BLACKPINK is finally getting ready to release their first mini-album in three years. Fans have been waiting a long time for this comeback. The members also spent about a year and a half focusing on solo activities. Since their debut in 2016, BLACKPINK has stood out in K-pop, and each member is now well known around the world. Rolling Stone even described them as “the biggest group in K-pop.”
Their comeback is reportedly pushed to January 2026, as per reports from Korean media outlets. New BLINKs who have just joined the fandom can use this time to learn more about BLACKPINK’s journey. There are many fun facts about the members and plenty to explore from their early days to now. Fans can enjoy getting to know them better while the group continues their ongoing “Deadline” tour.
BLACKPINK Members
BLACKPINK is made up of
- Jisoo – Visual, lead vocalist
- Jennie – Main rapper, lead vocalist
- Rosé – Main vocalist, lead dancer
- Lisa – Main dancer, lead rapper, maknae
Jisoo
- Full name: Kim Jisoo (English: Veronica Kim)
- Birthday: January 3, 1995
- Age: 30
- Birthplace: Gunpo, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
- Zodiac Sign: Capricorn
- MBTI: ISTP
- Height: 5’3”
- Representative Emoji: Bunny
- Endorsements: Dior, Cartier, Alo Yoga, Dyson, and self-portrait
Jisoo worked with Zayn Malik for their duet “Eyes Closed,” and the song earned her first-ever spot on the Billboard Hot 100. She was the final BLACKPINK member to make it onto the chart. Her road to this moment wasn’t simple. She has been working nonstop since her debut in 2016 to get here.
Kim Jisoo, the oldest member of BLACKPINK, has built a career that feels steady and genuine. People first noticed her for her visuals, but she has spent the years proving she is much more than that. She has grown into a reliable singer, a rising actress, and a confident solo artist.
She joined YG Entertainment in 2011 and trained rigorously for five years. During that time, she appeared in a few ads and even made a cameo in “The Producers.” These early appearances didn’t make a huge splash, but they showed she had a natural charm. When BLACKPINK debuted in 2016 with “Whistle” and “Boombayah,” Jisoo stood out right away. Her voice gave the group balance. While others were known for fast rap or powerful dancing, Jisoo’s clear and rich vocals became the anchor of the team.
Of course, her early days came with challenges. BLACKPINK’s choreography is tough, and Jisoo was often criticized for not being a natural dancer. Instead of letting it get to her, she simply worked harder. Fans and members have talked about how much she practiced, and the results showed on stage.
Acting was something she always wanted to try, and she slowly moved toward it. She had a small role in “Arthdal Chronicles” in 2019, then landed her first lead role in “Snowdrop” in 2021. She played a bright university student named Eun Young Ro who fell in love with a North Korean spy. The drama itself faced controversy, but Jisoo’s acting was praised, and she even won Outstanding Korean Actress at the Seoul International Drama Awards in 2022.
In 2023, she made her solo music debut with “ME” and the title track “FLOWER.” The album broke records and became the best-selling album by a female soloist in Korea at the time, passing one million sales. The lead single, “Flower” reached number two on the Billboard Global 200 and earned nine music show wins.
In December 2023, when all BLACKPINK members chose not to renew their individual contracts with YG, Jisoo created her own label called Blissoo. In 2025, she signed a global deal with Warner Records and released her first EP, “Amortage.” Its lead single, “Earthquake,” became her first number-one on the Billboard World Digital Songs chart. She continued her momentum with “Eyes Closed,” a collaboration with Zayn, which became her highest-charting solo song in the UK.
In February, she starred in the zombie comedy “Newtopia” and made her film debut in “Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy,” where she played Lee Ji Hye. Next, she is set to release her first full-length album and rom-com, “Boyfriend on Demand,” with Seo In Guk in February 2026.
Jennie
- Full name: Kim Jennie (English: Jennie Ruby Jane)
- Birthday: January 16, 1996
- Age: 29
- Birthplace: Bundang, Seongnam, South Korea
- Zodiac Sign: Capricorn
- MBTI: INFJ
- Height: 5’4”
- Representative Emoji: Bear
- Endorsements: Chanel, Calvin Klein, Adidas, Tamburins, Jacquemus
Jennie Kim is bold, constantly evolving, and always breaking boundaries. Besides being a global pop star, she has proven her talent in music, acting, and the fashion world. She returned from Auckland, New Zealand, to pursue her dream of becoming a K-pop star.
