BLACKPINK's Lisa admits she had to keep past relationships secret as a K-pop star

BLACKPINK's Lisa has revealed the personal sacrifices and strict control that defined her rise to fame as a K-pop star.

Ahead of its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, details from Always Lalisa, a documentary by director Sue Kim, highlight the Thai performer’s candid reflections on romance, industry pressure, and her ongoing journey toward personal independence.

In one of the scenes, she opened up about the unspoken rule surrounding romance in the Korean music industry, where talent agencies often enforce strict dating bans to preserve an idol's public image.

“In K-pop culture, we can’t date,” Lisa said in the film. “If you’re seeing someone and you get caught by paparazzi, your popularity drops. When I was younger, I had a few relationships, but we had to hide when we’re dating. I didn’t want my dating to be the thing that hurts BLACKPINK's popularity.”

Lisa also revealed that one of those secret relationships inspired Dream, a track on her 2025 solo album Alter Ego. She said she sought her ex partner's permission before releasing the song, which was granted on the condition that fans would not uncover their identity.

She said she remains confident the secret is safe. “They thought they figured it out, but I don’t think so,” she said in the documentary.

According to its official description, Always Lalisa chronicles Lisa's "transformative year away from BLACKPINK” as “forging her own path, particularly in the Western music market, brings new pressures, relentless scrutiny and the challenge of redefining herself on her own terms."

In the documentary, Lisa reflected on moving to South Korea in 2011 at just 14 years old to join YG Entertainment as a trainee. Recalling the grueling monthly performance tapes submitted for evaluation and the constant scrutiny she faced, she addressed the long-term impact of that environment on her self-expression.

“I didn’t dare speak up or express my thoughts,” Lisa admitted, “and I had been living like that since I was 14.”

Now stepping into a new era, Lisa describes this current chapter as a major turning point in her life and career. “I finally get to live my life,” she says in the film.

Always Lalisa makes its world premiere at TIFF on Sept. 11, followed by a global release in IMAX and theaters on Oct. 12 before arriving on YouTube Premium.