Renowned filmmaker Bong Joon Ho, set to captivate audiences with his upcoming movie ‘Mickey 17’, recently shared his admiration for the popular K-pop group BLACKPINK, sparking a wave of diverse reactions online.

On March 4th KST, the official BuzzFeed Celeb YouTube channel delighted fans with a ‘Puppy Interview’ featuring the talented director Bong Joon Ho.

When quizzed about his preferred K-pop outfit, Bong Joon Ho promptly declared his love for BLACKPINK.

Delving deeper into the topic, the director expressed his fondness for all members of the group including Rosé, Jisoo, and Jennie. Fans were tickled when Bong playfully acknowledged Rosé's prior presence in the same interview, quipping, “Oh, really? I am clearly outshone here. The spotlight should be on such wonderful individuals like her.”

Whilst some Korean fans were amazed at Bong Joon Ho's awareness of BLACKPINK's lineup, the absence of Lisa in his list triggered a stir among certain Thai netizens.

Lisa, also known as Lalisa Manobal, stands out as the sole non-Korean member of BLACKPINK, with Jisoo, Jennie, and Rosé holding Korean citizenship (Rosé also possesses New Zealand nationality).

Consequently, a group of Thai netizens chastised Bong Joon Ho, alleging him of exhibiting nationalist sentiments and discriminatory behavior, with comments ranging from:

• “Talking about embracing diversity in his movies while appearing to be xenophobic.”

• “This paints a vivid picture of the discrimination rampant in South Korean society.”

• “Typical exclusion of non-Koreans by Koreans.”

Some even stooped to personal insults concerning his appearance.

In light of the backlash, Korean netizens rallied behind Bong Joon Ho, voicing:

• “His knowledge of three members is commendable in itself.”

• “This reaction seems unwarranted.”

• “While feeling neglected is understandable, resorting to spiteful remarks is unwarranted.”

In a parallel development, BLACKPINK has announced additional tour dates for their 2025 World Tour due to overwhelming demand.