Jennie joined YG Entertainment in 2010 and trained for almost six years. Even before debuting, she was already gaining attention through features with major YG artists. She appeared in G-Dragon’s “That XX” music video in 2012 and was featured on tracks by Lee Hi and G-Dragon, which helped introduce her to the public early on.
She debuted with BLACKPINK in August 2016 as the group’s main rapper and one of its lead vocalists. The group’s rise was fast and historic. BLACKPINK became known as one of the biggest girl groups in the world, headlined Coachella, and set touring records that no other girl group had achieved at the time.
Jennie began her solo music career in 2018 with “SOLO,” the track topped charts in Korea and internationally. The music video went on to become the first by a Korean female soloist to pass one billion views on YouTube.
In 2023, she stepped into acting for the first time under the name Jennie Ruby Jane. She appeared in HBO’s “The Idol,” which also starred The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp. Her contribution to the soundtrack, “One of the Girls,” became a massive viral success and later earned a Spotify Billion plaque and her first Billboard HOT 100 entry.
That same year, Jennie founded her own label, ODD ATELIER, which began a new era of creative independence. In 2024, she signed with Columbia Records for her U.S. promotions and music releases.
This set the stage for her first full-length solo album, “Ruby,” released in March and performed at Coachella the following month.. The album included features from artists like Kali Uchis and Doechii, passed one million global sales, and showed the full range of her sound. She was later honored with the Global Force Award at the 2025 Billboard Women in Music ceremony.
Rosé
- Full name: Roseanne Park (Korean: Park Chaeyoung)
- Birthday: February 11, 1997
- Age: 28
- Birthplace: Auckland, New Zealand
- Zodiac Sign: Aquarius
- MBTI: ENFP
- Height: 5’6”
- Representative Emoji: Squirrel
- Endorsements: YSL, YSL Beauty, Tiffany & Co., Sulwhasoo, Puma
Rosé went from being a teenager in Melbourne who enjoyed music as a hobby to becoming BLACKPINK’s vocalist and a successful solo artist. She was born in 1997 and later moved to Melbourne with her family. Although she loved singing and playing guitar, she never considered becoming a musician until 2012. That’s when her father suggested she audition for YG Entertainment during its Sydney tryouts.
She entered the audition and placed first among 700 participants. At just 15, she made a difficult but life-changing decision to leave school and move to Seoul to begin training. Her trainee years were demanding, with daily vocal and dance lessons that often continued late into the night.
Looking back, she described this period as one of “the most challenging yet most life-changing periods” of her life. Before her debut, she appeared on G-Dragon’s 2012 track “Without You,” which introduced her voice to the public for the first time.
In 2016, Rosé debuted with YG’s BLACKPINK as the group’s main vocalist and lead dancer.
Alongside her work with the group, she also began shaping her solo career. In March 2021, she released her first solo project, the single album “R.” Its title track, “On the Ground,” debuted at #1 on both the Billboard Global 200 and the Global Excl. U.S. chart.
This made her the first artist to top the charts as both a soloist and a group member. She earned two Guinness World Records for these achievements. The music video for “On the Ground” set a new record for the most YouTube views in 24 hours by a K-pop soloist.
That same year, she also became a global ambassador for Saint Laurent and attended major fashion events, including the Met Gala.
In 2023, BLACKPINK renewed their group contract but chose to pursue solo careers independently. The following year, Rosé signed with THEBLACKPINK, a YG-associated label led by longtime BLACKPINK producer Teddy Park, and partnered with Atlantic Records for her U.S. releases.
She kicked off this era with the surprise release of “Apt.,” a collaboration with Bruno Mars. The song became a global juggernaut and spent 45 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at No. 3. This month, it earned Grammy nominations for both Record of the Year and Song of the Year. This made Rosé the first K-pop artist to receive nominations in these major categories.
This was followed by her first full-length studio album, “Rosie,” in December 2024. The album was praised for its intimate and vulnerable songwriting, completely different from BLACKPINK’s high-energy anthems.
