BLACKPINK Subject to Strict Restrictions on Relationships, Alcohol, and Smoking Under YG’s “Dating Ban” Policy

The global K-POP group BLACKPINK is confirmed to be under YG Entertainment’s “dating ban” policy. The members are not only prohibited from having romantic relationships but also face strict restrictions on drinking alcohol, smoking, and visiting clubs, with tattoos and plastic surgery also being banned.

In a 2017 interview for JYP’s “Party People,” BLACKPINK first disclosed these restrictions. However, Jennie mentioned that there are exceptions to these rules—any rule can be broken with the approval of former YG Entertainment CEO Yang Hyun-suk. In fact, the members said they experienced drinking and club visits in a set resembling a club when they visited Park Jin Young, which was the first time such an occurrence had happened since their Debut. Jennie stated, “Today we broke two taboos: drinking alcohol and going to clubs. It’s a historic day,” while Lisa added, “This is my first time at a club.”

Despite BLACKPINK’s strict rules, reports of the members having romantic relationships have surfaced. Jennie was in a relationship with EXO’s Kai from October 2018 to January 2019. SM Entertainment officially confirmed their relationship after photos of the two together were released in December 2018. Fans had already speculated about their relationship after Jennie and Kai posted romantic photos in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris around the same time in October. In January 2019, they ended their relationship due to scheduling conflicts and decided to remain friends. Additionally, in February 2021, South Korean media outlet Dispatch reported that Jennie had been in a relationship with BIGBANG’s G-Dragon for about a year. The two had previously collaborated on G-Dragon’s 2013 song “BLACK.”