It’s been a long time coming and it’s finally here: TWICE members can now officially start dating!
TWICE is a 9 member-girl group and is one of South Korea’s most popular KPOP idol group. TWICE debuted in 2015 with EP: The Story Begins and the single “Like Ooh-Ahh”. The group got a quick surge in popularity after they released “TT” in October 2016. As of October 2018, “TT” remains to be the TWICE’s most viewed video with 408 million views.
Followers of the group would also add that the group’s popularity was also helped by the members’ distinct and playful personalities:
TWICE’S DATING BAN IS OVER CAN SANAYEON COME OUT NOW pic.twitter.com/NyQcFfU6Du
— ashley (@sanayeonvevo) October 19, 2018
nayeon imitating her plushie’s face 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/ud6PdisXRG
— nayeon loops (@inyloop) October 23, 2018
— mina pics (@minapics) October 20, 2018
In 2015, JYP Chairman Park Jin-Young appeared on Section TV with the then-neophyte girl group. When asked if TWICE would have a restricted from dating, he said the group would be observing a 3-year dating ban from their first broadcast.
In 2016, Sana and Jeongyeon appeared on Radio Star. The two stars were asked about TWICE’s dating ban to which they replied: “Only 2 years left”.
But that’s not to say TWICE has been free of controversy. Like any other group of their popularity, TWICE underwent several scandals. Mina was embroiled in a “dating” scandal involving GOT7’s BamBam when a photo of the two idols together surfaced early in 2017.
The TWICE dating ban being lifted now means the members can openly date anyone they please. JYP Chairman Park Jin-Young – despite being responsible for the ban – promised that he would treat the boyfriends out to dinner if he saw them with the girls. Let’s hope that’s not a veiled threat.
While there are fans who fear TWICE might end up with more scandals, there are fans who are welcoming the idea as the girls can finally come out that they’re dating themselves. Enjoy.