BLACKPINK’s Rosé is making waves worldwide with her latest single, APT., which has captured the hearts of fans globally. In a recent interview with Paper magazine, Rosé shared her excitement about introducing Korean culture through the song, saying, “I’m thrilled to show the world a piece of Korean culture.”

Released last month, APT. is a duet with pop star Bruno Mars and draws inspiration from a popular Korean drinking game, “Apartment.” The addictive chorus, based on the stacking game, has resonated widely with listeners. Rosé recalled, “I was the only one who believed Mars would sing this song. Everyone else advised me against it, saying, ‘It won’t happen,’ but I felt that this was the one.” Her confidence has certainly paid off, as the song continues to climb the charts.

With its catchy refrain, APT. has sparked a viral trend on social media, with fans worldwide sharing videos of themselves playing the drinking game. One clip of Rosé participating in the game has amassed over 30 million views on TikTok, underscoring the song’s massive popularity and the interest in Korean cultural elements.

Recalling the collaboration, Rosé mentioned that Mars was intrigued by the song’s unique title and even asked about its meaning. When she explained that it was inspired by a Korean drinking game, his response was, “That’s awesome.” Mars ultimately chose APT. from a list of duet options that Rosé had sent him, further validating her instincts.

While APT. has a playful and upbeat vibe, Rosé’s upcoming full album, rosie, will delve into deeper themes. She described the album, set to release next month, as an honest exploration of the vulnerability and turbulence of being in one’s twenties. Rosé expressed hope that listeners would relate to her experiences, saying, “I wanted to capture this difficult stage of life and let people know I’m not so different from any other 23-year-old.”

Rosé also shared that creating rosie was a deeply satisfying experience because she had the freedom to make her own artistic decisions. She revealed that her bandmate Lisa heard the album’s draft last year and gave her positive feedback, adding to her confidence in this new direction.

Sayart / Sharon Jung, guhuijeong784@gmail.com