“Aren’t all 4 BLACKPINK members Korean?”
“What are their actual age differences, hometowns, and family structures?”
“Why did the members raised overseas choose the K-pop path?”
[Quick Answer]
BLACKPINK isn’t just a “four-member Korean group,” but a “world-class” group with diverse roots spanning South Korea, Thailand, and New Zealand/Australia. That’s why learning about their nationalities and family backgrounds will make you go, “Ah, that makes sense!” when you see their charisma and expressive power.
- Quickly check their ages, nationalities, and hometowns in a summary list
- Delve into their “roots and backgrounds,” including their parents’ nationalities and family structures
- Trace their journey from auditions to debut to discover “Why K-pop?”
Below, we summarize the details from a perspective that will make you love your bias even more!
BLACKPINK Members: Ages, Nationalities, and Hometowns
BLACKPINK consists of members with diverse backgrounds, including South Korea, Thailand, New Zealand, and Australia.
Some members even hold dual citizenship, making them known as a truly international group.
First, let’s check the age, nationality, and hometown of each member in a list.
| Name | Date of Birth | Age (As of 2026) | Nationality / Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jisoo | Jan 15, 1995 | 31 | South Korea / Gunpo, Gyeonggi Province |
| Jennie | Jan 16, 1996 | 30 | South Korea / Seoul |
| Rosé | Feb 11, 1997 | 29 | South Korea & New Zealand / Raised in Australia |
| Lisa | Mar 27, 1997 | 29 | Thailand / Bangkok |
Surprisingly, half of the members have roots overseas, not just in Korea.
So, in what kind of environments did they grow up?
In the next section, we will introduce their parents’ nationalities and family structures in detail.
What are the Members’ Parents’ Nationalities and Family Structures?
Lisa, who is not from South Korea. And Rosé, who holds dual citizenship in South Korea and New Zealand, and was raised in Australia.
It makes you wonder how these two ended up moving to South Korea and working in the K-pop industry, right?
Also, Jisoo and Jennie are from South Korea, but did they have any experiences overseas?
What kind of family environment did each of the four grow up in, and what influences did they receive to grow into world-class artists?
First, let’s take a closer look at their families, which can be called their roots.
| Name | Father’s Nationality |
Mother’s Nationality |
Family Structure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jisoo | South Korea | South Korea | Parents, 1 older brother, 1 older sister |
| Jennie | Not disclosed | South Korea | Parents (Only child) |
| Rosé | South Korea | South Korea | Parents, 1 older sister |
| Lisa | Switzerland (Stepfather) | Thailand | Mother, Stepfather (Only child) |
Looking at the table, you can see that both parents of the members other than Lisa are Korean.
Rosé was born in New Zealand, but it seems this is why she also holds South Korean citizenship.
Now, let’s dig deeper into each member’s family.
About Jisoo’s Family
🔴Rumors that her father works in the entertainment industry.
One of the reasons is that on the Korean variety show “Knowing Bros,” MC Lee Sang-min stated, “I know Jisoo’s father.”
Furthermore, SUPER JUNIOR’s Kim Heechul has also mentioned his relationship with Jisoo’s father.
MC Heechul also revealed a special experience. He mentioned that due to his connection with BLACKPINK Jisoo’s father, he once attended the wedding of Jisoo’s older sister.
Because of these remarks, it is rumored that her father might work in a related entertainment field.
🔴Her parents have been quietly supporting her behind the scenes.
Jisoo is very close to her parents and was raised with care, with her parents respecting her opinions.
It’s not that my parents neglected me. Because I was the youngest, I think I was actually cherished. My parents are very open-minded people and let me do what I wanted.
In the Netflix documentary, she herself shared that during her harsh trainee days, her parents warmly encouraged her, telling her to “hang in there.”
In fact, videos conveying their close relationship have also been released.
From Jisoo’s official YouTube channel. Seeing Jisoo playfully acting up in front of her parents really conveys their warm parent-child relationship.
Also, Jisoo has an older brother and an older sister.
🔴Co-founded the personal agency “BLISSOO” with her older brother.
His name is Kim Jung-hoon.
He is the CEO of the baby health food company “Biomom”.
It was reported by the media that in 2024, he co-founded Jisoo’s personal agency “BLISSOO”.
