With BLACKPINK‘s 10th debut anniversary just days away on August 8, the world’s biggest K-pop girl group is facing growing criticism from fans over what many see as an underwhelming celebration of the milestone.
Instead of commemorating the occasion with a special album, fan meeting, livestream, or a full-group reunion, the group and YG Entertainment have remained largely silent, prompting disappointment across the global BLINK fandom. Leading up to the anniversary, the only official releases were commemorative merchandise collections, which some fans criticized as another attempt to monetize the fandom rather than celebrate the group’s decade-long journey.
The prolonged silence sparked frustration online, with many questioning whether both YG Entertainment and the members themselves were treating the landmark anniversary as a priority.
Amid the growing backlash, YG Entertainment announced the BLACKPINK 10TH ANNIVERSARY MEET & GREET, marking the first official event tied to the group’s anniversary. However, the announcement immediately generated fresh controversy.
According to the company, the event will take place in Seoul on August 8, with the venue disclosed only to selected attendees. Only 40 fans will be randomly chosen to participate, and eligibility is limited to those who purchased a BLACKPINK Weverse Membership before July 31.
More notably, YG stated that “some BLACKPINK members will attend depending on their schedules,” meaning the company did not guarantee that all four members would appear together.
The announcement has fueled speculation that the anniversary event may not feature a complete BLACKPINK reunion. Based on publicly known schedules, Jennie and Jisoo are currently in South Korea, while Rosé and Lisa reportedly have commitments in Los Angeles and Thailand, respectively. As a result, many fans believe the meet-and-greet could feature only two members instead of the full quartet.
Across social media and fan communities, many BLINKs argue that a 40-person event falls far short of what they expected for the 10th anniversary of one of K-pop’s most successful girl groups. Others also noted that responsibility may not rest solely with YG Entertainment. Since renewing their group contracts in late 2023, all four members have established independent management companies for their solo careers, giving them greater control over their individual schedules. Some fans believe that if the members had prioritized a larger anniversary celebration, it could have been coordinated despite their busy calendars.
Not everyone agrees with the criticism. Some fans argue that BLACKPINK now operates more as a global brand than a traditionally active idol group. With Jennie, Lisa, Rosé, and Jisoo each pursuing successful solo careers across multiple markets, large-scale group activities have naturally become less frequent.
The group recently reunited for the DEADLINE World Tour and released the single “Jump” along with the EP Deadline their first group music in nearly three years. However, the releases received minimal promotion, with no music show performances or dance performance videos, reinforcing perceptions that BLACKPINK now focuses on short-term group projects while prioritizing individual careers.
For many BLINKs, the disappointment goes beyond the size of the event. Rather than expecting elaborate celebrations, many fans say they simply hoped to see all four members reunited to thank the fandom that has supported them throughout the past decade.
Whether that long-awaited full reunion will happen on BLACKPINK’s 10th anniversary remains uncertain.
Sources: K14