Jennie Kim Family Tree: The Story Behind BLACKPINK's Rapper-Vocalist

Kim Jennie (Korean: 김제니), born 16 January 1996 in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, is the lead rapper and main vocalist of BLACKPINK — one of K-pop's most-iconic individual brands. Founded her own label ODD ATELIER (OA) in November 2023.

The Family's Roots: A Wealthy Korean Family

The Kim family is from Anyang, Gyeonggi Province. The family is reported to be wealthy; Jennie was sent abroad to study at age 9.

Her Parents

Father: A Korean businessman; CEO-level executive (specifics private).

Mother: An executive at YG Plus (the YG Entertainment subsidiary) — though the family has been careful about publicizing the connection.

Her Sibling

Jennie is an only child by most reports.

Her Personal Life

Jennie has been in publicly-reported relationships with Kai (Kim Jong-in) of EXO (2018–2019) and V (Kim Tae-hyung) of BTS (2021–2024, briefly publicized). She has been private about details.

The Kim Family Tree at a Glance

Family Origins: Anyang, Gyeonggi Province; affluent family.

Father: A Korean businessman / executive (private).

Mother: A Korean executive (reportedly at YG Plus).

Siblings: Only child (per public reports).

Kim Jennie:

  • Born 16 January 1996, Anyang
  • Studied abroad in Auckland, New Zealand from age 9 (4 years at ACG Parnell College)
  • Returned to Korea in 2010, joined YG Entertainment as a trainee (age 14)
  • Trained for 6 years
  • BLACKPINK debut: 8 August 2016
  • Hits: "Boombayah", "DDU-DU DDU-DU", "Kill This Love", "How You Like That", "Lovesick Girls", "Pink Venom", "Shut Down"
  • Solo debut: "SOLO" (November 2018) — first member of BLACKPINK to release a solo single; became BLACKPINK's first solo K-pop release to chart globally
  • Acting: The Idol (HBO, 2023) — Sam Levinson series
  • ODA / ODD ATELIER (OA): founded November 2023 as her solo management label
  • 2025 solo album Ruby — single "Mantra"; "Like Jennie"
  • One of the most-followed Korean celebrities on Instagram (80+ million followers)
  • Multiple high-fashion brand ambassadorships (Chanel, Calvin Klein, Tag Heuer)

What the Kim Family Story Teaches Us

A businessman father. A mother with industry connections. An only-child upbringing that included four years abroad in New Zealand at age 9-13. A YG training period from 14 to 20. A career that included a record-setting solo debut at 22 and the founding of her own label at 27.

For every family — large or small, famous or otherwise — the Jennie story carries the same lesson. Sometimes a child's path involves crossing continents alone. Jennie's New Zealand years from age 9 are on the Kim family record alongside every BLACKPINK song. Write down which family members lived abroad — and when. The early-life geography matters.

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📜 Disclaimer The family tree and biographical information provided in this article are based on publicly available sources and records. While we strive for accuracy, we do not guarantee the completeness or authenticity of all data. This content is intended for educational and informational purposes only and does not aim to infringe on any individual's privacy or personal rights. If you believe any information is incorrect or wish to request edits or removal, please contact us at Info@familyrootapp.com.