It was reported in early January 2024 that Jisoo would begin her solo activities alongside Kim Jung-hoon, her biological older brother and CEO of the baby health food company “Biomom”.
Jisoo herself also left a comment on the official BLISSOO account.
Hello, this is Jisoo. I’m excited to share my new start with BLISSOO. I am dedicated to bringing joy and happiness to each and every one of you, so please look forward to my future activities. Please continue to give lots of love and support to Jisoo, BLISSOO, and BLACKPINK. Thank you.
Running a company together as siblings really shows the strength of their trusting relationship.
Furthermore, her brother’s visuals have also been a hot topic, with people praising his “handsome features.”
Besides her older sister, Jisoo also has an older brother, Kim Jung-hoon. All three of them have exceptionally good looks, making them famous in South Korea to the point where people say their “genes are too overpowered!”
Next, let’s look at her older sister.
🔴Her older sister is an influencer with beauty resembling Jisoo.
Her older sister’s name is Kim Ji-yoon.
She is married and a mother of two boys.
A former flight attendant, she is currently active as an influencer and model.
Jisoo’s older sister, Kim Ji-yoon, previously worked as a flight attendant for a Korean airline. After resigning, she has been active on social media and belongs to an agency as a model. She is already married and is a mom to two sons. You can often see Jisoo doting on her nephews on social media.
She has also been attracting attention for her media appearances, such as starring in the Korean variety show “Super Seller: Incentive Game”.
On her sister’s Instagram, photos with Jisoo have been posted, and her beauty resembling Jisoo has become a hot topic.
A 2-shot photo of Jisoo and her older sister. You can feel a vibe similar to Jisoo. (From Jisoo’s older sister’s Instagram)
The way she poses affectionately with the other members like sisters shows that they have a deep connection. (From Jisoo’s older sister’s Instagram)
Seeing her attend Jisoo’s concerts and events shows her caring side as an older sister.
From these episodes, it’s clear that Jisoo has built a great relationship with her family.
This is likely influenced by the Korean culture of valuing family. It makes perfect sense that she was able to overcome her grueling trainee days because she had everyone’s support.
About Jennie’s Family
Jennie is from Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
This area is known for having many education-focused families and being a trend-conscious neighborhood.
Also, because it is an area where many wealthy people live, it is often said that Jennie’s family might be wealthy as well.
She is close to her mother, and photos of them enjoying trips together have been posted on Instagram.
The photo of the two conveys that they are close like friends. (From Jennie’s Instagram)
🔴Her mother’s educational policy laid the foundation for her studying abroad and fashion sense.
Jennie revealed on the YouTube channel “Study King Genius Hong Jin-kyung” that she has received various influences from her mother over the years.
Driven by her mother’s desire to let her experience living abroad, she went to study in New Zealand at the age of 9.
Currently serving as an ambassador for CHANEL, Jennie has stated, “I have been greatly influenced by my mother, and even now, I sometimes wear her clothes.”
You can see Jennie talking about her mother, as well as a conversation with her mother making a voice appearance. (From the YouTube channel “Study King Genius Hong Jin-kyung”)
Jennie now exudes overwhelming charisma and charm as a fashion icon. It’s clear that her mother’s presence plays a massive role in this background.
The influences she received from a young age might be what shapes Jennie’s current style.
About Rosé’s Family
Rosé was born in New Zealand and moved to Melbourne, Australia at the age of 7, where she grew up.
She has also mentioned that her family spoke Korean at home.
It seems her family plays a significant role in the background of Rosé’s career.
🔴A push from her father led Rosé to the path of K-pop.
It was her father who encouraged the music-loving Rosé to audition. (From the Netflix documentary)
Furthermore, in the same documentary, she tearfully shared that when she got homesick during her trainee days, he supported her by saying, “Come on back home.”
From this, we can tell that her father quickly recognized his daughter’s talent and supported her with deep affection.
🔴Her mother’s great cooking made her love eating.
Rosé has posted photos with her mother on Instagram, showing their close parent-child relationship.
She has also shared stories about her mother in various interviews.
“My mom was a health nut, so I grew up eating healthy things. I loved my mom’s cooking.” (From VOGUE’s YouTube channel)
Furthermore, she answered, “On the last day on Earth, I want to eat the tuna kimchi jjigae my mom makes.” (From an i-D interview)
Rosé openly says she loves eating. This might be due to the influence of her homely mother.
