Lisa's 8-year secret romance unearthed; mysterious ex-boyfriend's identity revealed, faded from entertainment after breakup

BLACKPINK member Lisa released her new single "SaWaDiKa" today (October 4), a track that heavily incorporates Thai music and cultural elements, showcasing her distinct Thai background and adding a unique flavor to the song. Beyond the new music, her recently released solo documentary, "Always Lalisa," unexpectedly ignited discussions about her romantic life. Lisa uncharacteristically spoke about the dating taboos she faced as an idol and, for the first time, revealed that her song "Dream" was inspired by a secret relationship, prompting fans to speculate about the identity of her mysterious ex.

According to reports from media outlets, including the Canadian newspaper *The Toronto Star*, Lisa discussed the numerous restrictions on her romantic life as a K-pop idol in her documentary "Always Lalisa." She admitted, "In K-pop culture, you can't date." At the time, she was terrified of her relationships being exposed, particularly fearing that paparazzi photos would not only damage her image but also potentially impact BLACKPINK's popularity.

Lisa also uncharacteristically confessed to having had several relationships when she was younger, but each had to be kept private. "I dated a few times when I was young, but I had to keep it a secret," she said. For her at the time, avoiding her romantic life becoming a burden on the group's development was a significant source of stress.

Discussing "Dream," a song from her 2025 solo album *Alter Ego*, Lisa unveiled the secret behind its creation. She revealed that the song was inspired by a past secret relationship. To incorporate this memory into the track, she even contacted her former partner before the song's release to ask for their permission. Lisa stated that the person eventually agreed to the song's release but requested that fans not investigate their identity based on the lyrics or song content.

With Lisa's confirmation that "Dream" is linked to a past relationship, the song's lyrics have once again become a focal point for fans trying to decipher clues. "Dream" describes her looking back at a finished relationship, missing her former lover, and even fantasizing about meeting again in dreams if not in reality.

The lyrics repeatedly mention "2019" and express the sentiment, "If we can no longer be lovers, can we at least be friends?" Additionally, phrases like "that night in Tokyo" and "never hear about you again" are also considered important clues by fans.

Without Lisa publicly disclosing the person's identity, netizens began searching for past clues, pointing to rapper ONE (Jung Je-won, 정제원), who was formerly with YG Entertainment and participated in *Show Me the Money 5*. Lisa and ONE have been rumored to be dating multiple times in the past, making him a renewed focus of fan discussions.

Netizens also re-examined ONE's past works and styling. After his contract with YG Entertainment ended in 2019, ONE gradually faded from the entertainment industry and has rarely made public appearances in recent years. His last album, *PRVT 01*, is believed by some netizens to have a heartbroken atmosphere. The song "What a night" from the album sings, "Maybe tonight will be a great night," which coincidentally reminds listeners of "that night in Tokyo" mentioned in "Dream."

Furthermore, some netizens noticed that ONE's blonde hairstyle during the *PRVT 01* era bore some resemblance to the image of actor Kentaro Sakaguchi, who appears in the "Dream" music video. Some even went further, comparing past public photos of Lisa and ONE, finding that they seemingly owned multiple identical or similar items.

From lyrics and timelines to styling and allegedly matching items, as fans compiled various clues, the speculation that "ONE is the mysterious ex-boyfriend from 'Dream'" continues to grow. However, all related claims are currently based solely on netizens' comparisons and conjectures, as neither Lisa nor ONE has publicly confirmed their past relationship.

In fact, when Lisa appeared on the cover of *Vanity Fair* in June to promote her upcoming Las Vegas residency and took on the magazine's signature YouTube segment, "Lie Detector," the host asked her, "Are you a heartbreaker?" Lisa laughed and replied, "Usually, I get hurt more." She then admitted, "I feel like I've had my heart broken many times." The expert analyzing the lie detector results confirmed her answer was truthful.

This interview also sparked fan discussions at the time, with some again linking Lisa's "heartbroken ex" to ONE, though this also remains unconfirmed by the individuals involved.