BLACKPINK's 10th anniversary should have been a victory lap. Instead, Jisoo apologised on behalf of the K-pop group on Saturday, 8 August 2026, after a last-minute celebration in Seoul limited to 40 fans triggered anger among BLINKs over its scale, timing and lack of clear communication.
Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé and Lisa all attended the meet-and-greet at the National Museum of Korea, but the confirmation came only after fans began criticising the plans. The event was announced on 6 August, two days before the milestone, leaving supporters little time to apply or travel.
A Milestone With Just 40 Places
YG Entertainment's official Weverse notice said entry was restricted to 40 paid membership holders selected through a lottery. The application window remained open for about nine hours, while the exact venue was withheld from the public and the first announcement said members would attend depending on their schedules. All four members were confirmed on 7 August, one day before the gathering.
The limited access became a major flashpoint because BLACKPINK's eighth-anniversary event in 2024 accommodated 88 fans. Supporters also questioned why eligibility was restricted to people who had purchased membership by 31 July, particularly after relatively little group activity on Weverse. Online criticism intensified as fans compared the small reunion with the scale of the quartet's stadium tours and global success.
Jisoo Addresses Fans' Disappointment
During a full-group Weverse livestream before the event, Snowdrop actress and BLACKPINK vocalist Jisoo acknowledged that the celebration had fallen short of expectations. 'We originally wanted to see many more people,' she said, adding: 'We knew this was an important day, but there seems to have been a problem in our communication. I feel sorry about that.'
Jisoo later posted a longer message to the group's fan community. 'This anniversary feels like a day full of regret,' she wrote. 'Knowing how many BLINKs are upset weighs heavily on me. I haven't forgotten that it's BLINK who made BLACKPINK shine like this.' Fan footage shared online later showed her accepting handwritten letters from supporters and appearing to wipe away tears from inside a car.
Jennie, Rosé and Lisa also shared anniversary messages of gratitude. Rosé reflected on growing alongside the group 'from my debut at 19 to today, at 29', while Lisa thanked fans for remaining with them through 'these 10 long years'. Jennie posted a photograph of all four members together and thanked BLINKs for a decade of support.
Merchandise Could Not Quiet the Backlash
The anniversary programme also included a Weverse badge, a fan-letter template, a listening party and the BLACKPINK Heritage Collection created with MU:DS, the National Museum of Korea's official merchandise brand.
The seven-piece line included products inspired by Korean heritage, such as a pink moon jar and a traditional paper fan. Yet some fans argued that merchandise appeared to have received more advance planning than opportunities for direct interaction with the group.
The museum had previously announced a major collaboration around BLACKPINK's February EP, Deadline, including a listening zone and multilingual audio guides recorded by the members. YG Entertainment's official discography shows that the group debuted on 8 August 2016 with Square One, featuring 'Whistle' and 'Boombayah'.
Since renewing only their group contract with YG in 2023, the members have built separate solo operations while coordinating group work across different management teams. That arrangement has made full-group appearances less frequent, increasing expectations for a once-in-a-decade date.
Ten years after their debut, the anniversary reunited all four stars, but Jisoo's apology ensured the conversation centred on the fans who felt the milestone had not received the celebration it deserved.