A photo of Rosé and her mother with matching bracelets. The second slide features a heartwarming two-shot of young Rosé and her mother. (From Rosé’s Instagram)
Next, let’s look at Rosé’s older sister.
🔴Her older sister is a lawyer and devotedly supports Rosé.
Her older sister’s name is Park Ji-young (English name: Alice Park).
She is currently working as a lawyer.
Rosé’s older sister, Alice Park, was born in 1993, graduated from the law school at Australian National University, and works as a lawyer.
On her sister’s Instagram, she posts messages supporting Rosé, as well as videos of her walking Rosé’s beloved dog, Hank.
A photo from when she visited Rosé’s concert. You can see her cheering on her younger sister’s stage. (From Rosé’s older sister’s Instagram)
A post of her walking Rosé’s dog, Hank. It’s clear that her sister also adores Hank. (From Rosé’s older sister’s Instagram)
Seeing her back up the busy Rosé really highlights the strength of their sisterly love.
The reason Rosé was able to cross over to South Korea alone and survive trainee life was likely because of the presence of her family, who continued to send her love even from afar.
It’s evident that her family’s support became the driving force pushing Rosé’s dream forward.
About Lisa’s Family
Lisa’s parents divorced when she was young.
After that, she was raised by her mother and stepfather.
Their family relationship seems to be very good, and heartwarming photos of the three of them are posted on her mother’s Instagram.
A photo taken when they attended BLACKPINK’s live concert. Seeing the three of them really shows how close they are. (From her mother’s Instagram)
🔴A mother who made her learn dance from a young age and supported her daughter’s dreams.
Lisa has a very close relationship with her mother, who seems to value Lisa’s happiness above all else.
Instead of interrogating her about various things, Lisa’s mother simply asked, “Are you happy?” To Lisa’s mother, her daughter’s “happiness” seems to be the most important thing of all.
Furthermore, in 2024, she was selected for the “Outstanding Mother Worthy of Gratitude” award in Thailand.
The National Council on Social Welfare of Thailand selected BLACKPINK Lisa’s mother, “Chitthip,” for the “Outstanding Mother Worthy of Gratitude” award during Thailand’s “Mother’s Day” week in 2024.
It seems her dedication as the person who supported her daughter’s global success is highly praised.
Also, in the Netflix documentary, Lisa revealed that her mother sent her to a dance school from a young age.
At the American music festival “Coachella”. Seeing her travel from afar perfectly conveys a mother’s love cheering for her daughter. (From her mother’s Instagram)
It’s clear that her mother was the one who nurtured Lisa’s talent by sending her to dance school and gently watching over her.
🔴Her stepfather is a chef who, while worrying about his daughter, watches over her with warm affection.
Her stepfather appears to be a famous chef.
Marco Bruschweiler, the stepfather of BlackPink’s Lisa and a chef, appeared on a Thai TV program. The video has been released.
Marco Bruschweiler is a famous Swiss chef. Currently, he appears as a judge on the Thai version of “Iron Chef,” called “Iron Chef Thailand”. The video shows a scene where he comments on the dishes.
He is close with Lisa, and on her mother’s Instagram, you can see posts of the two of them hugging.
You can also tell he is very caring toward his daughter.
She revealed on the Korean variety show “Knowing Bros” that when Lisa went to South Korea alone, her stepfather initially opposed it out of worry.
Additionally, the couple made a surprise appearance on the YouTube show “BLACKPINK HOUSE.”
Seeing him cook and entertain for his daughter and the members shows just how much he cherishes Lisa.
Treating the members to a home-cooked meal and warmly watching over them as a family is quite impressive. (From the YouTube channel “BLACKPINK HOUSE”)
Because they have lived together since her childhood, they seem to have a relationship just like true father and daughter.
The relationship conveyed through SNS and TV shows reveals a family environment filled with love.
The presence of her family was surely what supported her in continuing to work hard alone in a foreign land.
Also, the fact that Lisa is known as the mood maker among the members might be the influence of her parents’ kindness.
Members’ Childhoods ~ The BLACKPINK Audition Journey!
YG Entertainment, where BLACKPINK was born, is known for its strict auditions and long trainee periods.
