Who is Pleum Nachkhu? BLACKPINK Lisa Sparks New Dating Buzz After Frédéric Arnault and Blue Pongtiwat Rumors [PHOTOS]

BLACKPINK’s Lisa has once again found herself at the center of dating speculation, but this time, the person at the heart of the rumors is someone who has known the K-pop star since long before she became a global superstar.

A newly shared photo of Lisa with Thai actor and former dancer Pleum Nachkhu has sparked a wave of discussion among fans. The pair’s affectionate pose, in particular, caught attention online, with some fans questioning whether their longtime friendship could have developed into something more.

However, their history tells a much bigger story. Pleum, whose full name is Pleum Nachkhun Nuttanon, has reportedly known Lisa since they were children. Their friendship dates back more than 14 years, to a time when Lisa was still living in Thailand and had yet to make her debut with BLACKPINK.

Lisa And Pleum Go Way Back

Before Lisa became one of the most recognizable faces in K-pop, she was already pursuing dance in her home country of Thailand.

Lisa and Pleum were reportedly members of the Thai dance crew We Zaa Cool and began training and performing together when they were around 10 years old. Their connection therefore predates Lisa’s BLACKPINK debut in 2016 by several years.

That long history is significant as fans react to the latest photos. While an affectionate picture can easily fuel dating rumors when a celebrity is involved, Lisa and Pleum’s friendship has existed since childhood.

Pleum has also built his own career in the entertainment industry. In addition to his background as a dancer and content creator, he has ventured into acting and appeared in the 2019 Thai television series Hotel Stars.

His continued connection to the entertainment and dance world has also given him an overlapping circle with Lisa, making their reunion less surprising than the viral reactions might suggest.

Photo Sends Fans Into Frenzy

The latest speculation began after Pleum shared a series of photographs on social media on Sept. 5.

One image quickly became the focus of attention. In the photograph, Pleum can be seen tightly hugging Lisa, who is dressed in bright red and smiling as she leans toward him.

For fans who were unfamiliar with their childhood connection, the photograph immediately looked like something more than a casual reunion. Social media users began questioning whether the two could be romantically involved.

Pleum himself appeared extremely excited about seeing Lisa again. “I’ve been so happy since yesterday that I’ve been screaming. It’s really amazing,” Pleum Nachkhu said.

His reaction added another layer to the online conversation, although it does not establish that the two are dating.

In fact, Pleum has previously spoken about the length of their friendship, reportedly telling a fan, “Since we were 10 years old, so it’s been more than 14 years.”

That detail provides important context for the latest photograph. Rather than being a newly formed connection between two celebrities, Lisa and Pleum have a relationship that stretches back to their childhood.

Lisa Has Faced Dating Rumors Before

The latest speculation is far from the first time Lisa’s private life has attracted intense public attention.

For several years, the BLACKPINK star was romantically linked to French businessman and LVMH heir Frédéric Arnault. Neither Lisa nor Arnault publicly confirmed their relationship, but their repeated appearances together led to persistent speculation among fans and entertainment media.

Interest in the alleged relationship returned in 2026 after Arnault was reportedly absent from Lisa’s birthday celebrations. A US fashion magazine subsequently reported in June that the pair had separated.

Lisa has also previously addressed the broader difficulties of dating as a K-pop idol. In her upcoming documentary Always LALISA, she spoke about relationships and the pressure celebrities face when their private lives become public.

She said, “in K-pop culture, we can’t date.”

The singer explained that when she was younger, she had relationships but felt they needed to remain private because she did not want her personal life to negatively affect BLACKPINK.

Her representatives have also reportedly asked interviewers to avoid questions about her romantic life.

Another Thai Celebrity Linked to Lisa

Interestingly, Pleum is not the only Thai celebrity whose friendship with Lisa has recently prompted dating speculation.

Thai actor Blue Pongtiwat has also been connected to similar rumors after he and Lisa were spotted together in several locations, including Thailand, Hong Kong and Japan.

Pongtiwat attended Lisa’s 29th birthday celebration and later shared photographs of the two together at a beach. He captioned the post, “Cheers to you, rockstar!”

The photos once again triggered speculation among fans, although neither Lisa nor Pongtiwat has confirmed a romantic relationship. Fans have also pointed out that the pair have reportedly known each other for years.

Are Lisa And Pleum Actually Dating?

For now, there is no confirmed evidence that Lisa and Pleum are romantically involved.

The affectionate photograph may have caught fans off guard, but their longstanding friendship offers a much simpler explanation for their closeness. Having known each other since childhood, the two share a history that existed well before Lisa became a member of BLACKPINK and rose to international fame.

The situation also highlights the unique level of scrutiny surrounding the personal lives of K-pop stars. A friendly reunion that might otherwise attract little attention can quickly become a major topic when one of the people involved is an artist with Lisa’s global profile.

Until either Lisa or Pleum addresses the rumors directly, the dating speculation remains just speculation.

For now, what is confirmed is that two childhood friends who shared the same passion for dance more than a decade ago have crossed paths again. And for BLACKPINK fans, that reunion has been enough to send the internet into overdrive.