Twice: The Story of K-Pop's Biggest Girl Group
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Twice are the biggest girl group in K-pop, and they earned that title the slow way: one hit at a time, one year at a time, until there was no one left to argue with. They did not arrive with a single viral moment that changed everything. They arrived with a run of songs so catchy, so bright and so perfectly performed that South Korea fell in love with them first, then Japan, then the rest of the world. By the time the rest of the world caught up, Twice had already spent years becoming the most successful girl group of their generation.
The group was formed through a survival show called Sixteen, in which sixteen trainees competed for a place in a new girl group at JYP Entertainment. The show was emotional, competitive and widely watched, and the nine members who were chosen became Twice. Their debut in 2015 was modest, but within a year they had released “Cheer Up”, a song that became a national hit in South Korea and made them stars. From there, they barely stopped. Hit followed hit, album followed album, and their fan base, known as ONCE, grew into one of the largest in K-pop.
What makes Twice’s story interesting is not only the scale of their success but the way they changed. They began as a bright, cheerful group with a cute concept, and over time they grew into mature artists who write their own music, perform in stadiums, and sing in Korean, Japanese and English. Their story is about longevity in an industry that usually moves on quickly, and about nine women who grew up together in public and stayed together when many groups would have fallen apart.
Sixteen and the Birth of Twice
Twice began with Sixteen, a survival show that aired in South Korea in 2015. Sixteen trainees from JYP Entertainment competed for a place in the company’s new girl group, and the show was designed to test their singing, dancing and stage presence. The format was tough: trainees were divided into groups, performed against each other, and faced elimination each week. The audience watched them cry, improve and compete, and the show became a hit in its own right.
The final line-up was announced at the end of the show, and it included a surprise. Seven members were chosen by the judges, and two more, Tzuyu and Momo, were added by the company and by audience vote. The nine members were Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung and Tzuyu, a mix of Korean, Japanese and Taiwanese members that gave the group an international character from the start. Jihyo, who had trained at JYP for ten years, became the leader.
The group’s name, Twice, was chosen by JYP Entertainment founder Park Jin-young, with the idea that the group would touch people’s hearts twice: once through their eyes and once through their ears. It was a fitting name for a group whose appeal was always both visual and musical. They debuted in October 2015 with the EP The Story Begins and its lead single “Like Ooh-Ahh”, a bright, energetic song that introduced their cheerful style. The debut was successful, but it was only the beginning of what was to come.
Cheer Up and the Rise to the Top
The song that changed everything for Twice was “Cheer Up”, released in April 2016. The track was catchy, colourful and instantly memorable, and its music video, which featured the members dressed as famous movie characters, became a sensation. The song won Song of the Year at major Korean music awards, and its cheerful energy made Twice the most popular girl group in South Korea. The line “Shy shy shy”, sung by Sana, became a catchphrase, and the group’s bright image was suddenly everywhere: on television, in advertisements and on the streets.
What followed was one of the most successful runs in K-pop history. “TT” arrived later in 2016, with a Halloween-themed video and a dance that became famous across Asia. “Knock Knock” and “Signal” followed in 2017, and then “Likey”, “Heart Shaker” and “What Is Love?” kept the hits coming. Each song had a distinct concept, a memorable chorus and a dance that fans could learn, and each one topped the charts. Twice were releasing music at a pace that few groups could match, and they were doing it without losing quality.
Their success was not limited to Korea. In Japan, where three of the members are from, Twice became enormously popular, and their Japanese releases sold in huge numbers. They held concerts in Japan’s biggest venues, including the Tokyo Dome, and their Japanese albums topped the charts. The group’s international character, with members from three countries, made them feel accessible to fans across Asia, and their bright, friendly image travelled well. By 2018 they were not just a Korean group. They were an Asian phenomenon.
The Sound, the Image and the ONCE Fan Base
Twice’s early sound was defined by bright, catchy pop, with songs built around memorable hooks and cheerful energy. Their music was designed to make people smile, and it worked. Songs such as “Cheer Up”, “TT” and “Dance the Night Away” were pure pop, with colourful videos and joyful choreography. The group’s image matched the sound: they were friendly, funny and approachable, and their variety show appearances and online content showed nine young women who genuinely enjoyed each other’s company.
The fan base, ONCE, grew quickly and became one of the most organised in K-pop. The name comes from the idea that if fans love Twice once, the group will repay that love twice. ONCE were known for their loyalty, their streaming power and their presence at concerts, and they played a large part in the group’s chart success. The group’s light stick, a lollipop-shaped light called the Candybong, became a familiar sight at concerts, and the sight of thousands of them glowing in an arena became a symbol of the group’s success.
As the group matured, their sound began to change. Songs such as “Fancy”, released in 2019, had a more sophisticated, mature feel, with a darker concept and a more complex sound. “Feel Special”, released later that year, was a personal song about the members’ friendship and the support they gave each other, and it became one of their most loved tracks. The change was gradual and natural, reflecting the fact that the members were growing up. They were no longer teenagers singing about first love. They were young women singing about friendship, confidence and identity.
