BLACKPINK’s Lisa recently captivated fans with a rare and candid appearance on the YouTube show Zip Daesung, hosted by her YG Entertainment senior, BigBang’s Daesung. The two artists, representing different generations of K-pop royalty, engaged in a lively conversation that covered everything from Lisa’s solo career to her unexpected confessions about language preferences. Among the highlights of the episode was Lisa’s surprising revelation that she feels more comfortable speaking Korean than English, despite her global stardom and frequent use of English in interviews and music.
A Warm Reunion Between YG Legends
The episode kicked off with a warm exchange between Lisa and Daesung, showcasing their mutual respect and shared history under YG Entertainment. As they delved into various topics, the discussion naturally turned to Lisa’s solo album, Alter Ego, which has been making waves since its release. Daesung, clearly impressed, singled out the track “Born Again feat. Doja Cat & RAYE” for praise, noting,
“The rhythm was absolutely killer.”
Lisa beamed at the compliment, replying,
“Thank you. I also love this song.” She added a personal tidbit, revealing, “Every time I fly, I just listen to it from start to finish.”
This sparked an amusing exchange about artists listening to their own work. Daesung admitted,
“That means it must be a really good album. To be honest, once I release my music, I don’t really listen to it.”
He explained that after spending so much time perfecting a track during production, he feels shy hearing his own voice post-release, saying,
“I feel like it might make me look like a narcissist.”
His casual use of the English word “narcissist” unexpectedly set the stage for Lisa’s language confession.
Lisa’s Language Revelation: Korean Over English
“I don’t actually know what that means.” She continued, “I feel like people are using that word a lot these days, but I’m not sure.”
Daesung, visibly surprised, responded,
“Lisa, (but) you’re really good at English.”
This prompted Lisa to clarify her linguistic comfort levels, dropping a bombshell for fans:
“I’m not as good at English as I am at Korean.”
The Thai-born superstar went on to rank her language proficiency, explaining,
“I’m most comfortable with Thai, then Korean, and then English.”
She elaborated on her process during English interviews, saying,
“Korean is more comfortable for me. When I do English interviews, I think of it in Korean first and then answer in English.”
Daesung, still processing the revelation, asked in disbelief,
“It’s Korean first?” to which Lisa confidently affirmed, “Yes.”
From Thailand to Global Stardom: Lisa’s Linguistic Journey
Lisa’s admission sheds light on her remarkable journey as a multilingual artist. Born Lalisa Manobal in Thailand, she moved to South Korea as a teenager to pursue her dream of becoming a K-pop idol. After joining YG Entertainment as a trainee, she immersed herself in Korean culture and language, eventually debuting as a member of BLACKPINK in 2016. Over the years, her fluency in Korean has become second nature, surpassing her comfort with English—a language she uses frequently to connect with her international fanbase, BLINKs.
Her preference for Korean over English highlights the depth of her adaptation to life in South Korea, where she has spent over a decade building her career. While Lisa’s English is undeniably impressive, her reliance on Korean as a mental framework underscores how deeply integrated she has become in the K-pop industry and its linguistic landscape.
Peek Into Lisa’s World Beyond Language
Beyond the language discussion, Lisa and Daesung also touched on the challenges of her solo career. Lisa, who now runs her own label, Lloud, shared insights into the unexpected expenses of managing her brand and music production. The conversation offered fans a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes realities of her transition from BLACKPINK member to solo artist and entrepreneur.
Meanwhile, her chemistry with Daesung added a layer of warmth to the episode. His playful shock at her language confession and their shared laughter over music-making habits bridged the gap between their respective eras at YG Entertainment, delighting viewers with their easy rapport.
Fans React to Lisa’s Confession
Lisa’s revelation about her language preferences quickly sparked buzz among fans online. Many expressed admiration for her honesty, with comments like, “It’s amazing how fluent she is in Korean after starting from scratch,” and “She’s so global, but Korean feels like home to her now.” Others found it endearing that even a worldwide superstar like Lisa could still have moments of vulnerability, such as not knowing the meaning of “narcissist.”
As BLACKPINK’s Lisa continues to dominate the music scene with Alter Ego and her boundary-pushing collaborations, her Zip Daesung appearance serves as a reminder of her multifaceted identity— a Thai native, a Korean-speaking K-pop icon, and a global artist still navigating the complexities of language and fame with grace and authenticity.
