New Delhi: Four years ago, a teenager from Odisha’s Jharsuguda made history by becoming India’s first K-pop artiste.
Sriya Lenka, then 18 years old, was picked by ‘Blackswan’, an immensely popular South Korean K-pop girl group.
On a state visit to India, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung mentioned Sriya as an example of how culture connects dreams, linking the Odisha connect of Indian President Droupadi Murmu.
Speaking at a banquet hosted in his honour by President Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday night, President Lee said: “The power of culture transcends boundaries and connects dreams.. A young girl from Odisha province, hometown of Madam President, became a K pop star, and came home to show the dreams she had nurtured in Korea.”
President Lee highlighted that India and South Korea have become “true partners who work together to realise our dreams.”
He also hoped that the two countries “will show the light to lowest level of our societies as President Murmu mentioned.. And continue to shine as beacon of hope around the world.”
South Korea President Lee Jae Myung recalls how Odisha girl, home state of Indian President became a K Pop star. pic.twitter.com/kLJlRkjGnT
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) April 21, 2026
Though DR Music was supposed to pick just one member for Blackswan, they announced the names of Sriya and Gabriela Dalcin from Brazil to be the 5th and 6th members of the K-pop group. “With their debut, we will be back with Blackswan,” said the group in a post on Instagram on Thursday.
A trained dancer, singer and yoga practitioner, Sriya and Brazilian Gabriela Dalcin were chosen from among 4,000 applicants through a YouTube audition programme that began in June 2021 and culminated in May 2022.