Caretaker PM Prayut Chan-o-cha recently commended Lalisa ‘Lisa’ Manoban, a member of world-famous K-Pop group Blackpink, for constantly promoting Thailand and boosting the economy. Lisa’s pride in her Thai heritage, expressed through traditional clothing and discussions about ‘Thainess’, has earned admiration in the Kingdom. Her recent photos in Ayutthaya wearing a traditional blouse and indigo-dyed sarong have sparked a trend, encouraging her fans to explore Thai culture globally. Lisa’s visits back home boost local economies and increases Thailand’s soft power internationally. The caretaker PM noted that she serves as a role model for the younger generation while TAT has invited all tourists to explore the temples she visited in Ayutthaya.

Our Take

Although I’m not a huge fan of K-Pop, I’m a BIG fan of Lisa and everything she has done to promote her country at the highest level. It also begs the question of “can Thailand become a cultural powerhouse” in the same way that S. Korea has over the past 10-years through food, fashion, and entertainment? It’s hard to say, but I do believe that the makings are there and the Kingdom is well-positioned when it comes to the whole concept of ‘soft power’. Pretty cool if you ask me. There’d be nothing I’d like more than my sisters being more interested in Thailand because of an amazing Thai Netflix series they just watched or a new Thai band they discovered. Let’s see…