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Lisa Reveals the Cost of Hiding Love in K-Pop and the Story That Inspired ‘Dream’

From TVN Panamá · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • BLACKPINK member Lisa says K-pop idols face pressure to hide romantic relationships because public exposure can damage their popularity and careers.
  • She says a past relationship inspired “Dream,” a song on her 2025 album Alter Ego, and that she sought the person’s permission before releasing it.
  • Fellow BLACKPINK member Rosé also described disguising herself to protect a relationship from public scrutiny.

Lisa is opening a rare window onto the private cost of life as a K-pop star. In the documentary Always Lalisa, the BLACKPINK member says romantic relationships can become a professional risk when an idol’s popularity depends on a carefully protected public image.

In K-pop culture, we can’t date.

· LisaShe describes the restrictions surrounding romantic relationships among K-pop idols.

“In K-pop culture, we can’t date,” Lisa says in the production, according to information published by the Toronto Star. She recalls having relationships when she was younger, but says she and her partners had to hide when they went out. “If you’re dating someone and paparazzi catch you, your popularity goes down,” she says. “I didn’t want my dating life to be what hurt Blackpink’s popularity.”

One of those relationships later became part of Lisa’s solo work. She says the experience inspired “Dream,” a song on her 2025 album Alter Ego. Before releasing it, she contacted the person involved and asked for permission. The person agreed on one condition: fans should not be able to identify them. Some fans believed they had worked out the person’s identity, but Lisa says those conclusions were wrong.

If you’re dating someone and paparazzi catch you, your popularity goes down. When I was younger, I had some relationships, but we had to hide when we went out. I didn’t want my dating life to be what hurt Blackpink’s popularity.

· LisaShe explains why she kept past relationships private.

Her account echoes remarks from Rosé, another BLACKPINK member, who described the elaborate steps she took to keep a relationship away from public attention. She studied the clothes worn by older women, bought similar outfits and wore a short dark wig. “I studied how older ladies dressed and started ordering that kind of clothing,” Rosé said. “I went to his house, because we couldn’t go anywhere. I traveled like that in case someone saw me.”

I studied how older ladies dressed and started ordering that kind of clothing. I went to his house, because we couldn’t go anywhere. I traveled like that in case someone saw me.

· RoséShe describes disguising herself to avoid recognition while visiting a partner.

Rosé said she bought long, light-blue floral skirts and maintained the routine for at least six months. “I was very committed to keeping it a secret,” she said. Always Lalisa is directed by Sue Kim and produced by Sony Music Vision, RCA Records and Tremolo Productions.

I was very committed to keeping it a secret.

· RoséShe recalls maintaining the disguise and secrecy for at least six months.
About this summary

Originally published by TVN Panamá in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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