuel to the selloff. Consolidated operating profit came in at 31 billion won, plunging 41.4% year over year, and that fell short of market expectations by 18%, representing an 'earnings shock'. After 'Jeongyeon' moved to a different agency earlier, and then 'Chaeyoung' also chose to go her own way, securities analysts have begun to cast doubt on 'JYP Entertainment'’s likelihood of a near-term turnaround, repeatedly adjusting down their target share prices.