BLACKPINK's Lisa Recalls Five Years as a YG Trainee: "Couldn't Express My Opinions... No Dating or Drinking Allowed"

*This content was translated by AI.

BLACKPINK's Lisa reflected on her five years as a trainee at YG Entertainment.

In an interview with Variety on the 14th (local time), Lisa recalled her time as a YG Entertainment trainee.

The new documentary 'Always Lalisa,' which chronicles how Lisa, YG Entertainment's first non-Korean trainee, quickly rose to stardom, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on the 14th and will be released in theaters on October 12.

In the documentary, Lisa revealed, "Since I was 14, I lived without daring to voice my opinions or express my thoughts." She explained that during her five years as a trainee, she lived under strict discipline, with restrictions not only on drinking and dating but also on obtaining a driver's license and even going out to meet friends.

In the interview, she said, "At that time, we focused solely on dance, singing, rap, and language practice. It was like living in a boarding school." She added, "We all thought only about debuting as singers. We didn't think about anything else; we concentrated entirely on debuting."

When asked if it felt more like attending military school, she replied, "It wasn't that bad." Regarding various rules such as the ban on drinking, she reflected, "I think the company also wanted to protect us because we were still young at the time."

Lisa also expressed her affection for her trainee days. She said, "It was really good back then. When I talk about this with my BLACKPINK members, they all say it was 'really fun.'" She recalled, "We didn't even get enough sleep, but we wanted to create something new, practice, and learn more. It was truly a wonderful time."

She also noted that the monthly evaluations, where trainees were assessed in front of company officials and those who failed were eliminated, placed immense pressure on young trainees.

Lisa said, "Honestly, it wasn't easy for a young girl. But I believe those experiences shaped who I am today." She added, "Watching friends leave was heartbreaking and sad, but that's not the end of life. It's just one part of life, and we all grow and learn through such experiences."

She continued, "Performing in front of many people while facing the possibility of elimination at any time could be burdensome, but I found the process enjoyable." She added, "Even now, when I watch videos from that time, I think, 'Wow, we actually created and performed all those choreographies ourselves. That's truly amazing.'"

After finalizing individual contracts with YG Entertainment and establishing her own company, LLOUD, Lisa embarked on her solo career. She said, "At first, it was a bit scary. No one told me what to do, and I had to choose my next path myself." She explained, "As I took things step by step, I gained a lot of confidence and learned many things on my own. I believe my solo career is just beginning."

Lisa also expressed her continued affection for BLACKPINK activities. When asked about future group activities, she emphasized, "Even when I'm 50, I want to continue with BLACKPINK. We will always be together. Right now, we've just finished the tour and returned to our respective solo activities."

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*This content was translated by AI.