BLACKPINK is one the most famous K-pop girl bands in the world. The group, created by YG Entertainment Company, made its debut in 2016. The group has four permanent members, including Jisoo, Jennie, Rose, and Lisa.
BLACKPINK is the first Korean girl group to enter Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart. It is also the first Korean girl group to top Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart and the Billboard World Digital Song Sales chart.
However, before BLACKPINK was a thing, the parent company behind the group, YG Entertainment, recruited nine total members to debut them in a girl group called PINK PUNK. However, PINKPUNK would never become established, and most recruits either left or were let go.
This article lists the four current members of the group BLACKPINK and the other five recruits who were initially destined to make their debut with YG Entertainment. Current BLACKPINK members are described first in chronological order – from oldest to youngest.
9. Jisoo
Real Name: Kim Ji-soo
Born: January 3, 1995
Birthplace: Gunpo, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea
Band Position: Vocalist
photo source: en.wikipedia.org
Kim Ji-soo, better known as just Jisoo, is one of the four permanent members of BLACKPINK. She is also the oldest member of the group at 27 years of age.
Jisoo made her BLACKPINK debut in August of 2016. Before BLACKPINK existed, Jisoo joined YG Entertainment group in 2011, the parent group behind the popular Korean band.
During her time as a trainee in the YG Entertainment group, Jisoo made several cameo appearances in music videos and advertisements. She was featured in the music video of Epik High – SPOILER + HAPPEN ENDING and HI SUHYUN.
Currently, Jisoo is active as a lead vocalist for BLACKPINK and as an actress. Her first lead role was in the JTBC drama Snowdrop.
Did You Know?
In 2020, the YG Entertainment group confirmed that Jisoo’s solo performance would soon come out. However, due to the filming of her drama, she has largely been unavailable for her solo production. She is the last of the BLACKPINK members to not yet have a solo debut.
8. Jennie
Real Name: Jennie Kim
Born: January 16, 1996
Birthplace: Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Band Position: Vocalist
photo source: en.wikipedia.org
Jennie is one of the youngest members of the YG Entertainment group’s BLACKPINK. She is currently 26 years old.
Jennie made her BLACKPINK debut with the other three girls in August of 2016. She is the lead vocalist of the band, along with Jisoo. Following her BLACKPINK debut, Jennie also made her solo debut two years later in 2018, with the eponymous single, “Solo”. It was an instant domestic and international hit, topping both the Gaon Digital Chart and Billboard’s World Digital Songs Chart.
YG Entertainment introduced their newest trainee to the world through a social media post titled: “Who’s that girl?” This photograph became the subject of internet-wide interest, with thousands of people searching for this new mystery girl’s name.
Did You Know?
Jennie was in New Zealand for five years for her education. Afterward, Jennie expressed the desire to go back to South Korea to make a career in K-pop. Her parents honored her wish and allowed her to pursue a career in music.
7. Rose
Real Name: Roseanne Park / Park Chae-young
Born: February 11, 1997
Birthplace: Auckland, New Zealand
Band Position: Vocalist
photo source: en.wikipedia.org
Rose is the second youngest member of BLACKPINK. She is only 25 years old and has already made a flourishing career following her YG Entertainment debut in 2012.
Following her four-year tenure as a trainee with YG entertainment, Rose made her debut as a permanent member of BLACKPINK in 2016. Since then, Rose has had a quick rise in her professional career. Her performance on her solo album, R, was an instant hit. Her album sold a total of 448,089 copies in just the first week – the most copies sold for an album by a solo female Korean artist.
Did You Know?
Rose’s single, On the Ground, was a huge success, topping the charts of Billboard Global 200. Her single also made it to the top five in South Korea.
6. Lisa
Real Name: Lalisa Manoban / Pranpriya Manoban
Born: March 27, 1997
Birthplace: Buriram, Thailand
Band Position: Vocalist
photo source: en.wikipedia.org
Lalisa, or Lisa, is the youngest member of BLACKPINK. She is a Thai rapper, singer, and dancer.
Lisa is the first and only non-ethically Korean member of YG Entertainment’s BLACKPINK. Following her debut in the band, Lisa worked on her single, which came out in September of 2021. Her single, Lalisa, was an instant hit, and sold over 700,000 copies in the first week alone. Moreover, the music video for her single amassed over 73 million views on YouTube in just the first 24 hours of its release, making it the most-viewed music video in the first 24 hours by a solo artist on YouTube.
