Jihoon of TWS shared a heartfelt message with fans for the first time since the passing of his father, marking the group's second debut anniversary with gratitude and resolve.
On January 22, Jihoon posted a long letter on the global fan platform Weverse. "It's been a while since I last greeted you," he wrote. "I thought a lot about how to begin this message."
The day also marked TWS's second anniversary. Jihoon expressed his appreciation, saying, "Thank you sincerely for staying with me without change, and for becoming my present even when everything felt uncertain."
He went on to thank the fandom 42 and his fellow members. "There were countless moments when things were hard and I felt myself shrink, but thanks to 42 and the members, I became someone who can smile again," he shared.
Looking ahead, Jihoon promised to remain true to himself. "I will always exist as myself so that I can return the love you give me, filled with the love I've felt and the lessons I've learned in my own life," he said.
He added that the love he has received gives him strength. "No matter what trials come, the love I've been given is bigger and more precious. Those feelings stay within me, allowing me to stand back up quickly."
Jihoon acknowledged both gratitude and apology, noting, "My sense of sorry is as big as my gratitude, but since it's our second anniversary, I hope we can focus only on happiness. I'll start by doing just that."
He closed the message by saying, "My gratitude and love overflow beyond what I can express. Thank you once again for staying by TWS's side."
The members responded with supportive comments. Hanjin wrote, "You're always the best. I love you. Let's stay together for a long, long time." Youngjae commented, "Jihoon is TWS's eternal jellyfish. Love you." Shinyu added, "Jihoon, I love you so much," while Kyungmin wrote, "I love you, hyung." Dohoon left a smiling emoji, showing his affection in his own way.
Jihoon lost his father on January 11 after a prolonged illness. He has temporarily halted team activities and is spending time with his family in mourning.
