Blackpink: Fans nervous as K-pop stars negotiate new contract - BBC News
A slow drip of updates on contract negotiations leaves more questions than answers for fans.
The K-pop group's four members - from left to right Rosé, Jisoo, Lisa, and Jennie - have been silent about their contract status

K-pop girl band Blackpink are in the final stages of negotiating a new group contract, Yonhap news agency reports.

But quoting anonymous sources, Yonhap said the renewal of their individual management contracts "remains unclear".

Fans have been anxiously awaiting news and speculating about what the stars will do since Blackpink's contract with YG Entertainment expired in August.

The band's four members - Jisoo, Lisa, Jennie and Rosé - have been silent about their contract status.

Fresh reports on Korean media regarding the contract negotiations have fuelled a guessing game for weeks, with fans worried the singers could split up.

The Munhwa Ilbo newspaper reported on Monday that Blackpink members had agreed to carry on their group activities under YG Entertainment. However, the report also added that the group would not renew their exclusive contracts.

If confirmed, this means the four would be free to pursue solo endeavours and reunite as Blackpink only when their schedules allow, the report said.

YG Entertainment, which has managed Blackpink since the group was formed in 2016, has said an announcement will be made once negotiations are finished.

On social media, fans pleaded with their idols to stay together.

"I'm very sad... because Blackpink will disband," another fan commented under the most recent post on the group's official Instagram page.

Blackpink has grown to be the biggest K-pop girl group on the planet and its individual members are celebrities in their own right.

Their contract expired as their male counterparts, BTS, are taking a break as some members are on mandatory military service.