TWICE’s Jihyo recently shared a surprising and heartfelt story about her career path, revealing details that many fans didn’t know. In her guest appearance on SNSD’s Hyoyeon’s YouTube show Hyo’s Level Up, Jihyo disclosed that she was initially a trainee at SM Entertainment before joining JYP Entertainment.
A Surprising Revelation
“This is actually my first time revealing this. I was a trainee at JYP for 10 years, but before that I was at SM for a year,” Jihyo said, leaving Hyoyeon and fans amazed. Jihyo further shared that during her time at SM, she was called cute by the members of Girls’ Generation and even had her face size compared to a CD.
“They compared the size of my face to a CD. The only person who did that was Sooyoung. I clearly remember them saying, ‘You’re so cute,'” Jihyo recounted with a smile.
It’s endearing to hear such personal anecdotes from idols, reminding us that even stars go through unique and memorable experiences during their trainee days.
The Move from SM to JYP
Hyoyeon, curious about Jihyo’s decision to leave SM Entertainment, asked what prompted the change. Jihyo revealed that her move was influenced by someone who recruited her and later moved from SM to JYP. This connection played a significant role in her decision to switch companies.
Hyoyeon jokingly responded, “If I had known, I would have held you back and told you not to leave, to stay together. However, it seemed like we weren’t meant to be together at that time, but we met like this now.”
It’s fascinating how the industry’s dynamics and personal relationships can shape an idol’s career path. Jihyo’s story highlights the importance of fate and timing in the entertainment world.
Not the Only One
Jihyo is not alone in her journey of transitioning from SM to other entertainment agencies. Several other musicians have also started their careers under SM before moving on. This includes Tsuki from Billy, Inseong from F9, Chaehyun from Kep1er, Jinho from Pentagon, Yeonjung from Cosmic Girls/WJSN, and Yunjin from LE SSERAFIM.
These stories of idols who have switched agencies show that the path to stardom is rarely straightforward. Each decision and move contributes to their growth and eventual success.
