TWICE Jihyo’s Sister Seoyeon Debuts in HYBE’s New Girl Group TUIDE!
The K-pop world is buzzing with excitement as a new girl group from HYBE subsidiary label ABD is officially set to debut, and one member, Seoyeon, is already turning heads as the younger sister of TWICE’s beloved leader, Jihyo!
Meet TUIDE: HYBE’s Global Rookie Group
ABD announced on August 3 that their highly anticipated rookie group TUIDE will make their grand entrance into the K-pop scene on August 24. Fans can mark their calendars for the release of TUIDE’s first mini album, ‘TUNE & PLAY,’ dropping at 6 PM KST.
TUIDE is an international affair, composed of seven talented members: Seo Hee, Seoyeon, Elena, Jia, Saki, Seah, and Yi Hani. These rising stars bring a truly global flavor to the group, hailing from diverse cultural backgrounds including Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan. All members are teenagers, born between 2006 and 2011, promising a fresh, energetic, and unique identity for TUIDE. ABD stated that this multinational synergy aims to deliver a “fresh experience to music fans around the world.”
The group’s debut mini album, ‘TUNE & PLAY,’ is conceptualized to symbolize “tuning” various musical languages into a unified rhythm, creating “play” and enjoyment for listeners. This reflects TUIDE’s ambitious goal to transcend generational, cultural, and linguistic barriers, setting a new global music trend. Adding to the anticipation, the project is overseen by none other than Han Sung Soo, the former CEO of Pledis Entertainment, who serves as the Master Professional and executive producer.
Before their official debut, TUIDE gave fans a taste of what’s to come at their ‘PLAYGROUND’ preview event on August 1 and 2 in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Despite being a completely new group without prior public introductions, TUIDE captivated attendees with polished live vocals and impressive performances of five songs, building significant buzz for their upcoming debut.
Seoyeon’s Debut: Following in Her Sister’s Footsteps
Among the talented lineup, Seoyeon has garnered particular attention. Born in 2008, she is the youngest sister of TWICE’s Jihyo, who debuted with JYP Entertainment in 2015 and has since become a cornerstone of one of K-pop’s biggest global girl groups. Fans are already noting Seoyeon’s striking resemblance to her older sister, adding an extra layer of excitement to her debut.
Jihyo’s Contract Discussions: What This Means for TWICE
Meanwhile, the news of Seoyeon’s debut comes amidst ongoing discussions surrounding TWICE’s contract renewals with JYP Entertainment. The situation has been a topic of concern for ONCEs (TWICE’s fandom).
Jihyo herself recently addressed fans on July 28 via the communication platform Bubble, candidly sharing her feelings. She wrote, “I could simply chat with ONCE about everyday life, but it’s still difficult for me to continue conversations as if nothing is happening.” She expressed the weight of the situation, adding, “I thought about it a lot and was very cautious before communicating with everyone. I want to resolve everything properly and share good news as soon as possible so ONCE won’t have to wait too long.”
Reassuring her devoted fanbase, Jihyo further stated, “As the person responsible for my own life, I’ll think things through carefully and make the wisest decision. I sincerely love and cherish TWICE as a team, and I believe ONCE will understand that from the bottom of my heart.”
These heartfelt messages from Jihyo followed earlier reports on July 14 that suggested she, a JYP Entertainment trainee for 21 years (since 2005 before debuting with TWICE in 2015), might be preparing to leave the agency to establish her own one-person company. However, JYP Entertainment quickly responded, clarifying, “TWICE is currently in the contract renewal discussion period, and we are continuing careful negotiations.” It’s worth noting that all nine members of TWICE successfully renewed their contracts with JYP in 2022, continuing their successful group and individual activities.
