SEOUL – Right after Lisa of Blackpink released her new solo single “Rockstar” on June 28, a heated debate ignited online between Korean and Thai fans about whether the song should be classified as K-pop or Thai pop.
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SEOUL – Right after Lisa of Blackpink released her new solo single “Rockstar” on June 28, a heated debate ignited online between Korean and Thai fans about whether the song should be classified as K-pop or Thai pop.
Lisa moved to Korea in 2011 at the age of 14 and underwent more than five years of training at YG Entertainment before debuting as a member of what is now K-pop’s most successful girl group.
Korean fans argue that her 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. The video features a local dance team and was directed by Thai producers.
Some Korean music critics, meanwhile, argue Lisa’s work as an example of the “localizing” strategy that K-pop powerhouses like Hybe, SM Entertainment, and JYP Entertainment are pursuing…