Since 2NE1 debuted in 2009, it had been about 7 years since a female artist debuted from YG, so it garnered massive attention at the time.
Among countless trainees, why were these four chosen?
Actually, each member has her own catalyst for entering the K-pop world.
From here, let’s take a look at how the four earned their debuts.
Jisoo’s Childhood and Path to Debut
🔴Took on her first-ever audition at the recommendation of those around her, and successfully passed.
When she was young, Jisoo dreamed of becoming a painter or a writer.
She joined the drama club at the age of 11, and people around her suggested she audition just for the experience.
In July 2011, with no experience in singing or dancing, she passed her first-ever audition and became a trainee at YG Entertainment.
She also revealed her reasons for choosing YG Entertainment.
“I didn’t really know what kind of company YG Entertainment was, and it was a time when I was pondering, ‘Should I try doing this kind of work?'” She explained that she took YG Entertainment’s audition simply because it was the earliest one scheduled among the auditions being held at the time.
Childhood photos of Jisoo (2nd and 3rd slides). She reportedly never thought about becoming an idol at this age.
Furthermore, on the Korean variety show “Knowing Bros,” she laughed as she recalled being asked “Who is your favorite celebrity?” during her audition and answering “TVXQ,” an artist from a different agency.
It seems the CEO teased her about it even after she passed, which shows her fearless and natural personality.
🔴Captivated those around her with her stunning visuals and natural, quirky personality.
Often called the group’s visual, Jisoo was already attracting attention during her trainee days by appearing in commercials, music videos, and dramas.
Also, according to Wikipedia, she was even scouted by other agencies during her trainee period.
Jisoo has shared anecdotes from her trainee days with a touch of humor.
On January 30, Jisoo, who was preparing to release her solo album, guest-starred on the YouTube channel “DEX’s Fridge Interview”. When asked if she was ever a troublemaker, she recalled, “During my pre-debut days, I caused trouble for everyone regarding food.” “Moreover, I was quite chubby back then, and even though (the agency) always scolded me to ‘lose weight,’ I would say, ‘I have to eat; I like my chubby self.'”
She also caused laughter when she added, “When the CEO scolded me, and I replied, ‘I like my chubby self,’ he just brushed me off, saying, ‘She’s a weird kid.'”
It’s an episode that makes you feel that her natural, unpretentious personality is just as much a part of her charm as her visuals.
Jisoo talking about pre-debut episodes on YouTube’s “DEX’s Fridge Interview”.
🔴Leaving high school, going from zero experience to a grand debut.
The Korean trainee life is famous for its rigorous training.
After passing, Jisoo, who had no experience in singing or dancing, made the decision to leave high school to focus on her lessons.
Regarding that time, she explained, “I passed the audition and went to the agency to practice during summer vacation.” “I couldn’t just skip school, so once summer vacation ended, my only option to practice every day was to drop out. I agonized over it, but I dropped out.” She reportedly didn’t tell her friends she was dropping out and quietly left school after her last class.
Furthermore, in another interview, she spoke about her state of mind at the time.
“I think I was able to endure it this far half because of my desire not to give in. I didn’t want to throw it all away halfway. I watched other kids (trainees) lose in the competition and go back home. I refused to give up. I wanted to endure until the very end.”
From these stories, you can feel Jisoo’s inner strength and extraordinary efforts.
Amidst lessons lasting up to 14 hours a day and not being able to go home even on weekends, she reportedly questioned herself whether she should quit because it was so tough. (From the Netflix documentary)
Despite harboring such anxieties, she overcame the grueling trainee period of about 5 years and debuted as a member of BLACKPINK in 2016.
From these episodes, the reason she passed despite having no experience might be due to a captivating charm and star quality.
And her resolute determination is likely what paved the way to her debut.
Jennie’s Childhood and Path to Debut
🔴Her study abroad experience fostered her independence and current sensibilities.
Jennie grew up in South Korea until she was 9, and then studied abroad alone in New Zealand until she was 14.
The catalyst for studying abroad was when her mother suggested living overseas during a trip to New Zealand together.
Despite being young, she said that being in an environment where she had to “make my own decisions” made her stronger and shaped her current values. (From the YouTube channel “Study King Genius Hong Jin-kyung”)
Later, while considering studying abroad in the US, she decided, “I’m done with studying abroad,” and returned to South Korea.
