Blackpink 'fourever' [REWIND 2023]

It was a hurrah moment for YG Entertainment and fan club Blink when all four members of girl group Blackpink agreed to renew their contracts with the agency on Dec. 6.

Girl group Blackpink [YG ENTRTAINMENT]

It was a hurrah moment for YG Entertainment and fan club Blink when all four members of girl group Blackpink agreed to renew their contracts with the agency on Dec. 6.

The news came months after keeping silent since August, when the girl group’s contract would have expired.

Blackpink debuted on Aug. 8, 2016, as YG Entertainment's second girl group, after 2NE1. It shot to the top of the charts with its meteoric debut track "Whistle" (2016) and has been sitting on the throne as the queens of K-pop ever since.

The girl group promised a new album and world tour, though the dates of the album and tour are being discussed, according to YG Entertainment.

Member Jennie recently announced that she started her own company named Odd Atelier with her mother in November and will "start [her] journey" there in 2024.

The other three members' contracts for individual activities are still in talks.

REWIND 2023

In 2023, Korea witnessed a tumultuous year in its entertainment and culture scenes. A drug scandal sent shock waves through the industry, ensnaring luminaries like Yoo Ah-in, G-Dragon and Lee Sun-kyun, with Lee reportedly dying by suicide at the age of 48 on Wednesday. BTS members one by one reported for duty to fulfill their looming military service, and Blackpink decided to stand united as a quartet with YG. The K-pop market grappled with alleged tampering scandals, involving artists Fifty Fifty, EXO, Omega X and soloists like Chuu. K-dramas continued their global reign, with "Moving" on Disney+ and "The Glory" on Netflix ranking among the most viewed shows worldwide. Korean literature earned accolades, with the international recognition of Cheon Myeong-kwan and Han Kang's works. Historic cultural landmarks and treasures also made the news, from vandalized Gyeongbok Palace walls to Jikji's exhibition and Gucci's fashion show in Gyeongbok Palace. Only two Korean films were able to make the 10 million ticket sales mark.

Here are the top 10 culture stories in 2023:

1. Lee Sun-kyun dies by suicide, drug scandal sweeps entertainment scene

2. Bye for now, BTS says

3. Blackpink 'fourever'

4. Cupid's roller coaster ride

5. Streaming services up the ante with hit shows

6. Scribbling on the royal palace walls

7. Fiction books find global acclaim

8. Jikji sees spotlight after half a century in hiding

9. Luxury brands secure their spot in Korea

10. Two films in the 10 million club

BY YOON SO-YEON [yoon.soyeon@joongang.co.kr]