LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Jisoo of Blackpink is dating Ahn Bo-hyun, and the couple is still in the early stages of their relationship. Amid their budding romance, the 28-year-old South Korean singer, and the 35-year-old actor are said to be "getting to know each other slowly."
Following their recent sightings in Seoul, Ahn's agency, FN Entertainment, confirmed the relationship in a statement to CNN. It was confirmed: "The two are in a stage where they are getting to know each other slowly with good feelings. We would appreciate if you could watch the couple with a warm gaze."
Who is Ahn bo-Hyun?
Ahn Bo-hyun, a member of FN Entertainment, is a South Korean actor, model, and television personality. He made his acting debut in 2014 and has since appeared in a number of movies and television dramas. Itaewon Class helped Ahn succeed and mark a turning point in his acting career.
Blackpink's record label YG Entertainment issued a similar statement confirming the relationship
According to a South Korean news agency, Blackpink's record label YG Entertainment issued a similar statement confirming the relationship. It is unusual for agencies to comment on K-pop stars' romantic relationships because they are usually shrouded in secrecy, with little information about their personal lives revealed.
It represents a departure from the strict rules that saw K-pop stars banned from dating by their agencies, and any admission of a romantic relationship was considered scandalous.
In recent years, however, members of high-profile groups such as EXO and Twice have gone public with their partners, breaking away from the rigid terms. Jisoo's new romance is the first time a Blackpink member has publicly confirmed their relationship status.
Since forming in 2016, the girl group, which consists of Jisoo, Jennie, Rose, and Lisa, has soared to international fame and celebrity status and broken records amid a massive K-pop popularity storm, as reported by DailyMail.
Jisoo's new romantic partner made his acting debut in 2014
Ahn, Jisoo's new romantic partner, made his acting debut in 2014 and is well known for his roles in popular Korean dramas like 'Itaewon Class' and 'Descendants of the Sun'. According to sociologist Patrick Williams from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, private relationships with K-pop stars may now be "bad for business," which is changing how people view their romances. He added of the stars themselves: "I think that they're starting to [be] confident enough to push back against some of the constraining dimensions of [the K-pop industry]."
Blackpink has experienced a meteoric rise to fame and recently made music festival history by becoming the first Korean band to ever play the main stage at a significant UK music event.
Munhwa Ilbo, a Korean news outlet, reports (via Just Jared) that negotiations for Lisa, 26, to extend her contract with the group are still ongoing.
This month marks the end of The Money singer's contract with Blackpink's manager, YG Entertainment. According to reports, Lisa and YG Entertainment have been negotiating the terms of her new contract, but an agreement has yet to be reached, as per reports.
