TWICE’s Jeongyeon reveals working at a cafe during health hiatus

From idol to barista!

The latest episode of TWICE's Jeongyeon's YouTube variety show The Investigator, posted on Aug. 31, features popular television personality Kangnam as her guest.

When Kangnam mentioned that he runs a café, the K-pop idol shared that she worked as a part-timer at a coffee shop during her hiatus in 2021.

“When I had a panic attack, I had to take a break. And during the break, I worked as a barista at my friend's coffee shop,” said Jeongyeon, who added that she would come in at 6 in the morning and work until 4 in the afternoon.

Kangnam jokingly asked about her salary, to which Jeongyeon replied: “The owner was kind enough to let me work there.”

She also previously told the Associated Press that she was unrecognized at the cafe, and they didn't play any TWICE songs.

Fans commended her determination despite going through a rough patch.   

“Working at her friend's coffee shop must have [given] her peace of mind away from the idol life and gave [her] time to rediscover herself,” a fan commented on the YouTube video.  

Another one said, "Looking at the way she works hard, it seems like she would do well even if she wasn’t a celebrity, and she seems like a good person."

In October 2020, JYP announced Jeongyeon’s first health hiatus, stating that she would not participate in the promotion of TWICE's second studio album, Eyes Wide Open. It lasted three months, and she rejoined her fellow members at the 30th Seoul Music Awards in January 2021.  

In less than a year, the K-pop idol halted her activities with TWICE in August 2021, citing “panic and psychological anxiety” as the reasons for her second indefinite health hiatus.

Jeongyeon returned from her break in 2023. Aside from being active once again, she manages her YouTube show, The Inspector.