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TWICE’s Jeongyeon has dealt with a string of publicized health struggles since 2020, starting with a herniated neck disc, followed by a mental health hiatus for panic and anxiety disorder in 2021, steroid-related weight fluctuations, and a brief withdrawal from a 2025 tour stop in the Philippines. As of mid-2026, Jeongyeon is back at full strength, performing every date of TWICE’s “THIS IS FOR” world tour and drawing praise for her visibly healthier appearance.
Few K-pop idols have been as open about their health struggles, on their own terms and through their agency’s statements, as Jeongyeon of TWICE. Since 2020, fans have periodically searched “what happened to Jeongyeon” whenever the lead vocalist stepped back from promotions, appeared with a changed physique, or resurfaced looking noticeably different. Each time, the answer has traced back to a mix of physical injury, hormonal treatment side effects, and mental health conditions that she has never hidden from the public.
This article lays out, in order, every documented health event, hiatus, and comeback in Jeongyeon’s career, explains the medical and personal context behind each one, and brings the story up to date with her current status on TWICE’s 2026 world tour.
Who Is Jeongyeon?
Jeongyeon, born Yoo Jeong-yeon on November 1, 1996, in Suwon, South Korea, is the lead vocalist of TWICE, one of the best-selling girl groups to come out of JYP Entertainment. She was originally given the birth name Yoo Kyung-wan but legally changed it in third grade after classmates teased her for having a name that sounded masculine.
She joined JYP Entertainment as a trainee in 2010 after passing the company’s sixth open audition, then spent five years training before earning her spot in TWICE through the 2015 survival show “Sixteen.” She debuted with the group later that year with the EP “The Story Begins” and its lead single “Like Ooh-Ahh.”
Beyond her vocals, Jeongyeon is known for co-writing several TWICE tracks, her dry sense of humor on variety shows, and her close friendship with fellow member Nayeon — a bond fans nicknamed “2Yeon.” She has an older sister, actress Gong Seung-yeon, and comes from a family where her father worked as a professional chef, including a stint cooking for a former South Korean president.
Understanding who Jeongyeon is matters here because her health journey has unfolded almost entirely in public, tied directly to TWICE’s grueling comeback and touring schedule — which is why searches for “what happened to Jeongyeon” tend to spike around specific group activities rather than random moments.
The 2020 Herniated Disc That Started It All
The first widely reported health issue traces back to 2020, during rehearsals for TWICE’s “MORE & MORE” promotions. Jeongyeon developed a herniated disc in her neck, a painful spinal condition that made it difficult for her to continue rehearsing and performing at full intensity.
She continued receiving treatment while TWICE moved forward with promotions, but the injury turned out to be the first domino in a longer chain of health setbacks. Neck and spine injuries are common among idols who perform intense, repetitive choreography for years, and Jeongyeon’s case was compounded later that year by a second, more serious issue.
Why This Mattered
A herniated disc alone would not typically require a full hiatus, but the treatment for it — which reportedly included steroid injections — is now understood by fans and outlets to be connected to the weight and appearance changes Jeongyeon experienced in the years that followed. This detail is important context for later sections of this article, since much of the “what happened to her face/body” search interest around Jeongyeon originates from steroid side effects rather than lifestyle choices.
The 2021 Anxiety and Panic Disorder Hiatus
In October 2020, shortly after the release of TWICE’s second studio album “Eyes Wide Open,” JYP Entertainment announced that Jeongyeon would sit out promotions due to what the agency described as “psychological anxiousness.” This made her the second TWICE member, after Mina, to step back from group activities for mental health reasons within roughly a year.
Jeongyeon made a surprise return in January 2021, performing with the full lineup at the Seoul Music Awards. However, her health issues were not fully resolved. On August 18, 2021, JYP Entertainment issued a more serious statement: Jeongyeon would indefinitely withdraw from TWICE’s promotions after being diagnosed with anxiety and panic disorders.
This announcement came as TWICE was actively promoting “I Can’t Stop Me” and preparing for further releases, and it drew an outpouring of support from fans (known as ONCE) who praised both Jeongyeon and JYP Entertainment for treating her mental health as seriously as a physical injury.
The Difference Between the 2020 and 2021 Breaks
- October 2020 break: Framed around general “psychological anxiousness,” shorter in duration, ended with her Seoul Music Awards return in January 2021.
- August 2021 break: A formal, indefinite hiatus following a clinical diagnosis of panic and anxiety disorders — a more serious and longer episode that kept her out of most of TWICE’s late-2021 activities, though she still contributed vocals to the track “Scientist” that November without performing it live at the group’s “III” World Tour dates in Seoul that December.
Her Return to TWICE in 2022
Jeongyeon resumed activities with TWICE in June 2022, following months of treatment and recovery. Her comeback was closely watched by fans, and she later spoke publicly about how performing again felt “natural,” describing her time on stage during her comeback promotions for the track “Alcohol-Free.”