Lisa
- Full name: Pranpriya Manobal (Legal Name: Lalisa Manobal)
- Birthday: March 27, 1997
- Age: 28
- Birthplace: Buriram Province, Thailand
- Zodiac Sign: Aries
- MBTI: ISFP
- Height: 5’6”
- Representative Emoji: Chick
- Endorsements: Louis Vuitton, Bvlgari, Erewhon
Lalisa Manoba went from being a young dancer in Thailand to becoming a global superstar Lisa. She is BLACKPINK’s main dancer and lead rapper, but also a soloist, fashionista, and actress.
Lisa grew up in Buriram, Thailand, and started dancing when she was just four. She joined competitions early and later became part of the dance crew We Zaa Cool, alongside GOT7’s BamBam, who would also debut in K-pop.
Her life changed in 2010 when she auditioned for YG Entertainment. Out of 4,000 applicants in Thailand, she was the only one chosen. At 14, she moved to Seoul alone and trained for five years. She was YG’s first non-ethnic Korean trainee, so she had to learn the language, adjust to a new culture, and survive a tough training system.
As the group’s main dancer, lead rapper, and youngest member, she became known for her crisp moves, cute looks, and expressive dance style.
In 2021, Lisa made her solo debut with Lalisa, and it was massive. The music video exploded with 73.6 million views in 24 hours, and earned her two Guinness World Records. The single album sold over 736,000 copies in its first week—a record for a female artist at the time.
Her B-side, Money, became a global viral hit and later made history as the first song by a female K-pop soloist to hit one billion streams on Spotify.
In 2024, Lisa took a huge step toward creative freedom. She launched her own company, LLOUD, and signed with RCA Records in the U.S. Her first single under this new chapter, Rockstar, topped the Billboard Global Excl. US chart—her first No. 1 as a soloist.
In February, she released her first full studio album, Alter Ego, which earned praise for its concept, versatility, and production quality. It showed a more confident, experimental version of her, one that fans had been waiting to see.
Lisa also entered acting this year with the HBO hit series The White Lotus (Season 3). Talking about her first acting job, she honestly admitted, “I’m super excited and nervous, because it’s my first acting project.” She is now reported to appear in Netflix’s action film with Korean actor Ma Dong Seok and in talks for Tangled live-action.
The same year, she returned to Coachella—but this time as a solo performer. The performance was powerful, clean, and full of confidence. She proved that she can command the stage on her own just as strongly as she does with BLACKPINK.
BLACKPINK’s Journey So Far
BLACKPINK has built a career unlike any other.
They arrived in August 2016 with their debut single album Square One, which included the instant hits “Whistle” and “Boombayah.” “Whistle” topped the Gaon Digital Chart, while “Boombayah” shot to number one on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales chart. Follow-up singles like “Playing with Fire” and “As If It’s Your Last” became major successes in South Korea.
Everything accelerated in 2018 with their first Korean EP, Square Up. Its lead single, “Ddu-Du Ddu-Du,” became a global hit and debuted at number 55 on the US Billboard Hot 100. This made BLACKPINK the highest-charting female Korean act ever at that time. In 2019, their EP Kill This Love pushed their popularity even further when it debuted at number 24 on the Billboard 200.
Their first full-length studio album, The Album, released in 2020, was another turning point. It became the best-selling album by a Korean female act, moving over one million copies in its first month. The pre-release singles “How You Like That” and “Ice Cream,” the latter in collaboration with Selena Gomez, made a huge splash internationally.
“Ice Cream” reached number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100, while “Lovesick Girls,” the album’s title track, peaked at number two on the Billboard Global 200. The Album itself debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, the highest placement for any girl group since 2008.
In 2022, BLACKPINK raised the bar again with Born Pink. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, becoming the first album by a female Korean act—and the first by any girl group in fourteen years—to top the chart. It also earned them their first number one on the UK Albums Chart, a historic moment for K-pop girl groups. Before the album’s release, “Pink Venom” became their first song to top the Billboard Global 200, a success they repeated with the follow-up single “Shut Down.”
Collaborations played a major role throughout their rise. Their track with Dua Lipa, “Kiss and Make Up,” gave them popularity among Western listeners. They later teamed up with Lady Gaga for “Sour Candy” from Gaga’s Chromatica album.
In mid-July, BLACKPINK returned as a group and started a new chapter with their Deadline World Tour and the release of “JUMP,” their first group single since 2022. The comeback also introduced a new distribution partnership with The Orchard.
Now, BLACKPINK members prepare for another historic comeback in January 2026.
