A backlight unit (BLU) and a liquid crystal display apparatus having the BLU are provided. The BLU includes a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) configured to emit blue light, a fluorescent member configured to convert the blue light emitted from the plurality of LEDs into tricolor light and emit the tricolor light, and a filter disposed between the fluorescent member and the plurality of LEDs, and configured to selectively filter a first wavelength area of the tricolor light emitted from the fluorescent member toward the plurality of LEDs, and reflect a second wavelength area of the tricolor light emitted from the fluorescent member toward an output direction.