Did You Know?
Born as Pranpriya Manobal, she had her name legally changed to Lalisa based on the advice of a fortune teller. “Lalisa” translates to: the one being praised.
5. Eunbi
Real Name: Kim Eun-bi
Birthdate: Solo Korean singer and songwriter
Current Age: 27
Current Status: Solo Korean singer and songwriter
photo source: koreaboo.com
Kim Eunbi is a Korean solo singer and songwriter. She was among the initial nine members destined to debut as YG Entertainment’s girl group called PINK PUNK.
Kim joined YG Entertainment after her successful appearance on Superstar K2. However, her career with YG Entertainment was very short-lived. She left the company in 2014 before the debut of BLACKPINK due to health reasons. However, after her recovery, Eunbi signed with Stone Entertainment in 2019 and made her solo debut.
Did You Know?
Kim Eunbi is very fond of cats. She even made an Instagram account for her cat with the IG handle: @kim_aru
4. Euna
Real Name: Yuna Kim
Birthdate: October 27, 1994
Current Age: 27
Current Status: Solo Singer
photo source: koreaboo.com
Euna Kim joined YG Entertainment after her successful appearance on Superstar K3. While she remained a part of the plans for a new K-pop group called PINK PUNK, her career with YG Entertainment ended prematurely when the group was cancelled.
With rising doubts about her inclusion in the new group, BLACKPINK, Euna left YG Entertainment after three years of being a trainee at the company.
In 2015, Euna made her debut with the group, The Ark. However, The Ark did not achieve the success they expected with their debut, and disbanded less than a year after appearing on-screen for the first time.
Did You Know?
After leaving YG Entertainment, Euna has consistently tried to build a flourishing music career. However, her efforts have largely been in vain, as her career never really got off the ground.
3. Hanna
Real Name: Jang Hanna
Birthdate: January 9, 1996
Current Age: 26
Current Status: Solo Singer
photo source: koreaboo.com
Hanna is also a former YG Entertainment trainee. She joined YG Entertainment after her successful appearance on K-Pop Star 3 in 2014. Unfortunately, Hanna could not make the cut as a permanent member of the group BLACKPINK, and thus she decided to leave YG Entertainment behind in 2017.
Hanna is now an independent Korean singer with some success and fame with her solo releases. Her official solo debut was in 2020, with her single, “Runaway.”
Did You Know?
More of Hanna’s digital singles include Play No Games, Take Your Time and On My Way.
2. Miyeon
Real Name: Cho Mi-yeon
Birthdate: January 31, 1997
Current Age: 25
Current Status: member (G)I-DLE
photo source: koreaboo.com
Cho Mi-yeon, better known as her stage name Miyeon, was also one of the original nine trainees of YG Entertainment who were supposed to debut as PINK PUNK. However, Miyeon did not make the cut for BLACKPINK when plans for PINK PUNK were disbanded.
Miyeon left YG Entertainment soon after the plans for the girl band, PINK PUNK, were dismantled, and joined Cube Entertainment. After joining Cube Entertainment, Miyeon debuted in 2018 as a (G)I-DLE member. She is currently a permanent member of the group.
Did You Know?
There are rumors that Miyeon was fired from the YG Entertainment group because of their strict no-dating policy among the members. It was revealed that she was in a relationship with Jung Ji Hyung, a MIX & MATCH contestant.
1. Jinny
Real Name: Park Jinny/Jinny Park
Birthdate: January 19, 1998
Current Age: 24
Current Status: Member Secret Number
photo source: koreaboo.com
Jinny was among the former nine trainees of YG Entertainment and is the youngest member of BLACKPINK. She was destined to debut with the group called PINK PUNK. However, her plans of becoming a star with YG Entertainment fell apart when the group was cancelled before it even made its debut.
After remaining a trainee at YG Entertainment for five years, Jinny finally left the company when she could not make the cut for BLACKPINK. Soon after leaving YG Entertainment, Jinny made headlines when she became a participant on Produce 48, a show created by IZ*ONE. She was ultimately eliminated from the show after achieving the highest ranking of just #69.
Did You Know?
After her elimination from Produce 48, Jinny signed with Vine Entertainment. She soon became a member of Secret Number following her signing.
