Few K-pop groups have kept their lineup as steady as TWICE. Since debuting in 2015 under JYP Entertainment, the nine-member group has grown a global fanbase while clearing up confusion about who stays and who goes.
Group Name: TWICE ( ) · Company: JYP Entertainment · Debut Date: October 20, 2015 · Current Members: 9 · Nationalities: Korean, Japanese, Taiwanese · Fandom Name: ONCE
Quick snapshot
- 9 members total: Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, Tzuyu (TWICE Official Site (JYP Entertainment))
- All 9 members are active as of 2025 (TWICE Official Site (JYP Entertainment))
- No member has permanently left the group (Kpop Profiles (fan resource))
- Specific medical reasons behind Dahyun’s 2023 hiatus beyond general health concerns
- SIXTEEN survival show (May 2015) → Debut (Oct 20, 2015) → Mina hiatus (July 2019) → Jeongyeon breaks (2021) → Dahyun hiatus (Sept 2023) → All active (early 2024)
- TWICE continues group activities plus solo projects; lineup remains unchanged for the foreseeable future
Seven core facts about TWICE, one pattern: the group’s identity has stayed remarkably consistent across nearly a decade.
The pattern is clear: the numbers confirm a lineup that has never changed.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Official Name | TWICE ( ) |
| Members | 9 |
| Korean Members | Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Jihyo, Dahyun, Chaeyoung |
| Japanese Members | Momo, Sana, Mina |
| Taiwanese Member | Tzuyu |
| Debut Year | 2015 |
| Company | JYP Entertainment |
Is TWICE 8 or 9 members?
Why some fans mistakenly think 8: confusion often comes from temporary hiatuses. When Mina stepped back in 2019 due to anxiety, or when Dahyun paused activities in 2023, some online posts speculated about permanent departures. The official site, however, has never removed any member from the lineup (TWICE Official Site (JYP Entertainment)).
The official 9-member lineup
- Nayeon (born 1995-09-22) – Korean (TWICE Official Site (JYP Entertainment))
- Jeongyeon (born 1996-11-01) – Korean (TWICE Official Site (JYP Entertainment))
- Momo (born 1996-11-09) – Japanese (TWICE Official Site (JYP Entertainment))
- Sana (born 1996-12-29) – Japanese (TWICE Official Site (JYP Entertainment))
- Jihyo (born 1997-02-01) – Korean (TWICE Official Site (JYP Entertainment))
- Mina (born 1997-03-24) – Japanese (TWICE Official Site (JYP Entertainment))
- Dahyun (born 1998-05-28) – Korean (TWICE Official Site (JYP Entertainment))
- Chaeyoung (born 1999-04-23) – Korean (TWICE Official Site (JYP Entertainment))
- Tzuyu (born 1999-06-14) – Taiwanese (TWICE Official Site (JYP Entertainment))
Why some fans mistakenly think 8
Confusion often comes from temporary hiatuses. When Mina stepped back in 2019 due to anxiety, or when Dahyun paused activities in 2023, some online posts speculated about permanent departures. The official site, however, has never removed any member from the lineup (TWICE Official Site (JYP Entertainment)).
A hiatus is not a departure. TWICE continues as nine because every break has been temporary.
Why this matters: Assuming the group shrank would mean ignoring official records — and missing the fact that all nine members have returned to full schedules after each break.
Why did Mina and Dahyun go on hiatus?
Mina’s hiatus in 2019
In July 2019, JYP Entertainment announced that Mina was experiencing “sudden extreme anxiety and insecurity” and would not participate in the upcoming world tour (Kpop Profiles (fan resource)). She returned to group activities later that year.
Dahyun’s hiatus in 2023
In September 2023, JYP confirmed that Dahyun was taking a break for health reasons. Chaeyoung also reduced her schedule temporarily (Kpop Profiles (fan resource)). By early 2024, both members had resumed full group duties.
Jeongyeon’s past breaks
Jeongyeon took multiple health-related pauses in 2021, including time off for anxiety and a neck injury. She returned to performances by 2022 (Wikipedia (encyclopaedic reference)).
Hiatuses are handled privately by JYP, so fans rarely get full medical details. The pattern: each break has been temporary, and every member has come back.
The trade-off: Transparency about health helps build trust, but it also fuels rumors. The consistent outcome — all nine active — is the only reliable takeaway.
Are all TWICE members Japanese?
Momo, Sana, and Mina are Japanese
- Momo – Japanese (Kpop Wiki (community maintained))
- Sana – Japanese (same source)
- Mina – Japanese (same source)
Tzuyu is the lone Taiwanese member
Tzuyu, born in 1999, is from Taiwan. She is the only member not from Korea or Japan (Kpop Wiki (community maintained)).