Childhood photo of Jennie. (From BLACKPINK’s official Instagram)
🔴Pursuing her dream of becoming a singer, she headed to her dream agency, YG Entertainment.
After returning home, the desire to become a singer sprouted, and she began to take action.
Because she already liked YG’s music and felt it suited her style, Jennie took the audition in 2010 and successfully passed.
Shortly after becoming a trainee, she participated in songs with her senior labelmate, G-DRAGON, attracting attention even before her debut.
Featured in “Black” in 2012. Appeared in the MV for “That XX” in 2013, among others.
After that, as her seemingly endless trainee life continued, she admitted there were times she felt it was tough.
However, she herself stated that every time she received harsh criticism during training, she held a strong conviction that she would definitely succeed. (From the Netflix documentary)
Thus, after a trainee period of 6 years, the longest among the members, she debuted as BLACKPINK in 2016.
You can watch Jennie during her trainee days. (From the official YG Entertainment YouTube channel)
While many of her peers chose paths like higher education, her decision to prioritize her dreams might be connected to her confident performances today.
Furthermore, her broad perspective and expressive power gained from global experiences likely helped differentiate her from other candidates.
Rosé’s Childhood and Path to Debut
🔴Placed 1st in an audition with a 1-in-700 chance, and moved to South Korea alone.
Rosé’s real name is Park Chae-young (English name: Roseanne Park).
She was familiar with music from a young age, singing while playing the piano and guitar at home every day.
Also, it seems she was already familiar with K-pop when she was in Australia.
“I was originally a huge fan of YG Entertainment. It was because all the cool K-pop groups belonged there.”
In 2012, at her father’s recommendation, she participated in the YG Entertainment audition held in Sydney.
Despite the audition having a highly competitive ratio of about 700 to 1, she brilliantly won 1st place and passed.
After that, Rosé was told to come to South Korea within two months, so she made the decision to leave high school and moved to South Korea alone.
Rosé in her childhood. (From Rosé’s Instagram)
Winning 1st place amidst such high competition shows just how captivating her singing voice was even back then.
Also, in her audition video, she showcased not just singing but also playing instruments, displaying musical talent that’s hard to believe from a 16-year-old.
🔴Putting in more effort than anyone else, she went from zero dance experience to lead dancer.
Immediately after becoming a trainee, she featured in the song “Without You” by her senior labelmate, G-DRAGON.
Her singing voice attracted attention early on.
On the other hand, she herself admitted that she couldn’t dance well because she had no prior experience. (From the Netflix documentary)
However, using her frustration as a springboard, even after 14-hour daily practice sessions, she reportedly stayed behind in the practice room alone for extra training.
Regarding her 4 years as a trainee: “I woke up at 9:30 AM and practiced until 2 AM. Because I wanted to use the practice room all to myself, there were many days when I continued my lessons even after the official end time.”
As a result of such efforts, she grew to the point of being entrusted with the lead dancer position.
She also spoke about her mindset at the time.
“My trainee days were, above all, lonely. I couldn’t understand the loneliness I was experiencing, and it was a traumatic experience, but I survived,” she said.
As for the reason she was still able to endure it, she revealed, “Because I had come too far. I didn’t want to go back to Australia and have to explain my failure.”
Leaving her family at just 16 and desperately enduring while feeling lonely conveys the harshness of trainee life.
Overcoming this grueling life, she debuted as BLACKPINK in 2016 after a trainee period of about 4 years and 2 months, the shortest among the members.
Rosé now shines brightly as the main vocalist.
Behind that lies not only her natural talent but also her passion for music since childhood and her extraordinary effort.
It is exactly this accumulation of hard work that produces her captivating vocals and performances.
Lisa’s Childhood and Path to Debut
🔴Familiar with K-pop and performances from a young age.
Lisa was born in Buriram Province, Thailand, and moved to Bangkok at age 3.
She was familiar with music and dance from a young age, and her mother enrolled her in a dance school starting in kindergarten.
After that, she actively participated in dance contests and the like.
She even had the experience of being scouted at a competition she entered when she was 12. (From the Netflix documentary)
Also, it seems she was a fan of YG Entertainment even back then.
I was already a fan of YG Entertainment.
