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TWICE member Tzuyu not Taiwanese independence activist, JYP says

January 14, 2016
Tzuyu of the K-pop girl group TWICE. (Photo courtesy of JYP Entertainment) (Yonhap)

Tzuyu of the K-pop girl group TWICE. (Photo courtesy of JYP Entertainment) (Yonhap)

SEOUL (Yonhap) — Tzuyu of the multinational K-pop girl group TWICE doesn’t necessarily endorse Taiwan’s independence from mainland China, her agency reiterated Friday after the 16-year-old waved the Taiwanese national flag in an online broadcast last month.

The Taiwanese native waved the flag of the Republic of China in an online-exclusive portion of “My Little Television,” an MBC variety show.

The Republic of China is the government of Taiwan, but Beijing believes the island should be part of the People’s Republic of China, which governs mainland China.

“Tzuyu understands and respects the One-China policy,” JYP Entertainment said in a statement. “Tzuyu has an inseparable relationship with Taiwan, which is where she’s from, but not all Taiwanese people are independence activists.”

Tzuyu had never made political remarks on the issue and rumors that she supports Taiwanese independence are not true, the agency also said, adding JYP respects the One-China policy and doesn’t accept anyone or any situation that harms the relationship between South Korea and China within the agency.

The One-China policy is a view that there is only one country called China despite the existence of two governments.

JYP also apologized for “mismanaging” artists and vowed to prevent similar situations.

The controversy was brought forward by Taiwanese singer Michael Huang, who is known for his anti-independence views.

JYP announced a day earlier that it will suspend Tzuyu’s activities in China for the time being.

20 Comments

  1. Austin

    January 15, 2016 at 11:21 AM

    Are you FxxKing serious!!!!
    how could a company instead of protect their own employee…. decide to kiss chinese butt!? plus, its still not gonna help for your album sales~~ they still download online anyway!!!
    do you even realized you are losing fans from Taiwan and still not getting new fans in china? terrible move… you need to use you brain before you do something man

    Reply

    • craig

      January 16, 2016 at 12:55 AM

      If JYP does not do it, all other artists under JYP inc will also be banned in China, do you think you are a smarter man?

    • Austin

      January 16, 2016 at 5:55 AM

      Wrong statement… They could perform without her… That was the original deal…
      Plus… Ppl in China who like jyp’s artist are still gonna like them no matter what…But what jyp have done today… Only lose fans not gain…just go look at jyp’s stock if you know how…
      Jyp’s decision only make them looks bad… Make them looks like they are the company only see the money. For big picture wise… Very stupid move.

    • sic

      January 17, 2016 at 12:26 AM

      The decision maker of JYP completely don’t understanding the internet cultural of China. They said that boycott LG, however they are using 小米. They can do nothing and will do nothing. They just a keyboard hero.

  2. Gary

    January 15, 2016 at 3:06 PM

    This is too ridiculous! I think from now on I will tell everyone in the world that actually south korea is part of China. south korea is actually “Koread, Province of China”. How about that?

    Reply

    • Julie

      January 16, 2016 at 2:21 AM

      It’s disgusting me how you’re grouping entire Korea just because of JYP’s decisions. How are you different from racists who judge an entire race because of actions done by few people of the same race? Have you seen Korean sites like naver or daum whose Twice fans are in uproar, defending Tzuyu and accusing Huang and Maritel for using a minor for their own selfish reasons? If you don’t know what it’s like to be a Korean, and how Korean fans are feeling regarding this whole issue, then keep your ignorant comments to yourself, because it’s highly offensive.

      How would you like it if I said your country is racist and full of only fat, disgusting white supremicsts?

  3. lucy

    January 15, 2016 at 8:18 PM

    Wel, this is a total PR failure. Totally. She could have chosen to quit her career at JYP but she couldn’t. JYP could have chosen to protect her and not to receive ￥￥￥but it couldn’t. So, no one to blame. End of the story.

    Reply

    • Kim

      January 15, 2016 at 9:16 PM

      Are you srs?You make no sense. she couldn’t quit her career, shes only 16 and she made it THIS far; and she loves what she is doing. And JYP forced her to just admit taiwan is part of China, for money, some real BS on that. What JYP should have done is to protect their employees, but unfortunately money is more important for them. Shame on them.

    • Austin

      January 16, 2016 at 9:52 AM

      not exactly, she has contract problem, what she can do now is sue that damn company and leave without break the contract.

    • lol

      January 16, 2016 at 4:25 PM

      suing the company would make the company end her contract bruh

  4. Sarah

    January 15, 2016 at 9:21 PM

    Agreed Kim. JYP is not only insulting her nationality but her parents… Taiwan and Hong kong and people who has brains would suspend JYP. Lucy I believe that Kim is right, she did make a big career in Korea, and she can’t just simply quit. Jyp without hesitation is the one to blame here. #ImwithTzuyu #shameonjyp

    Reply

  5. Jenna

    January 15, 2016 at 9:25 PM

    Don’t forget An Huang!!! and yes shame on jyp for forcing her

    Reply

  6. VPJ

    January 15, 2016 at 10:00 PM

    A Politically Incorrect Statement —
    Mute the JPY Youtube footage and you’d see a teen girl hostage reading ransom note. The company delivers such a message that it depends on a 16-year-old’s apology to salvage a corporate crisis, PR debacle, failed crisis consultant, wrong channel of communication, and the consequent share price collapse. The president of the agency further insults 23 million people in Taiwan and the young talent’s parents. JPY Entertainment achieves nothing but paints itself as IS of the entertainment world and the teen girl now held hostage. What about performing arts being an expression of freedom? The teen is holding her national flag because she’s proud of her hometown and misses her family. The footage does unite the island country as one, thanks to JPY Entertainment. 23 million Taiwanese people are here for her. Now, we need to rescue our baby girl from your cruelty, NAME YOUR PRICE!

    Reply

    • Dee

      January 16, 2016 at 7:04 AM

      Thanks JYP and Huang An. You guys just intervened into Taiwanese politics and probably helped pissed off China even more. Congrats!

  7. Pheobe

    January 15, 2016 at 11:26 PM

    Yeah she waved the republic of china flag and then when the media confronted her why she would wave it at such a time like this (election period in taiwan) she responded extremely strongly that she is taiwanese and not chinese- which is a sensitive topic in china. She can have her own views, but she can’t do this and also expect for chinese people to keep feeding this arttist money, esp using her status and making propaganda at this time.

    Well i guess she can always go back to taiwan if it doesnt go well. I’m sure the tawainese market would take her in.

    Reply

    • Dee

      January 16, 2016 at 7:07 AM

      She’s 16. What do you expect? She’s in Korea for years and was not involved in politics before. It’s the bloody Mainland Chinese with their fragile hearts and pretentious attitudes, who thinks they can lord over everyone.

    • stella

      January 17, 2016 at 3:09 PM

      Pheobe, just to clarify – what is your source that “she responded extremely strongly that she is taiwanese and not chinese”??? As far as i can tell from all the shows that she appeared, she had never ever made any comments about “taiwanese vs chinese”.

  8. vincent

    January 16, 2016 at 2:32 AM

    this is outright CHILD ABUSE, forcing a 16 year old to apologize in public reading a statement. what a stupid company JYP. Lets support Tzuyu to go solo and BAN JYP !!

    Reply

  9. Blahblah

    January 16, 2016 at 7:54 AM

    I support North Korea using nuclear power to threat South Korea to united with them!!

    Reply

    • lol

      January 16, 2016 at 9:21 AM

      lol stfu