BLACKPINK’s Lisa has faced mixed reactions after opening up about the demanding process of learning Korean during her trainee days. While some online users have criticized the singer as ungrateful, fans argue that her comments have been taken out of context, overlooking the fact that she acknowledged how the strict method helped her improve rapidly.
On October 29, Lisa appeared on “knd Featuring,” a program on Thai media channel The Standard knd, where she discussed her career, life, and personal experiences. The interview was conducted as part of her promotions for the EP Press Play and documentary Always Lalisa.
According to Sports Kyunghyang, Lisa recalled arriving in South Korea in 2011 at a young age, knowing almost no Korean. The only phrases she could say were “Hello” and “I’m Lisa.”
To help the young trainee adapt quickly, the company instructed people around her to communicate with her exclusively in Korean. Even her language teacher used Korean throughout their lessons.
Lisa recalled moments when she could not understand what the teacher was explaining and simply wished someone would explain things in English first. She admitted that she sometimes felt confused and nearly broke down in tears, wondering what she was learning and how she was supposed to absorb the information.
Her remarks quickly sparked debate on social media. Some argued that learning the local language was a basic requirement for anyone hoping to work in the Korean entertainment industry. They criticized Lisa, accusing her of complaining about the training process that had given her the opportunity to build her career.
Online comments included: “She was lucky enough to be selected, yet she’s complaining about having to put in the effort to learn their language.” Others wrote, “Why did she come to Korea in the first place? Shouldn’t she be grateful that she got to come here and become a top star? She’s enjoyed everything this country has offered, yet she keeps complaining.” Another comment read, “I don’t blame Koreans for hating this ungrateful person. She has looked down on the country that made her who she is today.”
As criticism mounted, fans rallied to defend their idol. They argued that Lisa recounting the difficulties she experienced in the past did not mean she was denying the opportunities she had received from South Korea or her agency.
Fans also pointed out that some online users had deliberately taken her remarks out of context, ignoring what the BLACKPINK member said immediately afterward. According to them, Lisa explicitly acknowledged that the strict approach had actually been effective.
The singer explained that learning entirely in Korean helped her make rapid progress. Everyday conversations with Jisoo, whether they were shopping or taking the subway, also contributed to improving her language skills. Lisa now feels more comfortable speaking Korean than English.
“Lisa came from Thailand to South Korea when she was just 14 years old and didn’t know any Korean at all. That must have been an incredibly difficult experience for someone so young. However, the process helped her become fluent in Korean. She has even said that she now feels more comfortable communicating in Korean than in English. So please don’t rush to criticize Lisa based on a short video clip taken out of context,” fans urged.
This is not the first time the “Rockstar” singer has spoken about this experience. In a 2021 interview with Rolling Stone, Lisa also recalled taking lessons conducted entirely in Korean and credited her teachers with helping her improve her language skills so quickly.
Sources: kenh14