How Rose And BLACKPINK Are Driving K-Pop To Mainstream Popularity

New Zealand is a melting pot of cultures. The cultural scene of the nation has transformed in recent years, thanks to its growing cosmopolitanism and diversity. But for some reason it did not embrace the global K-pop revolution right away. Instead, the genre has received more of a cult following with a committed but smaller fanbase. One New Zealand-born K-pop artist is rewriting that story, though.

Bruno Mars and Rose’s single Apt. topped the New Zealand chart in October and November, 2024. The song was a global hit, but that’s not the only reason Kiwi music fans loved it. The song also has a strong connection to the Land of the Long White Cloud. How? One of the co-singers is a New Zealand citizen and spent the first nine years of her life in the country.

Born in Auckland as Roseanne Park, Rose has not only become one of K-pop’s most recognisable faces, but also a cultural ambassador inadvertently bridging the gap between New Zealand and the Korean pop industry.

Her meteoric rise with ‘BLACKPINK’, one of the world’s biggest girl groups, is igniting a cultural revolution that is reshaping New Zealand’s relationship with K-pop and, more broadly, Asian pop culture.

Rose’s journey from a quiet New Zealand upbringing to global fame is as extraordinary as it is inspiring. Raised in Auckland before moving to Melbourne, Australia, Rose grew up with the same hobbies and challenges as any other Kiwi kid. She fell in love with music at an early stage, but she had no idea that her trip to try out for YG Entertainment, a top K-pop agency in South Korea, would take her toward superstardom.

Her success with BLACKPINK has given New Zealanders a tangible connection to the global K-pop phenomenon. Rose has shown that a Kiwi can excel in one of the most competitive professions in the world and become a household name around the planet.

It would not be surprising to see big Kiwi businesses searching for endorsement deals with the BLACKPINK star as she has suddenly become one of the most famous celebrities in the country. Her face could start to pop up on billboards across major New Zealand cities like Wellington and Auckland soon.

Even the online casino industry in New Zealand might try to capitalise on Rose’s surging popularity by introducing slot games inspired by her. Online casinos New Zealand often release celebrity themed games, with slots currently available based on Hulk Hogan, Pamela Anderson, and even local superstars like Karl Urban. These games offer great payout potential and are also incredibly fun to play.

Appearances at the Met Gala and other prestigious fashion events have also helped Rose to elevate her profile in New Zealand. Her partnerships with companies like Saint Laurent and Tiffany & Co. have established her as a style icon, besides her music fame. So, she has been greatly influencing fashion trends among the Kiwi youth.

The rise of K-pop fan communities in New Zealand has also been notable. BLACKPINK fan clubs, known as BLINKs, have organised events, viewing parties, and online campaigns, creating a sense of belonging for fans who previously felt isolated in their interests.

K-pop’s global appeal is starting to inspire local musicians and producers. The New Zealand music scene is borrowing some of K-pop’s core elements to give listeners a brand new experience.

As BLACKPINK continues to dominate the global music scene, Rose’s influence in New Zealand is only set to grow. In years to come, Rose’s legacy may well be remembered as the moment New Zealand truly embraced the global phenomenon of K-pop—a revolution led by one of their own.