November 2, 2026 | K-POP News | Artist Life & Interviews
When BLACKPINK’s LISA first arrived in South Korea as a trainee, she knew only a few words of Korean. Years later, the Thai singer says the language feels more natural to her than English. In an interview with Thailand’s THE STANDARD knd, she recalled how she went from struggling through lessons to using Korean in everyday life.
The English-language conversation aired on October 29, 2026, as episode 222 of knd Featuring. LISA described the Korean-only lessons that nearly brought her to tears, as well as the conversations with fellow BLACKPINK member JISOO that helped her grow more confident.
LISA says Korean now feels more natural than English
When she moved from Thailand to begin her training in Korea, LISA knew little more than how to say hello and introduce herself. She could not yet follow a lesson or hold an everyday conversation.
Her training environment relied on immersion. People around her spoke to her in Korean, and even her Korean-language lessons were conducted entirely in Korean. LISA remembered wishing a teacher would explain the material in English first. One lesson left her so confused that she nearly cried.
Looking back, LISA acknowledged that the difficult approach helped her improve quickly. She now feels more comfortable speaking Korean than English, although Thai remains her native language.
Watch the original THE STANDARD knd interview
The roughly 40-minute conversation, “Speaking English with LISA: The World-Famous Idol from Thailand!”, was released on the official THE STANDARD knd YouTube channel on October 29, 2026. Alongside her early training, LISA talks about her music, BLACKPINK and her work at LLOUD.
Video: THE STANDARD knd, knd Featuring EP.222 (October 29, 2026). Watch the full interview on YouTube.
A difficult start that eventually helped her learn
The lessons were daunting for a young trainee in a new country. Yet LISA also credited the immersion with speeding up her progress. Her account combines memories of frustration with an appreciation of how much she learned.
Outside class, JISOO became an important conversation partner. LISA recalled chatting with her while shopping and on long subway rides. She could no longer remember what they had talked about on some of those journeys, but she remembered that they spoke Korean throughout.
Why the full conversation matters
Short excerpts from the interview prompted debate about the pressure placed on young trainees. Some viewers questioned the Korean-only approach, while others highlighted LISA’s acknowledgment that it helped her become fluent. In the full conversation, she describes both the difficulty of the lessons and the progress that followed.
LISA has spoken about this before. During a February 2025 appearance on DAESUNG’s ZIP DAESUNG, she said she sometimes thinks in Korean before answering questions in English. The new interview explains more about how she reached that point.
LISA’s language journey at a glance
- First arrival in Korea: She remembered knowing little beyond basic Korean greetings.
- Trainee lessons: Korean-only instruction was confusing and, at times, emotionally difficult.
- Daily practice: Conversations with JISOO helped make the language part of her routine.
- Today: She says speaking Korean often feels more comfortable than speaking English.
An interview at a busy point in LISA’s solo career
The interview arrived shortly after LISA released the six-track EP PRESS PLAY on October 23, 2026, alongside publicity for the documentary Always Lalisa. Amid those career updates, her recollections of learning Korean offer a more personal account of the years that shaped her life as an artist.
Explore her solo releases and career milestones in the LISA A–Z artist profile, and see her group activities in the BLACKPINK profile. Read more about LISA’s Japanese television appearance with Snow Man.
Sources
THE STANDARD knd — official LISA interview, knd Featuring EP.222, October 29, 2026 · Billboard Brasil — LISA recalls learning Korean, November 1, 2026.