SEOUL, Aug. 10 (Yonhap) -- Jeongyeon, a member of K-pop girl group TWICE, has left her longtime agency, JYP Entertainment, and signed with a star agency that represents her older sister, actor Gong Seung-yeon, the company said Monday.
Jeongyeon, whose real name is Yoo Jeong-yeon, has signed an exclusive contract with Varo Entertainment after 11 years with JYP, where she debuted as a member of TWICE in 2015.
"We are truly delighted to form a valuable relationship with Yoo Jeong-yeon, who possesses a diverse range of charms and infinite potential," Varo said in a statement.
Jeongyeon of girl group TWICE (Yonhap)
Jeongyeon plans to begin pursuing her acting career under the agency while continuing her activities with TWICE, one of the leading girl groups in the K-pop industry.
In a message posted on social media, she said she had been afraid to leave a familiar environment but found the courage to do so thanks to her fellow members and the group's fans, known as Once.
"Although I am moving to a new home and beginning a new challenge, I will continue to protect TWICE, which is at the very heart of who I am," she said. "Standing before Once as a member of TWICE will always be my first priority," she added.