TWICE's Jihyo Takes Steps Into Her 'Zone' On Debut EP - Kpoppie

In an interview, TWICE member Jihyo discusses her songwriting process, overcoming uncertainty, and how she’s spent the past 18 years readying herself for a solo debut.

Park Jihyo first entered the spotlight in a child acting competition when she was 8 years old. Her performance left an impression on agents from K-pop behemoth JYP Entertainment. Much has happened in the interim — including a record-breaking tour with her group TWICE — but 18 years after that competition, Jihyo will make her official solo debut via JYPE.

Jihyo is the latest member of TWICE to debut with a solo release; her first mini-album, Zone, drops on Aug. 18. Jihyo has contributed to the composition and lyrics for the majority of the seven-track EP.

“I wanted to diversify as much as possible so that listeners can have fun while listening to my album. Each song has a different genre and feel to it,” she tells GRAMMY.com, adding, “I am both nervous and excited at the same time!”

It seems as if every moment in Jihyo’s career has led to this point. Jihyo signed with JYPE in 2005 and spent the majority of her youth refining her singing, dancing, and self-confidence. She joined the reality girl group survival competition “Sixteen” in 2015, and was eventually selected to join the lineup of JYPE’s next girl group. Today, Jihyo is the leader and main vocalist of the nine-member ensemble TWICE, performing alongside Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu.

Jihyo has penned a number of tracks in TWICE’s discography such as “Get Loud,” “First Time,” and “Trouble” to name a few, and lent her vocal skills to three 2022 Korean drama original soundtrack singles — “Stardust love song” (“Twenty-Five Twenty-One”), “I Fly” (“Today’s Webtoon”), and “A Strange Day” (“Summer Strike”). Zone is expected to be Jihyo’s most compelling and personal project to date that aims to highlight her musical self-discovery, impressive vocal range, and audacious spirit.

Zone‘s teaser trailer, promotional images and highlight medley have led to highly anticipated chatter among TWICE’s fans — some of whom got to experience one track from Zone live during their recent Ready To Be tour. Relying heavily on perseverance and grace to get to this moment, Jihyo believes it’s time for her respective musical prowess to take the spotlight.