K-pop girl group Blackpink is releasing its third EP 'Deadline' as a full quartet for the first time in over three years. To promote the album, the group has partnered with the National Museum of Korea, illuminating the venue in its signature pink. Fans attended a pre-listening event at the museum.
Blackpink, under YG Entertainment, is set to release its third EP 'Deadline' at 2 p.m. on Friday, marking the quartet's first full-group project since the 2022 album 'Born Pink'. The five-track release features the lead single 'Go', alongside the prerelease 'Jump', 'Me and My', 'Champion', and 'Fxxxboy', blending EDM, hip-hop, and pop to explore themes of confidence, growth, and unity.
To celebrate the comeback, Blackpink has launched the 'NMK X BLACKPINK' project with the National Museum of Korea, running through March 8. On Thursday (Feb. 26), a pre-listening event co-hosted with Spotify drew about 300 fans to the museum's lobby. In six sessions of 50 people each, attendees listened to tracks like 'Jump' and 'Go' around a digital rendering of the Gwanggaeto the Great Stele, transforming the serene space into a concert-like atmosphere.
Following the release, a dedicated listening zone in the lobby will allow visitors to experience the full album for free during operating hours. The museum's exterior and interior are illuminated in Blackpink's signature pink, and members Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa have recorded multilingual audio guides for eight national treasures. Available in Korean and English, with Lisa's Thai version premiering in March, the guides cover artifacts such as the Gilt-bronze Pensive Bodhisattva and a white porcelain moon jar.
YG Entertainment stated, "Despite a tight world tour schedule, Blackpink invested significant effort to enhance the album's quality, capturing both individual artistry and group synergy."
The group's YouTube channel recently surpassed 100 million subscribers, adding an average of 10,000 daily since promotions began on Feb. 15.
Fan Lee Hak-min, an office worker from Seoul, said, "Hearing Blackpink's new songs in front of the Gwanggaeto monument felt special and even patriotic somehow. That's the power of Blackpink."
Another attendee, Ko Eun-seo, added with a laugh, "I almost cried because the songs were so good, but I didn't want my friends to tease me. It's amazing to see how far they've come in 10 years. I'll love Blackpink forever."
This collaboration continues Blackpink's tradition of integrating Korean heritage, from modernized hanbok in the 2020 'How You Like That' video to architectural motifs at the 2023 Coachella performance, positioning K-pop within a cultural timeline.
