This post was updated Feb. 10 at 12:51 a.m.

For many K-pop artists, it is time to break free of the confinement of a group and expand their talents by going solo.

It has become increasingly evident over the last few years that the stars of some of the world’s most successful K-pop groups – especially BLACKPINK and BTS – would be better off as soloists. As fun as it is to watch BLACKPINK members interact with each other onstage, their moments together are constantly followed by extensive criticism from fans. For instance, when LISA dances, her strong movements and charisma are quickly compared to JISOO’s alleged stiffness. When JENNIE takes a moment to breathe mid-performance, she is called “lazy,” often being compared to LISA’s enthusiasm.

While comparison and criticism are inevitable – regardless of whether BLACKPINK continues their endeavors as soloists, as a group or somewhere in between – being in close proximity onstage can lead to moments where fans feel as though their favorites are not reaching their full potential. For both fans’ enjoyment and each member’s future artistic and commercial success, K-pop group members from BLACKPINK and beyond would be better served by going solo.

A prime example of the detrimental impact of being in a group over time can be seen with the underutilization of LISA’s well-known dancing skills. LISA, the main dancer of BLACKPINK, has served as a dance mentor on competitive television shows and has received praise for her ability to move sensually and energetically. Despite this, LISA has never had a solo dance break in the music videos for any of BLACKPINK’s most popular songs, unlike main dancers in other female K-pop groups of similar popularity and within the same generation. For instance, one of the main dancers from TWICE, Momo, had a dance break in TWICE’s first major single and has continued to be in the center during dance breaks in several of their other hit singles.

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LISA’s lack of dance breaks is not an issue of skill or desire. In LISA’s performances of solo songs such as “MONEY” and “Rockstar,” she has proven herself more than capable of executing fast-paced dance moves and captivating the audience as the center of attention. But perhaps even more frustrating than inequality in staged appearances is the fact that individual artists’ musical and commercial potential is limited by remaining in a comparatively stagnant group. This has been evident by the recent success of ROSÉ’s solo album, JENNIE’s solo single and JISOO’s acting career.

“rosie,” ROSÉ’s debut solo studio album released in December, became the highest-charting album by a K-pop female soloist on the Billboard 200. ROSÉ cowrote only a few BLACKPINK songs, such as “Yeah Yeah Yeah” and “THE GIRLS.” In contrast, she cowrote all 12 tracks on her album. Through “rosie,” she proved herself to be a versatile songwriter who can articulate a range of emotional depth, but she does not have the same artistic opportunities within BLACKPINK.

Importantly, JENNIE’s “it girl” persona is even more noticeable when she performs solo. While she is often criticized for her alleged lackluster live performances during group events, she is far from lacking when singing and dancing to her solo song “Mantra.” When JENNIE was in BLACKPINK, she was accused of receiving excessive favoritism from record label YG Entertainment and the group’s stylist. Now that she is shining “SOLO,” JENNIE’s success is no longer perceived as a direct detriment to the other members, especially as all four members find success in their individual pursuits.

Additionally, JISOO’s success as an actress shows how freeing it can be for artists to engage in solo pursuits. Originally auditioning for YG Entertainment after expressing an interest in acting, JISOO’s acting career outside of BLACKPINK has shown that, in some cases, in order to realize their full potential, artists should consider exploring their other creative interests outside of the group for which they are well known. With the success of “Snowdrop” – a television series she starred in in 2021 and 2022 – JISOO demonstrated that K-pop idols can also transition into another successful career.

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But the benefits of going solo are not solely limited to female K-pop groups. Bangtan Boys, more commonly known as BTS, also demonstrates the potential that group members can have in becoming soloists. The group’s leader, RM – formerly known as Rap Monster – is the sole writer for his solo songs “Adrift,” “Awakening,” “I Believe” and more, showing he is able to write and perform his songs with full creative control. RM’s songwriting style is very different from fellow group member Suga, who uses more explicit language. Since the two are able to perform their songs solo, they do not have to compromise on how they want their lyrics to flow.

Many of the advantages of being in a group can also be replicated as solo artists. Vocal layering between members can be achieved through occasional collaborations with other artists, such as when ROSÉ and LISA teamed up to cover the song “L-O-V-E.” Some fans may prefer groups as opposed to soloists because of the potential with dance formations, but ROSÉ’s unique dance arrangements with her backup dancers for her song “On The Ground” prove that soloists can also execute complex movement patterns.

With opportunities to create art and define themselves on their own terms, artists like BLACKPINK no longer have to be limited to their expected positions. In fact, in BLACKPINK’s Netflix documentary “BLACKPINK: Light Up the Sky,” JISOO remarked, “When you’re working in a group, everyone has their place and a role.” While she framed the roles as a positive, fans can now analyze BLACKPINK’s situation from a more realistic perspective. Now that every BLACKPINK member has become a soloist, fans can appreciate that soloists can serve as their own rapper, singer and dancer rather than just a piece of a whole. Additionally, soloists can create a name for themselves, instead of being known as “the rapper from that one cool girl group.”

Ultimately, fans can enjoy their favorite stars even more when they go solo, but artists are the true beneficiaries of leaving groups behind.