Hospitalization like daily meals, loss of freedom, life threatened

BLACKPINK is a leading K-pop group with global influence. The four members, Jennie, Lisa, Rosé, and Jisoo, have all achieved great success, not only as a group but also in their brilliant solo careers.

In addition to their musical success, each member has also consistently become a "muse" for many world-renowned fashion houses such as Dior, Chanel, YSL, Celine, etc., possessing assets worth millions of USD.

However, few people know that behind the glitz and glamour of the stage and the admirable success lie the hidden aspects and pressures that a global idol group has to endure.

Exhausted to the point of needing hospitalization.

Since their debut seven years ago, the four members of BLACKPINK have been working at full capacity with packed schedules. Not only do they have diverse activities in South Korea, but the members also frequently attend events overseas.

Amidst their hectic schedules and enormous workload within a tight timeframe, the BLACKPINK members don't have much time to rest. They can only snatch a few moments of rest on the plane, and upon landing, they must immediately adapt to the environment, climate, and time zone of each region.

During the Born Pink show in Australia, Jennie was forced to leave the stage due to ill health.

High-intensity group activities leading to exhaustion and hospitalization are commonplace. During the Born Pink show in Australia, member Jennie was forced to leave the stage due to poor health.

Previously, Jennie revealed that she doesn't have good immunity and often gets sick: "I was physically and mentally exhausted after our world tour (in 2020). The intense work schedule meant we didn't have time to sleep, our eating habits were unhealthy , and we didn't stay hydrated."

The idol added, "I get an allergic reaction wherever I touch. My immune system isn't functioning properly, but the group still has to keep traveling. I'm always wondering how I can keep myself healthy during the next two busy years."

Not only Jennie, but the other three members, Lisa, Rosé, and Jisoo, also frequently face health issues. The youngest member, Lisa, trained to the point of becoming thin, Rosé attracted attention when she needed intravenous fluids, Jisoo had a tumor in her neck, and a series of injuries affected all four members. These alarming health reports for all four members have caused fans to worry.

Living under criticism, judgment, and death threats.

Not only are they facing serious physical problems, but the members' mental health is also in a state of alarm. As a global group, BLACKPINK is always the focus of media and public attention. Therefore, the members cannot avoid the pressure of public opinion.

"The eldest member," Jisoo, revealed that being under so much scrutiny has put pressure on her. She has been criticized for lacking skills, being weaker than the other members, and not being able to communicate well in English. Even her statement about "confidence in her acting" was dissected on many forums.

Despite her continuous efforts to improve herself, Jisoo hasn't received the recognition she deserves. Rolling Stone Korea once sparked controversy when it commented that Jisoo "doesn't possess the most outstanding talent in the group as a singer or dancer, but her maturity is more evident than anyone else's."

Jennie also hasn't forgotten the times she was often criticized for having a snobbish and unpleasant attitude. Facing these negative comments, Jennie confessed: "When I was a trainee, I often heard people say, 'Why does Jennie always look so grumpy?' That hurt me deeply. I wasn't angry at anyone; I was just embarrassed in front of others. This is what my face looks like when I'm relaxed, isn't it? But instead of being upset, I decided to accept it and try to change in the future."

Besides discussing misunderstandings about her attitude, Jennie also reflected a lot on comments about her performances not being fully committed. Recently, Jennie also received a lot of criticism for her role in the drama Idol with its daring scenes.

Jennie admitted that her image and name frequently appear in negative articles in the media. This causes her to constantly hurt herself.

She shared, "I constantly hurt myself, both on stage and in life, by comparing myself to other girls. Sometimes, I wanted to throw my phone into the sea and disappear. Disappear so no one could find me." Overwhelmed and exhausted by the barrage of criticism, Jennie even broke down in tears on stage during a performance.

Lisa, the Thai-born member of the group, faced considerable mental pressure even before her debut. She was a victim of anti-Southeast Asian sentiment among some South Korean netizens.

Despite being beautiful, talented, and well-loved, Lisa has always faced hateful comments because of her Thai heritage. Some netizens mocked and criticized her, calling her "country bumpkin" and "transgender": "She only looks that beautiful thanks to Korean makeup technology!"; "Without that makeup, her face is just full of Southeast Asian features"; "Go back to Thailand, don't come to Korea seeking fame anymore. Nobody likes you here"...

Lisa has faced criticism and death threats for being Southeast Asian.

Lisa was even threatened by an anonymous Twitter account: "When BLACKPINK returns, I will kill Lisa," causing the group's fandom to worry greatly about the safety of the foreign member. Fans had to seek help from the Thai Embassy in Seoul. The Embassy then spoke out to protect Lisa, stating that they would investigate the incident.

Faced with this pressure, Lisa cried and called her mother many times because she felt discouraged. But luckily, the other members were always there to encourage and help the little girl overcome the challenges and become one of the most popular female rappers in K-pop today.

Private lives are scrutinized and exposed publicly.

Becoming famous came at the cost of their personal lives. BLACKPINK members' personal relationships are frequently exposed publicly in the media.

Jennie was once "attacked" because of dating rumors with V (BTS).

Jennie is a member who is constantly "stalked." Images of her personal life are publicly shared in the media. Recently, she was spotted holding hands with BTS member V in Paris. While her management company has remained silent on these rumors, Jennie has not given up. Jennie has become a victim of anti-fans as well as a segment of BTS fans.

Not only Jennie, but rumors of a romantic relationship between Lisa and the son of the LVMH group's owner have sparked much controversy online. Private photos of Lisa and Frederic Arnault were circulated online, and Lisa's management company, YG, only gave vague answers, stating that they could not confirm the relationship as it was a private matter. Lisa's personal schedule was also scrutinized and exposed.

Images of Lisa's personal schedule have been shared publicly.

Jisoo was also publicly photographed dating actor Ahn Bo Hyun. After confirming their relationship, Jisoo faced backlash from some fans due to her choice of boyfriend.

While other members were embroiled in dating rumors with top stars, Jisoo chose an actor who was considered less famous and controversial. The actor faced significant pressure and was boycotted by BLACKPINK's fans. Many felt that the actor was not worthy of the idol of the hottest K-Pop girl group today.

Rosé faced criticism for dating Kang Dong Won due to the significant age difference of 16 years. She was even deemed "not on the same level" as Kang Dong Won, as he was a famous actor while she was just an idol.

There is no freedom.

The pressures of celebrity life have left the BLACKPINK members unable to be themselves. According to Jennie, choosing to be an idol means losing one's freedom.

She said, "Starting my career in South Korea as a K-Pop artist restricted me in many ways because I wasn't allowed to express myself just because I was a K-Pop idol. I think I was also afraid to express myself."

Jennie asserted that choosing to become an idol meant losing her freedom.

As things evolved over time, I was able to express myself more, and people saw it as breaking boundaries. People didn't think she was doing something she wasn't supposed to be doing, opening a new chapter for those in the industry.

Many people have gone astray because they're too busy trying to please their trainers. It's a journey of years, not hours. So you really get caught up in the life they've laid out for you."

Lisa also admitted that life as an idol isn't easy, but she always tries to live authentically: "Let things happen naturally. I always try not to get caught up in negative thoughts or feelings. Even when things don't go well, I tell myself, 'It's normal for unpleasant things to happen.'"

Balancing the various aspects of life as a globally famous idol is not easy. Lisa confided that her greatest ambition is to be happy: "I think more about my own happiness. So I always try to live authentically and find happiness as long as it doesn't harm those around me. I want to live for myself. I don't know why. Maybe it's because I'm going through a turbulent, crisis-ridden phase in my life."

Le Chi

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