I used to often copy and dance to the choreography of BIGBANG and 2NE1.
So these were the reasons why Lisa pursued the K-pop path.
🔴Became the only successful candidate out of over 4,000 applicants.
In 2010, she participated in the YG Entertainment audition held in Thailand.
There were over 4,000 applicants at that time, and Lisa was the sole person to pass.
From this result alone, you can see that she possessed an outstanding talent that made it hard to believe she was only 14.
🔴Dedicated herself to training in an unfamiliar environment and finally made her debut.
At the beginning of her trainee days, she could barely speak Korean, and living in an environment with a completely different culture was by no means easy.
The one who supported Lisa was Jennie, who was already a trainee.
Jennie, who was the only one who could speak English, reportedly helped her communicate. (From the Netflix documentary)
Also in the documentary, Jennie stated that she felt Lisa’s natural-born talent from the moment she joined.
In the monthly agency evaluations, she was in charge of dance every time, taking on the role of creating choreography and formations.
Accumulating these kinds of experiences is likely what cultivated her current overwhelming dance skills and stage presence.
Thus, after a trainee period of about 5 years, she made a magnificent debut as BLACKPINK in 2016.
Footage of pre-debut Lisa. You can watch her overwhelming performance. (From the official YG Entertainment YouTube channel)
Raised in Thailand, the “Land of Smiles,” Lisa is also known for her bright and friendly personality.
It is perhaps because of that exact personality that she was able to overcome her long trainee life in South Korea, where she didn’t even understand the language.
Also, the experience of continuously working hard and earnestly overcoming obstacles in a harsh environment is likely what translates into her globally praised performances.
Summary
- BLACKPINK is a 4-member girl group under YG that debuted in 2016
- Ages (As of 2026): Jisoo 31 / Jennie 30 / Rosé 29 / Lisa 29
- Nationalities/Hometowns: Jisoo (South Korea) / Jennie (South Korea) / Rosé (South Korean/NZ roots, raised in Australia) / Lisa (Thailand)
- Family Structures: Jisoo (Parents, older brother, older sister) / Jennie (Parents *Father not disclosed) / Rosé (Parents, older sister) / Lisa (Mother, stepfather)
- Path to Debut: Jisoo (No experience → ~5 yrs) / Jennie (Study abroad → Aspired for YG → 6 yrs) / Rosé (1st place in high ratio → ~4 yrs 2 mos) / Lisa (Sole passer out of 4,000 → ~5 yrs)
- Their international upbringing and family support are directly linked to the four members’ personalities, expressiveness, and star quality
BLACKPINK is a world-class girl group based in South Korea, consisting of four members with highly international backgrounds spanning South Korea, Thailand, and New Zealand/Australia. By learning not only about their nationalities and upbringing but also about their family support and the stories behind “Why they chose the K-pop path,” the charm of the four members becomes even more multi-dimensional.
Their ages (as of 2026) are Jisoo 31, Jennie 30, Rosé 29, and Lisa 29. As for their nationalities and hometowns, Jisoo and Jennie are from South Korea, Rosé has South Korean and New Zealand roots and was raised in Australia, and Lisa is from Thailand.
Their family structures are also unique. Jisoo comes from a family of five with her parents, an older brother, and an older sister (her brother is involved in business management and co-founded her personal agency). Jennie often talks about her relationship with her mother, while information about her father remains undisclosed. Rosé has a supportive family with her parents and older sister (a lawyer), and it is striking how Lisa has been affectionately watched over by her mother and Swiss stepfather.
Furthermore, their paths to debut share the common theme of “Talent + Effort + Family Support.” Jisoo passed the audition with no experience, leading to a ~5-year trainee period; Jennie gained study abroad experience at age 9 and set her sights on YG, leading to the longest trainee period of 6 years; Rosé placed 1st in a highly competitive audition, leading to the shortest debut time of ~4 years and 2 months; and Lisa was the only one to pass out of over 4,000 applicants, making her debut after a ~5-year trainee period.
Knowing the roots of the four members makes it clear that their language skills, expressiveness, fashion sense, and stage personas are not just “by chance,” but are deeply tied to the environments they grew up in and the families that supported them. If you want to enjoy BLACKPINK on a deeper level, be sure to check out the family stories and trainee era anecdotes of your bias as well!
