by The K-pop industry is known to be under a lot of pressure, with very picky fans and agencies trying to keep tabs on singers’ private lives. Meanwhile, Jisoo (28) of ‘Blackpink,’ one of the world’s most famous K-pop singers, has officially admitted to dating.
According to local media reports in Korea, on the 3rd, Ji-soo started dating actor Ahn Bo-Hyun (35), and the two are said to be “getting to know each other with good feelings.”
The agencies of both sides acknowledged their relationship on the 3rd, seeking support and understanding from fans.
Actor Ahn Bo-Hyun also worked as a model and appeared in popular dramas such as ‘Itaewon Class’ and ‘Yumi’s Cell.’
Meanwhile, members of other famous K-pop groups such as ‘EXO’ and ‘Twice’ have openly admitted to being in a relationship in recent years. Still, overall, K-pop stars rarely reveal their personal lives. Therefore, the announcement of this index is unusual.
Ten years ago, it was common for the agency to ban its singers from dating, dating, or even owning a personal cell phone. Besides, admitting to being in a relationship was a scandal that stirred up fans.
Regarding this, Patrick Williams, a sociologist at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, commented that dating idols “can be bad for business.”
“They (agency) want to sell idols as beings that can be lovers, even if they are only imaginary,” explained “(So) fans can imagine that idols and themselves can have some form of social relationship.” am.
However, Jisoo, the lead vocal member of ‘Blackpink,’ is not an ordinary K-pop star.
‘Blackpink,’ to which Jisoo belongs, is one of the most popular groups in the world and has even appeared as a headliner at major music festivals such as ‘Coachella.’ Tens of thousands gather at their concerts, and each member has 73 to 93 million followers on Instagram.
However, Jisoo is still the first Blackpink member to admit to being in a relationship. In the past, when other members were suspected of dating, the management agency ‘YG Entertainment’ either denied it or refused to mention it.
On the other hand, while fans generally respond positively to this news, someone left a comment on Jisoo’s Instagram account saying ‘Congratulations, BABY’ with more than 3,000 likes. But still, such public recognition of love is rare.
Billboard’s Asian correspondent Rob Schwartz said, “Jisoo… This recognition is unique because it is at the pinnacle of my career.”
In contrast, BTS, one of the most popular boy groups in the world, has never admitted to dating or being in a relationship with any member.
There is a reason why they are so cautious.
For example, in 2019, it was revealed that famous K-pop star Kang Daniel and Twice’s Jihyo were dating by local Korean media. Some fans reacted strongly to this, and through social media, they criticized Kang and another star known to have arranged the relationship between them and left threatening messages.
However, Correspondent Schwartz explained that Jisoo’s recognition is a sign that the K-pop industry, which is “a robust international industry,” is also changing as K-pop groups increasingly enter the international arena.
“You can see that the K-pop industry is becoming more mature.”
Dr. Williams also explained that stars such as Jisoo have gained greater freedom as their stature rises internationally.
