Jihyo’s Profile
- Real Name: Park Ji-hyo
- Native Name: 박지효
- Nicknames: God Jihyo, Mic
- Birthday: Feb 01, 1997 (28 years old)
- Blood type: O
- Height/Weight: 162 cm (5'4") / 56 kg (123 lbs)
- Gender: Female
- Zodiac Sign: Aquarius
- Debut: October 20, 2015
- Position: Leader, Main Vocalist
- MBTI: ISFJ
- Birthplace: Guri, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
- Education: Chungdam High School (청담고등학교), Seoul
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Nationality:
South Korean
- Profession: Singer
- Languages: Korean, English
- Group: TWICE
Park Ji-hyo (birth name: Park Ji-soo, Korean: 박지수), born on February 1, 1997, in Guri, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, is a South Korean singer and songwriter. She performs under the stage name Jihyo and is currently the leader and main vocalist of the K-pop girl group TWICE under JYP Entertainment.
Early Life
Jihyo was born in Guri, Gyeonggi Province, into a family of three daughters. She is the eldest, with two younger sisters: Park Ji-young, who later performed under the stage name Lee Ha-eum, and Park Seo-yeon. From an early age, Jihyo participated in artistic activities. In the third grade of elementary school, she competed in a child actor contest organized by Junior Naver and won second place. This achievement drew the attention of talent scouts, and she subsequently joined JYP Entertainment on July 15, 2005, at the age of about eight.
Career
Jihyo began her trainee journey at JYP Entertainment in 2005 and trained continuously for over ten years before debuting. She initially aimed to pursue acting but later switched to singing, receiving professional training in vocals, dance, and stage performance.
In 2015, she participated in Mnet’s reality survival program SIXTEEN, which determined the lineup of JYP Entertainment’s new girl group. She was selected as one of the nine official members of TWICE.
On October 20, 2015, Jihyo officially debuted as TWICE’s leader and main vocalist with their first mini album The Story Begins, featuring six tracks, including the title song “Like Ooh-Ahh.” The track became the first K-pop debut music video to surpass 100 million views on YouTube.
In addition to recording TWICE’s music, Jihyo has contributed to songwriting and lyrics for several tracks such as “Get Loud,” “First Time,” and “Trouble.” In 2022, she performed three OST tracks for Korean television dramas.
Jihyo’s solo career launched in August 2023 with her first mini album ZONE, which featured seven songs in diverse genres. The title track “Killin’ Me Good” won first place on Music Bank just one week after release. The album sold over 535,000 copies in its first week, setting one of the highest first-week sales records for a female solo artist in Korea.
In 2025, Jihyo, along with TWICE, released their fourth full-length studio album This Is For and kicked off a world tour of the same name, performing across multiple countries in Asia and Oceania. She also lent her voice to the track “Takedown” for the animated film K-Pop Demon Hunters, collaborating with Jeongyeon and Chaeyoung.
Strengths
As TWICE’s main vocalist, Jihyo is known for her wide vocal range and ability to maintain stable pitch. She delivers the climactic high notes in many songs, such as “Feel Special” and “I Can’t Stop Me,” during concerts and live music shows, keeping her tone bright and clear even while moving energetically on stage.
Beyond her vocal ability, Jihyo’s leadership is another major strength. Since TWICE’s debut in 2015, she has taken on the role of coordinating practice schedules and maintaining group morale. In behind-the-scenes footage from reality shows, she is often the one to summarize opinions, divide responsibilities, and ensure progress is on track.
Jihyo’s dancing is also consistent, showing seamless synchronization between movement and vocals. Fancams from performances like “TT” and “More & More” highlight her ability to sustain breath control and execute precise choreography while constantly moving, creating a balanced overall performance with the group.
Challenges
During her time on SIXTEEN, Jihyo was repeatedly criticized for her appearance by staff and photographers. She was sometimes placed at the front in group photos to be compared unfavorably with other contestants and was labeled “chubby.” Negative nicknames like “visual hole” circulated on K-pop forums, causing her prolonged mental stress.
In December 2019, Jihyo was absent from the MAMA awards ceremony due to an injury. Later, while speaking with fans, she used the Korean slang term “웅앵웅” (ung-aeng-ung), often used sarcastically, which some interpreted as dismissive toward fan opinions. The incident sparked heated debate online, leading Jihyo to issue a public apology.
In August 2019, Dispatch revealed photos of Jihyo dating singer Kang Daniel. Korean media dubbed it a “dating scandal” as both were at the peak of their careers. After the news broke, Jihyo faced backlash from antis. By the end of 2020, the two confirmed their breakup due to busy schedules.
Around the same period, she was dragged into false rumors linking her to the illegal filming scandal involving Seungri and Jung Joon Young. Edited images circulated online, and she was questioned by reporters at the airport, prompting her to break down in tears on the spot. Her agency firmly stated that the images were fabricated and had no connection to her.
In 2023, a fan recounted meeting Jihyo in Chicago, claiming she responded to their greeting coldly. The post sparked debate over the boundaries between idols’ private lives and their obligation to interact with fans. Many argued that idols should not be approached outside of work schedules.
Fun Facts
- Nicknames: “God Jihyo,” “Hyo-mas” (like Thomas the Train), and “Mic” for her expressive eyes and leadership.
- Enjoys webtoons, karaoke, tennis, and aspires to learn golf.
- Ambidextrous and wore braces as a teen.
- Loves yogurt smoothies, fried chicken, barbecue; dislikes broccoli.
- Considered the group’s “best drinker” by her bandmates.
- Has a strong fear of bugs, especially beetles.
- Known as the most sentimental member, often moved to tears but always uplifting to others.
- Appeared in Miss A’s “Only You” MV and was Innisfree Teen Line’s face pre-debut.
- Has two younger sisters and is affectionately called “nation’s big sister” by fans.
- Won second place in a child actor contest on Junior Naver when she was in third grade.
- Famous for her large eyes, nicknamed “Thomas the Train.”
- Underwent LASIK eye surgery in 2017 to treat nearsightedness.
- Dislikes pineapple because it irritates her throat.
- Her favorite word is “ONCE.”
- Owns two cats, including a British Shorthair named Ppuyo.
- Was very shy as a child, avoiding ordering food or buying bus tickets herself.
- Loves Pokémon, especially Jigglypuff.
- Has the loudest speaking voice in TWICE.
- Enjoys playing golf and once compared TWICE’s career to being on the 7th hole of an 18-hole course.
Photo Gallery
