BLACKPINK Jisoo. Provided by BLISSOO
Jisoo of BLACKPINK issued an official statement drawing a firm line between herself and her older brother, who has recently been caught up in various criminal controversies. However, doubts persist as his name appears in the production credits of a project starring Jisoo, and as evidence surfaces that he took a substantive role in company operations in the past, including hiring staff when her one-person agency was launched.
Attorney Eun Hyun-ho of Kim & Chang, representing Jisoo's one-person agency BLISSOO, stated on the 20th that the matters currently being raised are entirely unrelated to the artist and to BLISSOO. The legal representative also maintained that Jisoo has long lived apart from her family since her trainee days and that no family members received compensation or participated in decision-making during the establishment of BLISSOO. They further said there would be no financial or legal support for her brother and warned of a strong response to the spread of false information.
Nevertheless, despite the agency's attempt to ‘draw a line,’ netizens pointed out a series of contradictions. The first issue to come under scrutiny was the production credits for the Netflix original series ‘Monthly Boyfriend,’ in which Jisoo appears. The controversy intensified when it became known that her older brother's name remains in the credits alongside a job title. Netizens criticized this as trying to cover the sky with the palm of one's hand, noting that he is still listed as the representative in the credits. In addition, further tips claimed that the brother is also listed as representative in the credits of another project, ‘Newtopia.’
The name of Jisoo's older brother appears in the ‘Monthly Boyfriend’ credits with the title ‘Management Representative.’
Observers have also argued that steps taken around the time BLISSOO was founded contradict the agency's explanation. Jisoo's older brother was involved in the initial setup of the agency, including posting recruitment notices to hire BLISSOO staff and experienced employees through a company he operates. Contrary to the official statement that no family members took any part in decision-making, clear traces remain of close working interactions with her brother in the early stages of the business, damaging the credibility of the explanation.
Jisoo's older brother was recently arrested in the act on suspicion of sexually harassing a BJ (internet broadcaster), and the uproar grew as a post by his wife alleging severe domestic violence emerged. Although Jisoo's side drew a firm line in recognition of the fallout, the records of collaboration that remain suggest the controversy will continue for the time being. Some have responded cynically, asking whether this is simply cutting off a tail after the scandal broke, while others contend that holding Jisoo responsible by association for a family member's personal misconduct is an excessive overreach.