Challenges, Health and Staying Together
Twice’s rise was not without difficulties. The pace of their work was intense, with multiple comebacks a year, tours, fan meetings and Japanese releases, and the schedule took a toll. In 2019, member Mina took a break from activities to focus on her mental health, after experiencing anxiety on stage. The announcement was a rare moment of honesty in an industry that often hides such struggles, and it was met with support from fans and from the group. Mina returned to activities gradually, and her return was celebrated by ONCE around the world.
Other members also faced health challenges, and the group has spoken openly about the pressure of their schedule. In 2020, Jeongyeon took breaks to focus on her health, including a neck injury and anxiety, and the group continued as eight members during her absences. These moments showed a different side of Twice: not just a polished performance group, but nine people dealing with real pressures, and a company and a fan base that were willing to give them time to recover.
The most important test of the group’s unity came in 2022, when their original contracts were due for renewal. In K-pop, the seven-year contract renewal is often the moment when groups lose members or break up entirely. Twice surprised the industry by renewing all nine members’ contracts together, a rare result that showed how committed they were to each other. The renewal was celebrated by fans as proof that the group was not finished, and it set up the next chapter of their career.
Going Global: America, Stadiums and English Songs
After renewing their contracts, Twice turned their attention to the global market. They had already toured internationally, but their English-language releases marked a new phase. “The Feels”, released in 2021, was their first English single, and it became a hit on international charts, introducing them to audiences who had not followed K-pop before. The song’s bright, disco-influenced sound was a natural fit for the group, and its success showed that their appeal was not limited to Korean-language music.
Their tours grew larger. The III world tour took them to arenas in the United States, and the Ready to Be tour, which began in 2023, took them to stadiums, including shows in Los Angeles, New York and other major cities. They became the first K-pop girl group to perform at several major stadiums, and their concerts drew tens of thousands of fans. The scale of the tours showed how far they had come from their debut in a small Seoul venue, and how global their audience had become.
They also continued to release music in Korean and Japanese, balancing their global ambitions with the markets that had made them stars. Albums such as Between 1&2 and Ready to Be topped charts in Korea and the United States, and their music videos continued to draw hundreds of millions of views. The group that had once been known only in Asia was now a global act, and they had done it without losing the identity that made them famous.
Twice Today and Their Place in K-pop History
Today Twice are one of the most successful girl groups in the history of K-pop. They have sold millions of albums, topped charts in Korea, Japan and the United States, and performed in stadiums around the world. They have won dozens of awards, including Song of the Year and Album of the Year at Korean ceremonies, and they have been named among the most influential groups in the genre. Their longevity is remarkable in an industry where girl groups often last only a few years, and their ability to renew all nine contracts and keep growing is almost unheard of.
Their influence goes beyond their own success. They helped define the sound and style of K-pop’s third generation, and they paved the way for the girl groups that followed. Their bright, catchy pop, their memorable choreography and their close relationship with fans became a model that other groups studied. They also showed that a girl group could be successful in Korea, Japan and the West at the same time, and that a group with members from different countries could feel like a single, united team.
The members have also grown as individuals. Several have released solo work, including Nayeon, Jihyo and Tzuyu, and others have explored acting, fashion and television. But the group remains the centre of their careers, and their concerts still draw the biggest crowds of their lives. As they enter their second decade, the most interesting question about Twice is not whether they will continue, but how they will continue to grow, and what the next chapter of the biggest girl group in K-pop will look like.
Twice in Japan and the Power of Three Markets
One of the smartest parts of Twice’s career is how they built success in three markets at once: Korea, Japan and, later, the English-speaking world. The Japanese market was especially important, because three of the members are Japanese, and the group treated Japan as a second home rather than a side project. They released original Japanese songs, held fan meetings and concerts in Japan’s biggest venues, and learned to connect with Japanese audiences in their own language. That respect for the audience paid off: their Japanese releases sold in huge numbers, and they became one of the best-selling foreign acts in Japan.
The group’s Japanese success also showed how K-pop was changing. In earlier years, Korean groups often treated Japan as a market to visit occasionally, releasing translated versions of Korean songs. Twice went further, building a genuine Japanese career with its own releases, tours and fan base. Their Japanese albums, including BDZ and Celebrate, topped the charts, and their concerts in the Tokyo Dome, one of Japan’s most famous venues, were milestones that few foreign acts achieve. The Tokyo Dome shows were especially meaningful for the Japanese members, who were performing in the biggest venue in their home country.
The third market, the English-speaking world, came later and more slowly, but the group approached it with the same patience. Instead of rushing to America, they built their Korean and Japanese careers first, and only then released English music and toured stadiums in the United States. That patience is a lesson in itself. Many groups chase the American market too early and lose the audience they already have. Twice waited until they were ready, and when they arrived, they arrived as a group that had already proved itself in two of the biggest music markets in the world.
