260418 Jisoo: “I’ve learned to know my own limits and to manage my energy.” | Madame Figaro

> Superstar of Blackpink, fashion icon and now successful actress, the South Korean singer will receive the Madame Figaro Rising Star Award at the Canneseries Festival.

> Around the world, each of her appearances causes a sensation. Jisoo’s stratospheric fame rivals that of Taylor Swift or Beyoncé. It’s also the fame of a true child star and artist of Hallyu (the Korean Wave), the South Korean pop culture phenomenon that has swept the globe for just over a decade. A singer in Blackpink, the K-pop girl group launched in 2016 and now the most popular in the world, Kim Ji-soo, known as Jisoo, first earned her international star status on stage alongside her bandmates Jennie, Lisa, and Rosé. These four artists, recruited through auditions, were trained by YG Entertainment, a veritable Star Academy and hit factory for K-pop. Their strength? Highly danceable hits and meticulous choreography combined with a work ethic worthy of a war machine.

> With record sales and irresistible hits like “Boombayah” (1.6 billion views on YouTube) and the catchy “Whistle” (over 2.5 million downloads in South Korea), as well as collaborations with stars like Selena Gomez ( “Ice Cream” ) and Lady Gaga ( “Sour Candy “), the singers, dancers, and songwriters of the South Korean quartet have established themselves as star ambassadors of the Korean Wave (Hallyu ). Jisoo, in particular, has been catapulted to the role of Blackpink’s brand ambassador: while the group boasts 59 million followers on Instagram, Jisoo – aka @Sooyaaa – has 80.5 million! The young woman in her thirties is recruiting her fanbase far beyond the Blinks (the group’s fan community). She has also been an ambassador for the French luxury brand Dior for several years. But this former student of the Seoul School of Performing Arts also pursues an acting career alongside her life as a K-pop idol. A first role in the miniseries The Producers in 2015 encouraged her to continue down this path.

> In 2021, this fan of Michel Gondry’s Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind landed her first leading role in Snowdrop. A first attempt, a resounding success: the historical series was a huge hit on the Disney+ platform. Since then, the 31-year-old artist has continued her multifaceted career: alongside touring and recording with Blackpink ( Deadline , their latest mini-album, was released on February 27), Jisoo is pursuing a solo career under her own label, Blissoo, notably with the album Amortage, due out in 2025. She is also continuing her exploration of acting. Recently, she made a strong impression in the acclaimed Netflix romantic series Boyfriend on Demand . Does she have a career plan? “I’m focusing on the present,” she says. The present? That’s the reason we’re awarding her our Madame Figaro Rising Star Award on April 23, at the opening of Canneseries , the international television series festival. Meeting a few days before the event with a fiercely discreet superstar.

> Madame Figaro: You are receiving the Madame Figaro Rising Star Award at the Canneseries Festival. What does this first award, as an actress, mean to you?

> Jisoo: This is my first time in Cannes , and I am very excited to be here to receive your award at such an iconic international festival dedicated to television series. It is a tremendous honor, which I truly appreciate. I am proud to be the first Korean actress and K-pop artist to receive this award.

> What do you think of the global craze for K-dramas like Squid Game  ?

> It makes me particularly proud, of course. I was very impressed to see works directly related to K-pop, like K-pop Demon Hunters, achieve such worldwide success last year. The incredible work of renowned Korean directors and actors plays a crucial role in this craze. At the same time, I think that certain behaviors and values ​​that are very familiar to us in South Korea, such as our strong sense of family and community, or the competitive spirit that constantly pushes us to improve, can seem innovative and fascinating to an international audience.

> On screen, you explore a variety of genres: historical drama ( Snowdrop ), fantasy ( Newtopia ), rom-com (Boyfriend on Demand ). Do these choices reflect your personal tastes?

> My personal tastes don’t guide my choices; it’s more about reading a script. I let myself be guided by what seems most fun to me. There are stories that stay with me long after the first reading, that keep coming back to me, and I really enjoy being able to bring the characters in those stories to life.

> In Boyfriend on Demand , you play a single woman testing a virtual reality app that offers her different scenarios with AI-programmed boyfriends. What attracted you to this show?

> After time travel ( Snowdrop ) and fighting zombies ( Newtopia ), this series, despite its futuristic setting, allowed me to play a more normal character, closer to everyday life. Furthermore, just like in my first solo album , Amortage , released last year, I really enjoyed exploring love through the different stories Seo Mi-rae experiences. I hope viewers connect with the various chemistry between the characters and the multiple emotional facets we wanted to explore.

> What did the demanding apprenticeship of a K-Pop star teach you about approaching acting?

> The activities of an idol (the name given to artists in the K-Pop industry ) are, without a doubt, very intense. But it’s thanks to this dedication and constant training—fourteen hours a day on average—that we are able to deliver high-quality performances. This discipline has been very formative and instills a great deal of self-confidence. I’ve learned to know my own limits and to manage my energy. My determination to maintain a positive attitude, even during long days of filming and demanding schedules, probably comes from these years of experience.

> When you perform on stage, aren’t you already playing a role?

> Throughout my career as a singer-songwriter , I’ve worn so many different costumes… I feel like there’s almost nothing I haven’t tried. (Laughs.) With each new facet explored, the costume demanded a different attitude and a particular range of expressions. Today, I use that experience on set to adjust the intensity of my character’s emotions and tone of voice.

> Do you feel freer to express your sensitivity and vulnerability when you play a fictional character?

> I’m a very cool, laid-back, and positive person. I don’t get easily thrown off balance by emotions or situations, so when I’m on stage, I do my best to share my joyful energy with the Blinks who came to see us. As an actress , I become someone else. Stepping into the shoes of a complex character allows me to express a whole range of new emotions. I also talk with the director before filming. For Boyfriend on Demand , since my character moves between reality and a virtual world, I decided it was important that her emotions appear differently in both spaces.

> Could you have imagined becoming the global star you are today?

> I never imagined becoming a star. However, I always had faith in our team, ever since I joined after my 2011 audition at YG Entertainment. Rosé, Jennie, Lisa , and I trained together for a long time as trainees and formed very strong bonds. I was convinced that once we debuted, we would succeed, no matter which path we chose. It’s that confidence that has led me to where I am today.

> Which of your personality traits is the most “Korean” and which is the least?

> The most? My love for spicy food . (Laughs.) Whenever I travel abroad, I bring ramen or spicy sauces with me. As for what might seem less typically Korean… I would say a tendency to be quite direct, without fear of “killing the mood.” When I have something to say, I’m honest and frank. But, of course, I always make sure to communicate with courtesy and respect.