The globally captivating group BLACKPINK has undoubtedly painted this year with a shade of 'pink', making the world feel their impressive global influence more than ever.
The four BLACKPINK members - Jennie, Lisa, Rosé, and Jisoo - have been the talk of the town in 2023, creating a buzz with their individual, colorful romantic rumors.
First off, Jennie has been subject to dating rumors with V from BTS since May of last year, and suspicions have continued to rise over the past year. Despite YG Entertainment's official stance that they cannot confirm the personal lives of their artists, accounts of the two stars' encounters are frequently emerging. Jennie and V were seen enjoying a date near the Seine River in Paris in May, following sightings in Jeju Island last year, once again surprising fans. Jennie, while consistently remaining silent on paparazzi photos of her dates with V, posted a picture of herself wearing the same outfit on her social media account that day, seemingly acknowledging the dating rumors in a way that resonates with the MZ generation's approach to love.
In April, Rosé was entangled in dating rumors with actor Kang Dong-won, who is 16 years her senior. The source of these rumors stemmed from suspicions that the two were wearing matching 'couple items' of the same brand, attending an art fair together, and participating in private gatherings. The rumors spread like wildfire across online communities, igniting a wave of dating speculation. Kang Dong-won was also affiliated with YG Entertainment, Rosé's agency, until December of the previous year. YG Entertainment, as always, ambiguously stated that they couldn't confirm their artists' personal lives. However, this vague statement left room for interpretation, stirring up more speculation. YG eventually declared that the rumors about Rosé and Kang Dong-won were completely baseless, backtracking their official stance and ending the situation with a twist.
Last month, Lisa caught the public's eye with a scandal involving Frederic Arnault, the fourth son of a 'chaebol' family. Frederic Arnault is the CEO of a luxury Swiss watch brand and the fourth son of the world's second-wealthiest person as ranked by Forbes. His father is Bernard Arnault, the chairman of the French luxury group LVMH. Frederic Arnault showcased his extraordinary fandom last year by posting photos on his Instagram account of him attending a BLACKPINK concert in LA and visiting the members, including Lisa, in the waiting room. After the two were spotted enjoying a meal at a restaurant in Paris, France, dating rumors ignited. In response, YG Entertainment did not make any statement.
Even before the global scandal involving Lisa had cooled down, Jisoo put an end to the series of BLACKPINK love stories by blossoming her own. She officially acknowledged that she is dating actor Ahn Bo-hyun, who is seven years her senior. On the 3rd, both Jisoo and Ahn Bo-hyun's sides stated, "We are in a stage of getting to know each other with good feelings. We would appreciate it if you could watch over us with warm regard."
With dating rumors involving worldwide idol group members, global billionaires, and top-class actors, BLACKPINK has drawn massive attention both domestically and internationally. In particular, Jisoo's public confession of love, rapidly and 'coolly' acknowledging her relationship, is causing an international stir. BLACKPINK, with 903 million subscribers on their official YouTube channel, shines as the undisputed global trend and holds the title of the world's most subscribed artist. The impact of this K-pop girl group, of which Jisoo is a member and has garnered many fans as a solo artist, is immense, making her frank confession of love a surprising move.
Furthermore, as seen from YG Entertainment's previous passive responses, it is unusual for K-pop idols, who are in the midst of their activities, to acknowledge their relationships, and therefore, it is attracting even more attention. CNN pointed out, "Jisoo has admitted to dating Ahn Bo-hyun. This is a step away from the typical secrecy in the Korean entertainment industry. It is the only acknowledgment among the countless rumors about BLACKPINK's love affairs. Agencies rarely announce K-pop idols' relationships. However, recently, the K-pop industry is gradually moving away from controversial 'dating ban' clauses in contracts for their entertainers."
BBC analyzed, "Jisoo has become one of the most famous K-pop stars to announce a relationship in the tightly controlled K-pop industry. Because top K-pop stars rarely disclose their private lives, this announcement is highly unusual. Only ten years ago, it was common for agencies to ban idols from dating or even owning personal cell phones. Jisoo's international status has given them more freedom, indicating that the idol industry is maturing."
The Los Angeles Times continued, "Despite the expectations and stereotypes about K-pop idols, which dictate that they maintain a 'single and available' image, Jisoo's admission shows a change in the industry. It signals a shift from the oppressive tradition of controlling idols' love lives. Jisoo's love story, going beyond the bounds of her homeland, has become a global topic."
While the individual dating rumors of BLACKPINK members have stirred up a global frenzy, another issue looming in the backdrop is the potential contract renewal with YG Entertainment.
The exclusive contract between BLACKPINK and YG Entertainment will soon expire, making it a hot topic in the industry. Considering BLACKPINK's unprecedented global influence, the terms of their new contract are drawing attention. BLACKPINK's unparalleled global status, as the first K-pop girl group to reach 1 billion views on YouTube and their active endeavors in the fashion and beauty industry, indicate a clear shift in the balance of power in favor of BLACKPINK in their contract negotiations.
While YG Entertainment has grown with BIGBANG and 2NE1 as its main forces, it is now entering a new era. The company has turned into a giant thanks to the global influence of BLACKPINK. However, there is also an opinion that if YG Entertainment loses BLACKPINK, it will shake the very foundation of the company.
YG Entertainment has already lost some of its talented artists due to various issues, and the possible departure of BLACKPINK could indeed strike a heavy blow. There is a lot of anticipation regarding the terms of the renewed contract and whether the group will decide to stay with YG.
The exciting love stories of BLACKPINK, the group that has painted the world pink, are being enjoyed by fans all over the globe. While we look forward to the continuation of these fascinating love stories, we also eagerly anticipate the outcome of their upcoming contract renewal.
Will BLACKPINK continue to bloom under YG Entertainment's management, or will they decide to continue their journey elsewhere? Only time will tell.
