Thai princess says Blackpink's Lisa 'spreads Thai culture to the world'

Thai Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya visited Busan as the 31st Busan International Film Festival was underway.

The princess called on attendees to take note of the power of Thai culture, including its film industry.

According to Yonhap, Princess Ubolratana spoke Sunday night at the "Thai Night Busan 2026" event held at a hotel in Haeundae-gu, Busan, urging the audience to "look beyond the familiar, beyond what you expected, to see Thailand's industries, its people and its creativity."

"The field that best embodies this is Thai cinema, which is emerging as a global phenomenon," she added. "I feel great pride that three Thai films are being screened here in Busan."

Several Thai films received official invitations to this year's Busan International Film Festival, including "Burning Giants," directed by Phuttiphong Aroonpheng.

The princess also singled out Lisa of Blackpink as one of Thailand's most prominent artists, saying she is "directly spreading Thai culture around the world through her work as a solo artist."

Princess Ubolratana is the elder sister of King Maha Vajiralongkorn (Rama X) and previously attended the Busan International Film Festival in 2012. The event drew Thai artists and entertainment industry figures from South Korea and abroad.

Thailand was named the guest of honor country at the Asia Contents Film & Market (ACFM), held alongside the festival. The ACFM, now in its 21st edition, runs from Saturday through Tuesday at BEXCO Exhibition Hall 2 in Busan.

This marks the first time ACFM has designated a guest of honor country. In that role, Thailand co-hosted the ACFM opening reception and has set up a "Thailand Pavilion" at the center of the venue to connect Thai companies with foreign buyers, investors, producers and media.