A Decade of Dazzle: BLACKPINK’s 10th Anniversary Celebration

The K-pop world buzzed as global phenomenon BLACKPINK celebrated its landmark 10th debut anniversary on Saturday with an intimate meet-and-greet event. All four members – Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa, and Rosé – gathered at the prestigious National Museum of Korea in central Seoul, hosting 40 fortunate fans in what was their first group appearance before fans in Korea since July last year. This special occasion, however, unfolded against a backdrop of fan criticism directed at their agency for its handling of the significant milestone.

From left are K-pop girl group BLACKPINK members Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa and Rosé. The four gathered at the National Museum of Korea in central Seoul, Saturday, for a meet-and-greet event celebrating the group’s 10th debut anniversary. Captured from Lisa’s Instagram

Before the Saturday event, the members shared their heartfelt emotions during a Weverse live broadcast. Jisoo eloquently expressed the group’s sentiment, stating, “Today is the day BLACKPINK turns 10. It’s an important day for us.” Rosé reflected on the past decade, remarking that the time had “gone by in a blur” and “it did not feel like 10 years had passed.” In a tender moment, Rosé surprised her bandmates with a cake adorned with a ’10’ candle and individual bouquets, earning her the affectionate title of “the romanticist of our team” from Jennie. Lisa, admitting her nervousness, shared she had listened to BLACKPINK songs while preparing for the day.

K-pop girl group BLACKPINK holds a Weverse live broadcast ahead of a 10th anniversary meet-and-greet with 40 fans at the National Museum of Korea in Seoul, Saturday. Captured from Weverse

Addressing the Elephant in the Room: Fan Frustration and YG’s Communication

The celebratory mood was tinged with acknowledged fan disappointment regarding the anniversary event’s organization. Jisoo candidly addressed the criticism on the Weverse live, admitting, “We originally wanted to see many more people. We knew this was an important day, but there seems to have been a problem in our communication. I feel sorry about that.”

The source of fan frustration stemmed from YG Entertainment’s last-minute announcement on Thursday, just two days before the scheduled meet-and-greet. The application window was open for a mere nine hours, and attendance was strictly capped at 40 fans. Adding to the tension, the initial notice’s phrasing about members attending “depending on their schedules” fueled speculation that the group might not appear in full. YG Entertainment later confirmed the full group’s attendance and only disclosed the venue hours before the event, intensifying fan concerns. Online communities were quick to highlight the disparity, noting that for their eighth anniversary in 2024, BLACKPINK had met 88 fans, and the only anniversary project announced in advance was merchandise.

Beyond the Fan Meet: A Commemorative Merchandise Collection

Despite the organizational hiccups, the anniversary also saw the launch of a special merchandise collection. Released on Saturday by the National Museum of Korea under its official merch brand MU:DS, the collection features seven unique items, including an elegant pink moon jar and a traditional paper fan. This collaboration isn’t the first for the museum and the global superstars, as the NMK previously hosted a listening event for BLACKPINK’s EP “DEADLINE” in February, showcasing their ongoing creative partnership.