K-pop or Thai pop? Blackpink singer Lisa’s new song Rockstar prompts debate 

SEOUL – Upon the release of Thai singer Lisa’s new solo single Rockstar on June 28, a heated debate ignited online between South Korean and Thai fans over 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 for more than five years at YG Entertainment before debuting as a member of Blackpink, one of K-pop’s most successful girl group.

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. In contrast, Thai fans 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 was directed by Thai producers.

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

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

Rockstar is released through a partnership between Lisa’s independent management company, Lloud, and global record label RCA.

Music critic Lim Hee-yun believes Lisa is an effective example of K-pop localisation, saying: “The key is to maintain the K-pop style, while also appealing to the (non-South Korean) audience.” THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK