BLACKPINK marked the 10th anniversary of its debut on Saturday with a fan meet-and-greet at the National Museum of Korea in Seoul, but the celebration drew fan backlash over how the milestone was handled, prompting a public apology from member Jisoo.
All four members — Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé and Lisa — attended the “Meet & Greet” event, held at the museum’s Yongsan-gu location for 40 fans selected by lottery. YG Entertainment announced the event only two days in advance, on Aug. 6, initially saying members would attend “depending on their schedules” before confirming the following day that the full group would appear. The agency did not disclose the venue until hours before the event.
Ahead of the in-person gathering, the members held a Weverse livestream. “Today is the day BLACKPINK turns 10,” Jisoo said during the broadcast. “It’s an important day for us.” Rosé said the decade had passed in what felt like a blur.
Fans online criticized both the short notice and the limited 40-person capacity, noting the group met with 88 fans for its eighth anniversary in 2024. Jisoo addressed the criticism directly in a message to the group’s fan community, writing, “This anniversary feels like a day full of regret. Knowing how many Blinks are upset weighs heavily on me.” She added that she had not forgotten fans’ role in the group’s success and apologized again for the disappointment.
A gift distributed to attendees generated additional criticism. According to SBS and other Korean reports, fans received a two-flower bouquet and a rice-cake set that social-media users identified as a product commercially available for 6,900 won, or approximately $5. The reported price has not been independently confirmed by YG Entertainment or the event organizers. Some fans argued the package felt underwhelming for a 10th anniversary, while others said a gift shouldn’t be judged solely by retail value.
The event’s approval process has also become the subject of a citizen petition. According to ZAPZEE, a complainant submitted a request through South Korea’s National E-People portal on Aug. 10 seeking an audit of the venue approval and facility-use procedures. The petition was assigned to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s Audit and Inspection Division. Allegations concerning restricted museum access and delayed programming were raised by the complainant and have not been established as official findings.
Neither the Culture Ministry, YG Entertainment nor the National Museum of Korea had publicly announced the opening or outcome of a formal audit as of Aug. 10.
Alongside the fan event, BLACKPINK and the National Museum of Korea unveiled the “Blackpink Heritage Collection,” a seven-item merchandise line developed with MU:DS, the museum’s official goods brand. The collaboration builds on a partnership the two first announced in February around the release of the group’s “Deadline” EP, described at the time as the first large-scale museum collaboration by a K-pop act.
BLACKPINK debuted on Aug. 8, 2016, with the songs “Whistle” and “Boombayah.” Saturday’s event marked the group’s first appearance before fans in Korea since its Goyang concerts in July 2025.