Her return was not entirely smooth, however. Roughly two months after resuming activities, she reportedly took another short break, attributed at the time to side effects from steroid treatment combined with recurring panic attack symptoms — evidence that her physical and mental health issues were interconnected rather than separate problems.
This pattern — recovery, relapse, and gradual re-stabilization — became the throughline of Jeongyeon’s health story for the next several years, and it’s the main reason fans continued to ask “what happened to Jeongyeon” well into 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Steroid Treatment and Weight Gain: What Fans Noticed
One of the most searched aspects of Jeongyeon’s story is her changing physical appearance, particularly noticeable weight gain that fans first flagged heavily around 2020 and that periodically resurfaced in photos through 2025.
According to multiple South Korean entertainment outlets, this weight gain has been linked to steroid use prescribed for her cervical disc treatment rather than any lifestyle factor. Long-term steroid use is medically well documented to cause weight gain, fluid retention, and changes in facial and body appearance — effects that can look dramatic in before-and-after photos even when the underlying cause is a legitimate medical treatment.
It’s worth being direct about why this matters for how the public discussed her: Jeongyeon’s changing appearance became a recurring subject of online commentary, some of it unkind, despite the medical explanation being publicly available. Entertainment reporters and fans alike have since made a point of contextualizing her appearance changes as the visible result of treatment and recovery, not a decline in her health or effort.
The 2025 Bulacan Withdrawal
In October 2025, during TWICE’s sixth world tour, Jeongyeon unexpectedly withdrew from a scheduled stop in Bulacan, Philippines. JYP Entertainment confirmed her absence just two days before the show, citing health concerns, and initially could not confirm whether she would be able to perform at the following stops in Singapore and Malaysia.
At the time, Jeongyeon had already performed in Macao on September 27 and 28 and had been active across the tour’s earlier legs, including four Japanese cities, since it began in Seoul that July. Her sudden absence a week after the Macao shows raised fresh concern among fans, given her history of health-related pauses.
JYP Entertainment’s statement described the decision as one made “with the artist’s health and recovery as our top priority,” language that echoed the agency’s previous announcements about her 2020 and 2021 breaks.
Cushing’s Syndrome Diagnosis: What She Revealed
In a notable on-air moment in 2026, Jeongyeon addressed her health struggles directly, telling viewers she had gone to the hospital — after being encouraged by her sister — and was diagnosed with Cushing’s syndrome, a hormonal disorder caused by prolonged exposure to high levels of the hormone cortisol. It’s a condition that can result from long-term steroid use, which lines up with the steroid treatment she had received for her neck injury years earlier.
She said she was “very grateful that the treatment went well” and that she had become healthy again, according to a report from The Korea Times. This was the clearest, most direct public explanation Jeongyeon has given connecting her earlier steroid treatment to the physical changes and health instability she experienced over several years.
Why the Cushing’s Syndrome Reveal Matters
This disclosure retroactively explained years of speculation. Fans and tabloid-style outlets had long speculated about her weight changes without a confirmed medical cause; Jeongyeon’s own on-air statement gave the story a concrete, verifiable answer rather than leaving it to guesswork. It also reframed her 2025 tour withdrawal and 2026 recovery arc as part of a continuous, legitimate medical journey rather than a series of unrelated incidents.
Jeongyeon in 2026: Recovery, Weight Loss and the “THIS IS FOR” World Tour
By early-to-mid 2026, the tone of coverage around Jeongyeon shifted sharply from concern to celebration. Fans and Korean entertainment press began highlighting her “prime visuals” returning, with several outlets noting she looked closer to her debut-era appearance following continuous treatment and exercise.
Key 2026 milestones include:
- February 2026: Photos from a “TWICE with Jimmy Fallon” outing showed a slimmer, refreshed Jeongyeon, sparking online discussion about her “recovery journey.”
- April 2026: Fans reacted to an airport appearance and a concert video, both showing continued weight loss and what outlets described as a more “balanced” silhouette following her past steroid-related body changes.
- Throughout 2026: Jeongyeon has performed on every North American date of TWICE’s “THIS IS FOR” World Tour, including stops in Vancouver, Seattle, Los Angeles (Kia Forum), and a three-night run at UBS Arena in New York, without any modification to her role in the group’s 30-plus song setlist.
- Solo stage: She performs “Fix a Drink,” a country-inspired solo track from TWICE’s 2025 album “Ten: The Story Goes On,” in a cowgirl-themed outfit that has become a standout moment of the tour for fans.
The production itself is demanding — a 360-degree rotating stage built by Moment Factory, rising platforms, a live band, and choreography across four full acts — and Jeongyeon’s consistent presence throughout has been treated by fans and press as tangible proof of how far her recovery has come since the uncertainty of 2025.
Her Personal Life Amid the Health Journey
Jeongyeon’s personal life has stayed notably private and, by her own repeated public statements, uncomplicated by romantic relationships. She has said on multiple broadcast appearances that her only relationship took place in middle school, and JYP Entertainment has never acknowledged a romantic partner for her at any point since her 2015 debut.
