Chaeyoung’s New Chapter: Independence Without Separation
TWICE Chaeyoung’s independent label LIL FANTASY is a K-pop solo career model where an idol leaves a long-time agency to control their own music while deliberately keeping their identity and activities inside the original group, signaling a hybrid path between traditional contracts and full independence that challenges how the music industry usually separates group work from solo ventures. On August 13, Chaeyoung told fans through a handwritten letter on social media that she had ended her exclusive contract with JYP Entertainment after 14 years as trainee and artist. Instead of framing this as a breakup, she described it as “a new chapter” built around her creative world LIL FANTASY, a space where she can explore and build her own music. Crucially, she insisted that “nothing changes with TWICE,” promising that TWICE will remain her roots even as she moves into independent label music.
LIL FANTASY: A Personal Label With Global Ambition
Chaeyoung is not signing to another company; she is establishing her own independent label, LIL FANTASY, as the home base for her solo music projects. That decision matters: it shifts her solo work from agency-led to artist-led, putting creative control and long-term strategy in her hands. She first introduced LIL FANTASY with her debut solo album “LIL FANTASY vol.1,” released in September 2025, in which she helped shape both the music and visual planning using her personal thoughts, notes, and experiences. According to KoreaHerald, the album ranked No. 86 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 Best Albums of 2025 and No. 7 on year-end K-pop album lists from Billboard and Forbes. Those rankings prove this is not a side hobby; LIL FANTASY is already a credible player in independent label music, giving Chaeyoung the leverage to grow without borrowing prestige from her group.
Staying With TWICE: The Hybrid Career Model
What makes Chaeyoung’s move notable for K-pop solo careers is not that she went independent, but that she did so while clearly committing to TWICE. In her letter, she thanked “everyone at JYP and Team TWICE” for believing in and supporting her for 14 years and called her members her strength and biggest supporters. Then she drew a line: “Most of all, please know that nothing changes with TWICE. Everything I’ve received is thanks to my time as TWICE, which will always be my roots.” In practice, this means TWICE Chaeyoung will keep recording and performing with the group while Chaeyoung in LIL FANTASY pursues independent music activities. This dual identity rejects the old assumption that independence requires cutting ties. Instead, it argues that music industry independence can coexist with stable group work, as long as both sides respect that split.
Personal Life, Public Rumors, and Protecting Independence
Chaeyoung’s announcement collided with speculation about her relationship with Zion.T, underscoring how personal narratives can distract from artistic independence. On August 14, a report claimed the pair had recently broken up. Both sides responded with a joint official statement calling the breakup rumors “completely groundless” and confirming that, after checking with the artists, they are continuing “their beautiful relationship with positive feelings toward each other.” The agencies also promised strong legal action against sensational, unverified content that could damage reputations. That tough stance matters for music industry independence: it signals that even as Chaeyoung steps outside traditional agency structures, she is not abandoning institutional support when her career or private life is at risk. Protecting her autonomy means defending the space around LIL FANTASY, so artistic choices are not overshadowed by gossip cycles.
What Chaeyoung’s Move Signals for Future K-Pop Careers
Chaeyoung’s path suggests a future where top idols refuse either-or choices between solo freedom and group loyalty. She is starting a fresh solo chapter after ending her long contract, yet she emphasizes that fans will still meet her as TWICE Chaeyoung and as Chaeyoung of LIL FANTASY, each creating music that carries meaning for them. Her first album under this concept already showed how a self-built creative world can reach both critics and listeners, and she has promised to keep growing as an artist and as a person. Her move also arrives after fellow member Jeongyeon left JYP to sign elsewhere, hinting that TWICE’s individual paths will be more diverse than a single agency narrative. If Chaeyoung succeeds, her model may become a reference point: independent label music run by idols who stay rooted in their groups rather than walking away from them.
