K-Pop or Thai-Pop? Blackpink singer Lisa’s new song “Rockstar” causes debate

SEOUL – When Thai singer Lisa’s new solo single “Rockstar” was released on June 28, a heated debate broke out on the Internet between South Korean and Thai fans about whether the song should be classified as K-pop or Thai pop.

Lisa, whose full name is Lalisa Manobal, moved to South Korea in 2011 at the age of 14 and trained at YG Entertainment for more than five years before debuting as a member of Blackpink, one of K-pop’s most successful girl groups.

South Korean fans argue that the 27-year-old’s identity as a K-pop star justifies calling her new single a K-pop song. Thai fans, however, claim it is Thai pop, pointing to the music video’s strong emphasis on her Thai heritage, as it features a Thai dance team and is directed by Thai producers.

Some South Korean music critics, meanwhile, say Lisa’s work is an example of the “localization strategy” that K-pop heavyweights like Hybe, SM Entertainment and JYP Entertainment are pursuing for future growth.

“Lisa is entering a new market as a pop star in the U.S. mainstream music market,” music critic Kim Do-heon said on July 3. “Rockstar, shot in Thailand with local crew, marks the beginning of her career as an Asian pop star, which is not common worldwide.”

“Rockstar” is released as part of a partnership between Lisa’s independent management company Lloud and global record label RCA.

Music critic Lim Hee-yun considers Lisa a successful example of K-pop localization, saying: “The key is to maintain the K-pop style while embracing the (non-South Korean) audience.“ THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK