14-7-2023 (SEOUL) As August approaches, the K-pop industry is abuzz with speculations about whether Blackpink, one of the biggest girl groups in the world, will be able to overcome the so-called 7-year curse. This curse refers to the trend where K-pop idol groups disband after seven years as their exclusive contracts with agencies come to an end.
Blackpink, consisting of members Jisoo, Jennie, Rose, and Lisa, reportedly have contracts with YG Entertainment that are set to expire soon. The approaching expiration date has sparked discussions among fans and industry insiders about the group’s future.
The rumours of Blackpink potentially succumbing to the 7-year curse reached a peak on July 12 when the South Korean publication Munhwa Ilbo reported a “high chance” of Lisa leaving YG Entertainment once her contract expires. According to the report, the discussions regarding contract renewal for Jisoo, Jennie, and Rose have been progressing smoothly in comparison.
Munhwa Ilbo also mentioned an anonymous Chinese agency that expressed interest in having Lisa participate in a Chinese show. However, the agency was informed that scheduling activities after August would be challenging due to the uncertainty surrounding Lisa’s contract renewal with YG Entertainment.
In response to these reports, YG Entertainment issued a statement clarifying that the uncertainty surrounding Lisa’s activities was related to the ongoing world tour and her individual projects, and not directly linked to the contract renewal discussions.
While the potential departure of Lisa has raised concerns among fans, it’s important to note that in some cases, individual members have chosen not to renew their contracts with the original agency but still remained part of the group. Examples include Mamamoo’s Wheein and Hwasa, who joined The L1ve and P Nation respectively, as well as BigBang members Daesung and Taeyang, who joined R&D Company and The Black Label, both under YG Entertainment.
