Blackpink’s Lisa Reflects on K-Pop Trainee Days: ‘She Had to Suffer’

Blackpink’s Lisa, renowned for her rapping and dancing, recently shared insights on what advice she would give her younger self as a K-pop trainee in an interview with Elle.

Lisa, who started her training at just 13 years old before becoming part of the globally successful girl group, reflected candidly. “I’d say, ‘Let her suffer.’ I wouldn’t spoil any of this. I’d say, ‘Don’t think too much about the future. Just focus on what you’re doing right now. But don’t quit. Just don’t quit,'” she said.

The decision to leave her family in Thailand to move to Korea and chase her musical dreams at a young age came with its own set of challenges. “I had to keep fighting. I had to give it my all. I didn’t care about how long it would take. I said, ‘Bring it on! I don’t care anymore!'” Lisa recalled.

Her dedication paid off as she became one of the top trainees, impressively learning Korean and English quickly. This feat earned her the admiration of her future band members. In the group’s 2020 Netflix documentary Blackpink: Light Up the Sky, Jennie expressed her awe, “As soon as Lisa came in, that’s when I thought, ‘Wow, there are people who are born to do this.'”

Lisa confirmed that Blackpink has no plans of disbanding anytime soon. “Of course we’re continuing, for sure. We’re so proud of Blackpink, and I love Blackpink. It is not just because of our fans, it’s for ourselves,” she stated firmly. However, the members are currently engaged in various solo projects.

In June, Lisa released her solo single “Rockstar,” and is set to collaborate with Rosalía on an upcoming track titled “New Woman” on August 15. Meanwhile, Jennie worked with ZICO in April on the song “SPOT!” and recently interviewed Billie Eilish for Spotify at an event in Seoul.

Rosé has also been active in her solo music career, and Jisoo has made notable strides in the fashion world through collaborations with brands such as Dior and Cartier. Together, the group marked their eighth anniversary on August 8.

Rosé took to Instagram to celebrate this milestone, writing, “Thank you girlies for being my best sisters throughout all of this. I’m so so proud of us. Love you all tremendously. Happy 8 years blackpink. I can’t wait to live laugh and grow with you all.”