Albanian singer-songwriter Dua Lipa / Courtesy of Live Nation Korea By Pyo Kyung-min Known for her global hits, Albanian pop star Dua Lipa credits K-pop as one of her musical inspirations. From collaborating with high-profile acts like BLACKPINK and Hwasa from MAMAMOO to exploring Korean culture and cuisine, Lipa's connection to Korea runs deep — a relationship she plans to celebrate with her upcoming concert in Seoul in December. "Working with BLACKPINK and Hwasa started because I was a fan of their music in the first place," Lipa told The Korea Times in a written interview.

"After writing 'Kiss and Make Up,' I thought BLACKPINK would be perfect for it, but had no idea they would actually say yes." Her collaboration with BLACKPINK dates back to 2018, with a song that not only helped propel the then-two-year-old K-pop group further into global stardom, but also introduced Lipa's name to Korean listeners. Lipa has also teamed up with Hwasa , a standout solo artist and a member of girl group MAMAMOO, for a remix of her 2020 release, "Physical.

" For Lipa, working with K-pop artists offered a rare opportunity to witness their growth. She says this is one reason she's eager to continue collaborating with younger acts in the industry. "I've loved seeing the girls from BLACKPINK grow over the years and now they're blossoming into their own solo careers.

So obviously, I'd totally be up for doing something with one of the girls," she said. "LE SSERAFIM has had a great year, too, and.