The track Takedown reached number 50 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2025, marking a significant milestone for South Korean singer Park Ji-hyo. As the primary vocalist and leader of the girl group Twice, she has navigated a professional trajectory from a young trainee at JYP Entertainment to an internationally recognized solo artist and brand ambassador.
Early Training and Development
Born Park Ji-soo on February 1, 1997, in Guri, Gyeonggi Province, she pursued her early education at Baekmun Elementary School and Guri Girls' Middle School before attending Cheongdam High School. Her entertainment career began after she finished second in a Junior Naver child contest, leading to a recruitment by SM Entertainment. In 2005, she transitioned to JYP Entertainment at age eight. Over a decade of rigorous training, she gained experience alongside artists such as Suzy, Jo Kwon, and Nichkhun while serving as a model for Innisfree.
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The planned 2014 debut of a group named 6Mix was cancelled, prompting Jihyo to compete in the 2015 reality series Sixteen to secure a spot in a new ensemble. Following her legal name change to Park Ji-hyo, she earned a place in Twice. Her bandmates subsequently elected her as the leader. The group debuted in October 2015 with the EP The Story Begins, featuring the single Like Ooh-Ahh, which achieved 100 million views on YouTube.
Solo Ventures and Soundtrack Success
Jihyo initiated her solo career with the EP Zone in August 2023, which debuted at number one on the Circle Album Chart and number 14 on the Billboard 200. The lead single, Killin' Me Good, contributed to her first solo music show win on KBS2. She has also contributed multiple tracks to soundtracks, including Stardust Love Song for Twenty-Five Twenty-One, I Fly for Today's Webtoon, and A Strange Day for Summer Strike. In 2025, her contribution to the KPop Demon Hunters film soundtrack, Takedown, achieved chart success in the United States.
Industry Presence
Beyond music, Jihyo has maintained a high profile through brand partnerships and television appearances. In 2023, she became the model for Milk Touch and received a Rookie Award nomination at the MBC Entertainment Awards for her segments on I Live Alone. She serves as an ambassador for AMI Paris and Pond's Philippines. Her collaborative work expanded in 2026 with a feature on Jenevieve's Hvnly and the duet Distant Lover with Shenseea.
Fast facts
- Born: February 1, 1997, Guri, South Korea
- Group: Twice
- Solo Debut EP: Zone (2023)
- Leader of Twice: Elected via anonymous vote
- Total Training Duration: 10 years
- Occupation: Singer, lyricist, dancer
- Notable Brand Partnership: Pond's Philippines (2025)
- Education: Cheongdam High School
Questions readers ask
When did Jihyo legally change her name?
She changed her name from Park Ji-soo to Park Ji-hyo prior to the 2015 competition show Sixteen.
Which Billboard chart did her 2025 single reach?
Takedown reached a peak position of number 50 on the Billboard Hot 100.