The remaining five members are Korean
Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Jihyo, Dahyun, and Chaeyoung are all South Korean (Kpop Wiki (community maintained)).
What this means: TWICE is a multinational group but not majority Japanese. The mix of three nationalities is part of what makes their appeal broad across Asia.
Who is the fake maknae in TWICE?
Tzuyu is the official maknae
The youngest member by birth date (1999-06-14) is Tzuyu, who holds the traditional “maknae” role (TWICE Official Site (JYP Entertainment)).
Momo and Chaeyoung act like maknaes
“Fake maknae” is a K-pop fan term for a non-youngest member who behaves like the youngest. In TWICE, Momo (born 1996) and Chaeyoung (born 1999) are often described this way because of their playful, energetic personalities (Kpop Profiles (fan resource)).
The implication: The term is affectionate, not official. It highlights how group dynamics can blur age-based roles.
Who is the least biased or least liked TWICE member?
Defining bias in K-pop
“Bias” means favorite member. There is no official ranking from JYP or the group itself (Kpop Profiles (fan resource)).
Fan perception data
Online polls and forum discussions show that popularity varies by region and era. No single member consistently ranks lowest across all communities (TWICE Official Site (JYP Entertainment)).
Official group support
Members frequently express mutual support. The group’s official content treats all nine equally, and there is no evidence of internal bias.
Why this matters: Asking who is “least liked” often reflects fan politics, not objective fact. The nine members themselves show no such hierarchy.
Timeline: Key events in TWICE’s journey
- : SIXTEEN survival show begins; nine finalists chosen (Wikipedia (encyclopaedic reference))
- : TWICE debuts with EP The Story Begins (Wikipedia (encyclopaedic reference))
- : Mina goes on hiatus due to anxiety (Kpop Profiles (fan resource))
- : Mina returns to group activities
- : Jeongyeon takes multiple health breaks (Wikipedia (encyclopaedic reference))
- : Dahyun goes on hiatus; Chaeyoung limits activities (Kpop Profiles (fan resource))
- : All members resume full schedule
Clarity: confirmed facts and what remains unclear
Confirmed facts
- TWICE operates with 9 members (TWICE Official Site (JYP Entertainment))
- Mina, Jeongyeon, and Dahyun have taken health-related hiatuses (Kpop Profiles (fan resource))
- Momo, Sana, and Mina are Japanese; Tzuyu is Taiwanese (Kpop Wiki (community maintained))
What’s unclear
- Specific medical reasons for Dahyun’s 2023 hiatus beyond general health concerns
Quotes from the group’s management
Mina has been experiencing sudden extreme anxiety and insecurity, and she has been struggling with it.
— JYP Entertainment statement on Mina’s hiatus, July 2019 (Kpop Profiles (fan resource))
Dahyun will be taking a break to focus on her health, and we ask for fans’ understanding.
— JYP Entertainment statement on Dahyun’s hiatus, September 2023 (Kpop Profiles (fan resource))
Both statements confirm that the hiatuses are temporary and health-related, reinforcing the group’s consistent 9-member status.
Related reading: TWICE members complete list 2025 names ages nationalities · Twice Members
youtube.com, scribd.com, escapistmagazine.com, youtube.com, en.wikipedia.org, jyp-nation.fandom.com, nolae.eu, youtube.com, famousbirthdays.com, irelandpress.net
Frequently asked questions
How many members does TWICE have?
TWICE has nine members: Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu (TWICE Official Site (JYP Entertainment)).
What are the names of all TWICE members?
Nayeon (1995), Jeongyeon (1996), Momo (1996), Sana (1996), Jihyo (1997), Mina (1997), Dahyun (1998), Chaeyoung (1999), Tzuyu (1999).
Which TWICE members are Japanese?
Momo, Sana, and Mina are Japanese (Kpop Wiki (community maintained)).
Did Mina permanently leave TWICE?
No. Mina took a break in 2019 due to anxiety but returned by the end of that year (Kpop Profiles (fan resource)).
Did Dahyun leave TWICE?
No. Dahyun paused activities in September 2023 for health reasons and resumed full schedules in early 2024 (Kpop Profiles (fan resource)).
What is the ‘fake maknae’ in TWICE?
It refers to Momo and Chaeyoung, who act playful like the youngest member Tzuyu, even though they are older (Kpop Profiles (fan resource)).
Who is the oldest TWICE member?
Nayeon, born September 22, 1995, is the oldest (TWICE Official Site (JYP Entertainment)).
George Thompson is Senior Reporter at UrbanMixr.uk, covering breaking culture, lifestyle and general news stories across the UK.