Blackpink’s Lisa closes Bangkok Chinatown street for MV, compensates shopkeepers nearly $550 each

Lisa of the K-pop girl group Blackpink. Photo from Lisa’s Instagram

The South China Morning Post reported that the singer’s team shut down the area from 2 a.m. to 5 a.m. over three days in May, choosing these hours to shoot because the shops are usually closed then.

In addition to the compensation for shop owners, passersby affected by the filming also received 1,000 baht each.

Released on June 28, “Rockstar” set a new record for the highest number of views within the first 24 hours for a solo artist’s release on YouTube, surpassing the previous record held by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift.

Khaosod reported that the former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra instructed Paetongtarn Shinawatra, chairperson of the National Soft Power Development Strategy Committee, to use the popularity of Lisa’s music video to promote Yaowarat’s cuisine.

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt also said he anticipates an increase in Thai and foreign visitors to the street following the video’s success. He revealed that Warner Brothers from the U.S. is planning to film a series there soon.

Lisa, 27, originally named Pranpriya Manoban, joined Blackpink in 2016 and started her solo career in 2021 with the album “Lalisa.” Her track “Money” earned her the distinction of being the first K-pop artist to reach over 1 billion streams on Spotify.

The singer has also established herself as a fashion icon, serving as a global ambassador for luxury brands such as Celine and Bulgari. She boasts over 103 million followers on Instagram.