Jisoo of Blackpink moves quietly, but makes it count

Korea Herald

08-04-2025

While fellow Blackpink members have frequently made headlines with high-profile solo ventures, Jisoo has been steadily building her own empire behind the scenes.
Concerns were raised earlier this year following reviews critical of her performance in the TV series "Newtopia" and the lukewarm global response to her solo debut EP "Amortage" in February. Her limited public appearances outside of official engagements have also fueled perceptions that she is less active than Jennie, Lisa and Rose.
Beneath her quiet exterior, however, Jisoo has emerged as a top performer, both commercially and artistically, often outpacing her peers in less visible yet impactful ways.
As of April, Jisoo is the best-selling female K-pop soloist on the Circle Chart, with cumulative solo album sales exceeding 2 million. Her debut physical single "Me" sold over 1.5 million copies, while her latest EP "Amortage" added another 462,057. "Me" holds the record for the best-selling album by a female soloist on the chart as of December.
Jisoo has released just six solo tracks — including her 2023 debut single "Flower" and the 2025 lead single "Earthquake" — but their sales surpass even those of veteran artists. IU, one of Korea's most prominent female singer-songwriters who debuted in 2008, ranks No. 2 with approximately 1.84 million in cumulative album sales. Among Blackpink members, Rose and Lisa follow at No. 4 and No. 6, with 1.5 million and 1 million albums sold, respectively.
Jisoo also completed her first solo tour last month. From March 14 to 30, she held "2025 Fan Edition: Jisoo Asia Tour – Lights, Love, Action!" in seven Asian cities -- Manila, Bangkok, Tokyo, Macao, Taipei, Hong Kong and Hanoi. While the tour consisted of fan-meeting-style events rather than full concert performances, it marked the highest number of solo appearances among the Blackpink members since their 2023 departure from YG Entertainment. Jennie and Lisa have each held five solo concerts so far, while Rose has yet to launch an official tour.
Jisoo is also the most active actor of the group — even though her acting continues to draw mixed reactions.
She recently starred in the original series "Newtopia," which aired on Coupang Play and Amazon Prime Video from Feb. 7 to March 21. While reviews of her performance were divided — with praise for her on-screen charm and criticism of the lack of emotional depth — the show was a commercial success. Within 10 days of its premiere, it became the most-watched series on Coupang Play and entered Amazon Prime Video's Top 10 rankings in 54 countries.
Jisoo's star power continues to carry weight in the acting world. Jisoo is confirmed to appear in the fantasy action film "The Prophet: Omniscient Reader," set to premiere in July, as well as in Netflix's upcoming romantic comedy series "Boyfriend on Demand."
By contrast, Jennie and Lisa have taken on single supporting roles in HBO's "The Idol" (2023) and "The White Lotus Season 3" (2025), respectively. Rose has not appeared in a drama or film.
In the world of fashion, Jisoo is recognized as a global ambassador for the French luxury houses Dior and Cartier. She also endorses a range of international brands, including Dyson, Alo Yoga and Tommy Hilfiger.
In February, she launched her official fan platform app, Jisoo, which offers exclusive content, including personal photos, videos and an activity calendar. Within two months, the app recorded over 100,000 downloads on the Google Play Store.
'Compared to other Blackpink members, she may appear quieter and less visible in the public eye — but Jisoo is one of the most hardworking and successful artists today,' said an entertainment official on Tuesday.