K-Pop star Jihyo: how is she doing now?

Singer Jihyo of the girls' group TWICE is one of the best-known faces in the K-Pop universe. She seems to have it all, but behind the glitter and glory, there's also anxiety and insecurity. This is the story of a young K-Pop star.

Jihyo was born on February 1, 1997. She is originally from Guri, Gyeonggi, South Korea.

Before debuting as a singer, Jihyo was the main face of the 'TN' teen line from cosmetic brand Innisfree. You could see her in several commercials.

Jihyo joined the record label JYP Entertainment on July 15, 2005. She spent the following decade there in training. That's a long career compared to the other members of Twice (or of K-Pop stars in general).

Image: Still from 'Sixteen'

Jihyo participated in more than a dozen TV Shows. The most important would be 'Sixteen' in 2015. Organized by JYP Entertainment, the show featured 16 apprentices trying to earn a place in the women's group TWICE.

Image: Still from 'Sixteen'

The first audition she did in the Sixteen TV Show was with the song 'All about that Bass'. Other songs that Jihyo sang in the program were 'Low Battery', 'Uptown Funk,' and 'Do It Again.'

Image: Still from 'Sixteen'

While in the 'Sixteen' show, Jihyo tried to form a group called 6MIX with other girls of the agency. It didn't work out because the others left the agency.

Image: Still from 'Sixteen'

On July 7, 2015, the final episode of 'Sixteen' took place and Jihyo officially became a member of the women's K-Pop band TWICE.

Image: Still from 'Sixteen'

Jihyo's professional debut as a singer and dancer was with TWICE's first mini-album, 'The Story Begins'.

Before participating in 'Sixteen,' the singer changed her name. She went from Ji-soo to Jihyo, as she is now known.

Whenever Jihyo is at a concert she greets the crowd saying "Hello! I'm TWICE's microphone, Jihyo."

Jihyo is considered the leader of TWICE. Her friends consider her the most responsible of the group and the 'mother' of all the other girls.

In several interviews, her TWICE teammates have stated that they admire Jihyo for her personality and kindness, as well as for being the group's most eloquent member toward the fans.

In January 2019, the film 'Twiceland' was released, with main roles for Jihyo and the other TWICE members.

In August 2019 the relationship between Jihyo and Kang Daniel, a K-Pop idol from the group 'Wanna One,' came to light.

While this new relationship was a positive personal event for Jihyo, some followers responded on social media with hateful comments.

The star, then only 22 years old, became the subject of massive online bullying. It's the type of harassment that other K-Pop artists have also experienced. In the case of the singer Sulli, the bullying even led to depression and self-harm.

It was in 2019 that Jihyo began to suffer from mental illnesses, Malaymail reports. The singer revealed on a TWICE fan forum that she cried in front of her fans at the airport, avoided an important award show, and even broke down on stage while performing with TWICE.

Although Jihyo's motto is 'Positive Mind!' it has been very hard for her to live by that rule. "I cried throughout three consecutive days of performances from my fear and I just wanted to hide," she said on the forum (translated by Koreaboo).

"It was because of the huge terror I felt towards the people who took photos of me, looked at me, and shouted at me. I felt so scared about how these people would think of me. ... It became difficult for me to stand in front of people, say even a word, or even perform."

After that difficult time, Jihyo was hospitalized for depression and anxiety, Malaymail reports. It adds, however, that "consultations and medication failed to calm her nerves."

While opening up to the fans about her mental illness, Jihyo did resume the role of TWICE group leader at the end of her message.

"I’m sure that since I’m a celebrity and an idol, there will be many issues and rumors to arise for various reasons, but I don’t want us to lose our happiness, our joy, and bright smiles to something else."

The year 2020 was mixed for Jihyo and the group Twice. On the one hand, there was the coronavirus and its lockdowns, but on the other hand, they released a new album: 'Eyes Wide Open.' The group also celebrated its fifth-year anniversary.

Her communication with the fans, and the fact that has reached out to medical specialists and other sorts of support, show that Jihyo is not giving up on her career so easily. She always tries to follow her motto: "Positive mind!"

In 2023, Jihyo is still working and writing songs for her K-Pop band TWICE, but the lyricist and singer has also released her first song for a TV program. If you want to hear it, you can do so on Netflix because it is the title song of the show 'Twenty-Five, Twenty-one.'