BLACKPINK member Lisa opened up about the restrictions she experienced while growing up in the K-pop industry, including feeling unable to freely express herself and having to keep past relationships private.
According to Canadian outlet Toronto Star on September 3, Lisa discussed her experiences in the upcoming documentary Always Lalisa, saying she finally feels that she is able to live life on her own terms.
Lisa reportedly said, “Only now do I feel like I’m living my own life.”
She also reflected on entering the entertainment industry at a young age. Lisa moved to South Korea in 2011 when she was 14 and later trained under YG Entertainment before debuting with BLACKPINK.
While looking back at monthly evaluation videos and feedback from her trainee years, Lisa became emotional. She explained that for many years, she felt she could not openly speak up or express what she thought.
“I didn’t dare speak up or express my thoughts,” she said while recalling how she had lived since she was 14.
Lisa also spoke about the pressure surrounding dating as a K-pop idol. She said she had dated a few times when she was younger but felt those relationships needed to remain private because of concerns that public dating news could affect an idol’s career.
“In K-pop culture, you can’t date,” Lisa said, explaining that she worried being photographed with someone could affect her popularity.
She added, “I didn’t want my relationship to become a reason for BLACKPINK’s popularity to go down.”
Lisa also revealed that Dream, a track from her 2025 solo album Alter Ego, was inspired by her experience with a private relationship. According to Lisa, she contacted the person involved before releasing the song and received permission to use the experience as inspiration.
“I asked for permission before releasing it, and the person agreed on the condition that fans wouldn’t figure out who they were,” she explained.
She also addressed fan speculation about the person behind the song, saying, “Fans think they figured out who it is, but I don’t think they did.”
Lisa has previously been the subject of dating speculation involving Frédéric Arnault, the son of LVMH chairman Bernard Arnault, after the two were seen together on several occasions beginning in 2023. Neither Lisa nor Arnault has publicly confirmed a romantic relationship.
More recently, online speculation also linked Lisa with Thai actor Blue Pongtiwat after reports claimed they were seen in some of the same locations. The two are known to have been acquainted for years, but neither side has confirmed the dating claims.
Rather than confirming any current relationship, Lisa’s comments in Always Lalisa focus on the pressure she experienced keeping her personal life private while building her career as a K-pop star.
Directed by Sue Kim, Always Lalisa follows a year of Lisa’s activities as she builds her career independently. The documentary is scheduled to make its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 11, followed by a limited IMAX and international theatrical release beginning October 12 before arriving on YouTube Premium.
