As BLACKPINK prepares to release their highly anticipated EP Deadline on Feb. 27, 2026 — their first group project since Born Pink in 2022 — the world is once again turning its attention to Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa.
While they are now global superstars with Grammy nominations, record-breaking tours, and fashion house ambassadorships to their names, each member’s path to the top was paved with a fascinating educational journey that shaped who they are today. Here’s where BLACKPINK studied.
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Jisoo: The Homegrown Star
Kim Ji-soo, born on January 3, 1995, in Gunpo, South Korea, is the only BLACKPINK member who was raised entirely in her home country.
She attended high school in Seoul, reportedly the School of Performing Arts, before joining YG Entertainment as a trainee in July 2011 at age 16, where she spent nearly five years preparing for her debut.
Before her teenage years, Jisoo practiced taekwondo and later took acting classes during her time as a trainee, a skill she would put to use in a K-drama called Snowdrop (2021–2022).
Her education was rooted in Korean culture and performance arts, giving her a deep command of the language and a stage presence that fans and critics have come to adore.
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Jennie: The New Zealand Connection
Jennie Kim was born on January 16, 1996, in Anyang, South Korea, but spent her most formative years abroad.
She moved to Auckland, New Zealand, at around age 10 and attended Waikowhai Intermediate School, a coeducational intermediate school. She then progressed to ACG Parnell College, a prestigious co-educational institution offering Cambridge A Levels and the International Baccalaureate diploma.
During her time in New Zealand, Jennie even appeared on an educational television programme about English immersion for Korean students, where she spoke about how her peers helped her adjust to the language.
She returned to South Korea at age 14 and joined YG Entertainment as a trainee in 2010. Her five-plus years of international education gave her exceptional English fluency — a quality that has been credited as a key reason for BLACKPINK’s ability to connect with global audiences.
She is now the founder of her own label, ODD ATELIER.
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Rosé: Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!
Park Chae-young — better known as Rosé — was born in Auckland, New Zealand on February 11, 1997, to Korean parents. They then moved though, so she grew up in the Box Hill suburb of Melbourne, Australia.
She attended Canterbury Girls’ Secondary College, where she was also a cheerleader and began developing her musical talents, learning both the piano and the guitar from an early age.
Established in 1928 as East Camberwell Girls’ School, the school survived through World War Two and adopted several name changes. In 1961, the name Canterbury Girls’ High School was adopted. Nearly three decades later, the name was changed to Canterbury Girls’ Secondary College in line with government policy.
At just 15 years old, she passed YG Entertainment’s audition in Australia and moved to South Korea in 2012 to begin her training.
Rosé’s bilingual, bicultural upbringing gave her a distinctly warm, open quality that has helped make her a global fashion icon for brands like Yves Saint Laurent and Tiffany & Co.
Her solo work has earned her three Grammy Award nominations for the 2026 ceremony, including Song of the Year — a historic first for a K-pop female artist in the Grammys’ general field.
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Lisa: Dance Academy to Global Stage
Lalisa Manobal, born on March 27, 1997, in Thailand, took a different educational path, one that was focused almost entirely on the art of dance from childhood.
Lisa trained at a dance academy in Thailand and became a member of the youth dance crew We Zaa Cool alongside her childhood friend BamBam of GOT7. She competed regularly in dance competitions before catching the attention of YG Entertainment scouts.
In 2010, Lisa became YG’s first-ever foreign recruit after passing their Thailand audition, the only person accepted from that event.
She moved to South Korea at 15 and trained for over five years. While her formal academic education was interrupted by her pursuit of performance, Lisa became fluent in Korean, English, Japanese, and Thai, and has since built a formidable solo career with her own agency, LLOUD.
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The school of entertainment
Beyond their formal schooling, all four members share one defining educational experience: the YG Entertainment training system. Jennie once described it as “stricter than school,” while Rosé compared it to The X Factor with dormitory life.
For members who had left their home countries to train, the combination of cultural adjustment and gruelling preparation was especially challenging.
This intensive training spans dance, vocals, language, and performance, and effectively served as a second education for all four, one that ultimately launched them onto the world’s biggest stages.
The international schooling that took Jennie to New Zealand, Rosé to Australia, Lisa across borders, and Jisoo through Korea’s performance arts system built the multicultural, multi-talented quartet. Their ability to connect with people globally, speaking multiple languages including Korean, Thai, and English is one of many reasons why they have become one of the world’s biggest girl groups.
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