Why Bong Joon-ho Is Facing Backlash in Thailand Over a BLACKPINK Controversy

Acclaimed Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho (55), known for his global cinematic achievements, is facing unexpected criticism in Thailand. The controversy erupted after Bong’s recent interview, where some fans accused him of excluding BLACKPINK’s Lisa—sparking a heated debate online.

The Interview That Started It All

On March 3, Bong Joon-ho appeared on BuzzFeed Celeb, a popular YouTube channel known for celebrity interviews, to promote his film ‘Mickey 17’. When asked about his favorite K-pop group, he immediately answered, “BLACKPINK.” However, when asked to name his favorite member, he listed “Rosé, Jisoo, and Jennie”, then hesitated for a moment before adding, “All of them.”

The interviewer then mentioned that Rosé had previously done an interview with BuzzFeed, to which Bong Joon-ho jokingly replied, “That’s such a great program, and here I am ruining it. Beautiful people like them should be on this show instead.”

The lighthearted moment was well received in Korea, where fans were surprised and amused that a director born in 1969 could effortlessly name multiple BLACKPINK members.

Why Thai Fans Are Upset

However, in Thailand, the omission of Lisa’s name did not sit well with many netizens. Some interpreted it as intentional and accused Bong of excluding Lisa, the group’s only foreign member. Unlike Rosé and Jennie, who have international backgrounds, Lisa is the only non-Korean member of BLACKPINK, having debuted in South Korea after moving from Thailand.

The backlash quickly gained momentum as Thai netizens flooded social media with criticism, accusing Bong Joon-ho of being nationalistic and even racist. Some of the harshest comments included: “This Korean man is strange,” “Lisa should never mention him,” “It’s ironic to exclude the only foreign member,” “Koreans and their nationalism are disgusting,” and “Would it really hurt him to just say Lisa’s name?”

Some users took their criticism even further, making offensive remarks about Bong Joon-ho’s physical appearance, with comments such as “Fat Korean, can’t even remember Lisa’s name?” and “I’ll remember your face—fat, hairy, and with narrow eyes.” Among the harsh accusations, some netizens also claimed, “Korea is known for its racism. This is their true nature.”

In contrast, Korean netizens were largely perplexed by the backlash, arguing that the controversy was blown out of proportion and that it was already impressive that Bong Joon-ho could name three BLACKPINK members, considering he is not typically associated with K-pop. Many defended him with comments such as “Even remembering three members is impressive,” “This is just unnecessary insecurity,” and “Feeling a little left out is understandable, but this level of outrage is ridiculous.”

Meanwhile, Lisa continues to thrive in her solo career, following BLACKPINK’s contract renewal with YG Entertainment for group activities only. On March 2, she delivered a stunning solo performance at the 97th Academy Awards at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre, where she performed ‘Live and Let Die’, the iconic theme song from the James Bond film franchise.

As the controversy surrounding Bong Joon-ho’s interview continues to spark debate, fans remain divided on whether his remarks were merely an innocent memory lapse or something more intentional.