[CELEB] Blackpink is finally back in your area, and ready to set records

After a two-year hiatus, K-pop icon Blackpink is coming back with a full-length album. The girl group released a music video teaser for its pre-release track "Pink Venom" on Wednesday. The 23-second video riled up fans' excitement as it merges ..

A scene from girl group Blackpink's visual concept film for its upcoming track “Pink Venom" [YG ENTERTAINMENT]

After a two-year hiatus, K-pop icon Blackpink is coming back with a full-length album.

The girl group released a music video teaser for its pre-release track "Pink Venom" on Wednesday. The 23-second video riled up fans' excitement as it merges Blackpink's signature powerful hip-hop beats with the sound of geomungo, a traditional six-stringed zither, creating a uniquely Korean vibe.

Prior to the release of the full-length album "Born Pink," which is set to be unveiled on Sept. 16, "Pink Venom" will drop on Friday at 1 p.m. Blackpink is also scheduled to hold a global press conference that morning.

A scene from girl group Blackpink's visual concept film for “Pink Venom" [YG ENTERTAINMENT]

This is the girl group’s first music since "The Album" in October 2020. During the long hiatus, fans dubbed Blink have been demanding a comeback — especially because the girl group has been prolific since debuting in August 2016 with the EP "Square One" (stylized in all caps). The group quickly rose as one of the top K-pop acts, releasing hit dance numbers every year including “Boombayah” (2016), “Playing with Fire” (2016), “As If It's Your Last” (2017), “Forever Young” (2018), “Kill This Love” (2019), “How You Like That" (2020) and “Lovesick Girls” (2020). The group is known for its hip-hop-based dance music and confident “girl crush” image.

Blackpink [YG ENTERTAINMENT]

While August has seen many of the K-pop scene's top girl groups make a comeback, Blackpink’s return is anticipated to be the biggest in terms of public attention and commercial success. The girl group is dubbed one of the “two great mountains of K-pop” along with boy band BTS. In 2020, Forbes wrote that “the title of the biggest girl group in the world [...] Now, it belongs solely to Blackpink, and there are no questions about their supremacy.”

The upcoming “Born Pink” album has already sold over 1.5 million copies in pre-orders, according to YG Entertainment on Thursday. Considering that pre-orders have only been available for a week, “Born Pink” is likely to become a multi-million seller. Blackpink’s previous “The Album” saw first-week sales of over 689,000 — the highest record at the time for a girl group — and “Born Pink” is expected to surpass the current record held by aespa (1.1 million).

Lisa of Blackpink's concept image for "Pink Venom" [YG ENTERTAINMENT]

Blackpink consists of four members: Jennie, Jisoo, Rosé and Lisa (stylized in all caps.) Among them, Lisa is the only member who is not ethnically Korean. Since debuting as a member of the group in August 2016, the Thai member has been contributing to Blackpink’s global popularity, especially in her home country and Southeast Asia. She was also the first ethnically non-Korean member to debut under K-pop powerhouse YG Entertainment.

A scene from Lisa's music video for "Lalisa" (2021), paying tribute to her Thai culture [YG ENTERTAINMENT]

In September 2021, Lisa made her solo debut with the EP “Lalisa” (stylized in all caps), an homage to her legal Thai name. She was the third Blackpink member to make a solo debut following Jennie and Rosé. “Lalisa” was a hit, selling over 736,000 copies in the first week of its release, surpassing the first-week sales of “The Album” and setting a new record for a solo female K-pop artist.

In the music video for the EP’s title track “Lalisa,” Lisa paid tribute to her Thai culture through costumes and accessories.

Like all members of Blackpink, Lisa is the muse of various luxury fashion houses and beauty brands. She recently made headlines after attending luxury brand Celine’s Spring/Summer 2023 menswear collection fashion show in Paris on June 26, along with V of BTS and star actor Park Bo-gum. She is also the global ambassador of jewelry brand Bvlgari.

From left, V of BTS, Lisa and actor Park Bo-gum pose for photographers before the Celine men's Spring/Summer 2023 collection presented in Paris, France, Sunday, June 26, 2022. [AP/YONHAP]

Lisa for the 2021 ″Magnifica″ Bvlgari campaign [YG ENTERTAINMENT]

After the release of “Born Pink” in September, Blackpink is set to embark on a world tour and meet approximately 1.5 million fans around the globe. The girl group will also become the first female K-pop act to perform at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), scheduled for Aug. 28 at the Prudential Center in New Jersey. Lisa is also a nominee for this year’s award for Best K-pop for the EP “Lalisa.” Blackpink previously won the Song of the Summer category with "How You Like That" in 2020 and was the first female K-pop act to take home an award at the VMAs.

LISA (Lalisa Manobal)

Date of birth: March 27, 1997 Zodiac sign: Aries Birthplace: Buriram, Thailand Debut: August 2016 as a member of girl group Blackpink Agency: YG Entertainment

Lisa debuted as a member of girl group Blackpink in August 2016 with its first EP "Square One." Known for its hip-hop-based "girl crush" image and dubbed one of the "two great mountains of K-pop” along with boy band BTS, Blackpink has released hits such as "Boombayah” (2016), “As If It's Your Last” (2017), “Forever Young” (2018), “Kill This Love” (2019) and "How You Like That" (2020). Lisa debuted as a solo artist in September 2021 with the EP "Lalisa," which holds the record for most CDs sold by a solo female K-pop act. Blackpink is set to drop its second full-length album "Born Pink" in September and embark on a world tour. This information was confirmed by YG Entertainment on Aug. 12, 2022.

BY HALEY YANG [yang.hyunjoo@joongang.co.kr]