This is sometimes framed by fans as one of the more stable parts of her story: unlike her health journey, her personal life has not been a source of scandal or major public upheaval. Her closest publicized relationship remains her long friendship with groupmate Nayeon, often referred to by the fan-created nickname “2Yeon,” which is a friendship dynamic rather than a romantic pairing.
Career Beyond Health Struggles: Acting Debut and Solo Stages
Jeongyeon’s 2026 story is not only about physical recovery — it also marks a genuine career expansion. In July 2025, it was announced that she would make her acting debut in the film “Recruits: The Movie,” making her the second TWICE member to move into acting after fellow member Dahyun.
In June 2026, reports surfaced that Jeongyeon was in talks with Varo Entertainment — the agency representing actor Byeon Woo-seok and her own sister, actress Gong Seung-yeon — about potential acting representation, as TWICE’s contract renewal cycle with JYP Entertainment continued in parallel. As of that report, no exclusive contract had been finalized, and any acting deal would likely run alongside, not instead of, her continuing role in TWICE.
This career diversification is a meaningful data point for anyone tracking “what happened to Jeongyeon”: rather than her health issues sidelining her long-term prospects, she has used her recovery period to expand beyond music into acting, while continuing to perform as TWICE’s lead vocalist on a global tour.
Jeongyeon Health Timeline (Quick Reference Table)
| Year | Event | Outcome |
| 2020 | Herniated disc in neck during “MORE & MORE” rehearsals | Continued treatment while promoting |
| Oct 2020 | First break for “psychological anxiousness” | Missed part of “Eyes Wide Open” promotions |
| Jan 2021 | Surprise return | Performed at Seoul Music Awards |
| Aug 2021 | Diagnosed with anxiety and panic disorders | Indefinite hiatus announced by JYP |
| Nov 2021 | Contributed vocals to “Scientist” | Did not perform live at “III” World Tour Seoul dates |
| Jun 2022 | Returned to full group activities | Comeback with “Alcohol-Free” |
| ~Aug 2022 | Short additional break | Attributed to steroid side effects and recurring symptoms |
| 2020–2025 | Periodic weight gain noted by fans | Linked to long-term steroid treatment |
| Oct 2025 | Withdrew from Bulacan tour stop | Health cited; uncertainty over Singapore/Malaysia dates |
| Early 2026 | Public Cushing’s syndrome disclosure | Confirmed successful treatment |
| Feb–Apr 2026 | Visible weight loss, “prime visuals” praised | Continued treatment and exercise |
| 2026 | Full participation in “THIS IS FOR” World Tour | Performed every North American date |
| Jun 2026 | Reported talks with Varo Entertainment | Exploring acting representation |
Note: Some dates and figures in this timeline are drawn from entertainment press and fan-verified reports rather than official JYP Entertainment statements; where a claim comes directly from Jeongyeon or her agency, it is identified as such in the text above.
FAQs
What happened to Jeongyeon’s health? Jeongyeon has dealt with a herniated neck disc (2020), a diagnosed anxiety and panic disorder that led to an indefinite hiatus (2021), steroid-related weight fluctuations tied to her treatment, and a 2026 on-air disclosure that she had been diagnosed with and successfully treated for Cushing’s syndrome.
Is Jeongyeon still in TWICE? Yes. As of 2026, Jeongyeon remains an active member of TWICE and is performing on every date of the group’s “THIS IS FOR” World Tour, including a full solo stage segment.
Why did Jeongyeon gain weight? Multiple South Korean outlets attribute her weight changes to long-term steroid treatment originally prescribed for her herniated cervical disc, later connected to a Cushing’s syndrome diagnosis she disclosed publicly in 2026.
Did Jeongyeon leave TWICE permanently? No. Every hiatus in her career — 2020, 2021, and the 2025 Bulacan withdrawal — has been temporary, tied to specific health treatment periods, and she has returned to full group activity each time.
Is Jeongyeon dating anyone? As of 2026, there is no confirmed relationship. Jeongyeon has stated publicly that her only past relationship was in middle school, and JYP Entertainment has never acknowledged a partner for her.
What is Jeongyeon doing outside of TWICE? She is set to make her acting debut in “Recruits: The Movie” and was reported in June 2026 to be in talks with Varo Entertainment, the agency representing her sister Gong Seung-yeon, about future acting work.
Conclusion
Jeongyeon’s story is ultimately one of a public health journey that unfolded over several years, in full view of a global fanbase, rather than a single dramatic event. What began as a herniated disc in 2020 evolved into a diagnosed anxiety and panic disorder, then years of steroid-related physical changes, and finally a clear medical explanation in 2026 with her Cushing’s syndrome disclosure.
Each hiatus was temporary, each return was deliberate, and by mid-2026 she is performing at full capacity on a demanding world tour while also stepping into acting for the first time. For fans who have followed the “what happened to Jeongyeon” question across years of headlines, the current answer is straightforward: she got the treatment she needed, and she’s back.