My Take:
I think Twice are the best example in K-pop of what happens when a group gets the basics right and then refuses to stop improving. Their early songs were not complicated, and that was the point. “Cheer Up” and “TT” were pure, joyful pop, and they worked because they were perfectly made: a catchy chorus, a memorable dance, a colourful video, and nine performers who looked like they were having fun. I have seen many groups try to be clever or dark or edgy, and Twice proved that being bright and cheerful, done well, is just as hard and just as valuable. There is a skill in making people smile, and Twice have it.
What I admire most is their longevity, because K-pop is not kind to girl groups that last. The industry moves fast, new groups debut every year, and the pressure to stay relevant is enormous. Twice survived all of it, and they did it by changing slowly and naturally. They did not suddenly reinvent themselves overnight. They grew from a cute concept to a mature one, from Korean songs to Japanese songs to English songs, from small venues to stadiums, and each step felt like a natural part of growing up. That kind of steady growth is much harder than a single viral moment, and it deserves more respect than it usually gets.
The contract renewal in 2022 is the moment I respect most, because it is so rare. In K-pop, the seven-year mark is where groups break apart, and everyone expected Twice to lose at least one member. Instead, all nine stayed. That tells me something important about the group: that they genuinely like each other, that they trust their company, and that they believe their best work is still ahead of them. I do not know what the negotiations were like, and I do not need to know. The result speaks for itself. Nine people chose to keep working together, and that choice is the foundation of everything that has come since.
I also think Mina’s break and the group’s response to it was an important moment, not just for Twice but for K-pop. When a popular idol steps back for mental health reasons, it sends a message to millions of fans that it is okay to do the same. The group’s support for her, and the fans’ support, showed a kinder side of the industry than we usually see. I wish every group handled health breaks with the same care, because the pressure on idols is real, and the fact that Twice made space for recovery without punishing the member who needed it says a lot about who they are.
My honest opinion is that Twice are underrated by people who only look at their early image and never listen to their later work. Songs such as “Fancy”, “Feel Special” and “The Feels” show a group with range, maturity and emotional depth, and their stadium concerts show performers who can hold a crowd of fifty thousand people. I think history will be kinder to them than some critics are now, because history remembers the groups that lasted, and Twice have lasted longer than almost anyone expected. They are not a moment. They are an era.
I also want to say something about the fans, because ONCE are a large part of why Twice are still here. The group’s relationship with their fans has always been warm and direct, and the fans have repaid that warmth with loyalty that has lasted a decade. When I see a stadium full of Candybongs, I do not just see a successful concert. I see ten years of trust between a group and an audience, and that trust is the most valuable thing any artist can build. It cannot be bought, and it cannot be faked. It has to be earned, one song and one show at a time.
Finally, I think Twice’s story is a hopeful one for anyone who works in a fast-moving industry. It shows that you do not need a single viral moment to succeed, and you do not need to reinvent yourself every year to stay relevant. You need good work, good people around you, and the patience to keep improving. Twice had all three, and that is why they are still the biggest girl group in K-pop after a decade. I do not know what their next ten years will bring, but I am confident of one thing: they will face it together, and they will do it with the same brightness and professionalism that made them stars in the first place.
I also think the Japanese side of their career deserves more attention than it usually gets, because it shows a kind of respect that is rare in pop music. Twice did not treat Japan as an afterthought. They learned the language, released original Japanese music and performed in the biggest venues in the country. That effort mattered to Japanese fans, and it mattered to the Japanese members, who could perform at home as stars rather than as guests. It is a reminder that global success is not about translating one song into another language. It is about showing up, learning the culture and treating each audience as if it matters.
One more thing I notice about Twice is how well they handle being a group of nine, because nine people is a lot of personalities, opinions and ambitions to keep together. Most groups of that size eventually split into factions or lose members, but Twice have stayed united, and their performances still look like nine people who enjoy working together. That unity is not an accident. It comes from years of shared experience, from the survival show to the stadium tours, and from a leadership style that keeps the group together rather than pushing one member forward. I think that unity is the quiet secret of their success, and it is the reason I believe they will keep going.
That is why I will keep following them: not just for the next hit, but because a group that grows together, treats its fans with respect and keeps improving after a decade is exactly the kind of group pop music needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the members of Twice?
Twice has nine members: Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung and Tzuyu. Jihyo is the leader. Three members are Japanese and one is Taiwanese.
What was Twice’s breakthrough song?
“Cheer Up”, released in 2016, was their breakthrough hit. It won Song of the Year at Korean music awards and made them the most popular girl group in South Korea.
What is the Twice fan base called?
Their fans are called ONCE, based on the idea that if fans love Twice once, the group will repay that love twice.
Did all Twice members renew their contracts?
Yes. In 2022 all nine members renewed their contracts with JYP Entertainment, a rare result for a K-pop group at the seven-year mark.
What is Twice’s first English song?
“The Feels”, released in 2021, was their first English-language single and became a hit on international charts.
Have Twice performed in stadiums?
Yes. Their Ready to Be world tour included stadium shows in the United States and other countries, making them one of the first K-pop girl groups to headline stadiums.
