[EXCLUSIVE] BLACKPINK's Hastily Arranged 10th Anniversary…"Fan Event Venue is the National Museum of Korea"
by. Hyejin Park
08/07/2026 02:58 ET
[Dispatch=Reporter Park Hye-jin] Where did BLACKPINK's 10th anniversary go wrong? Until one day before the debut anniversary, neither the venue nor the time for the fan event was set.
YG Entertainment announced BLACKPINK's 10th anniversary fan event on the 6th. The company said it would hold an in-person event on the 8th at an undisclosed location in Seoul for 40 paid Weverse members.
The company did not clarify whether members would attend. It attached a caveat: "only members whose schedules permit." Moreover, the application period was nine hours. The impression of a hastily organized event was unavoidable.
The BLACKPINK fanbase criticized YG, saying "we want BLACKPINK, not merchandise." In fact, the only 10th anniversary event YG offered was collaboration goods with the National Museum of Korea.
However, YG has a case for not deserving all the criticism. YG is known to have proposed 10th anniversary planning in various forms for a long time. Communication between the company and members was not smooth in this process.
There were planning issues on YG's part and cooperation issues on the members' part. As a result, there were limitations in pushing forward with large-scale fan meetings, according to reports.
According to Dispatch's confirmation, this 10th anniversary event is close to a hastily arranged affair. Two members suddenly showed willingness to attend, and the remaining two members also hurriedly coordinated their schedules.
Of course, even after confirming full group attendance, there are further obstacles. It is not easy to coordinate a time when all four can gather at once. In the current situation, the timeframe is being compressed to daytime rather than evening.
The fan event venue is the National Museum of Korea. The specific location inside has not yet been confirmed. YG and the National Museum of Korea are currently coordinating details as of this moment.
A National Museum of Korea official told Dispatch, "Nearly 40,000 visitors come on any given day," and "we are discussing plans that do not affect the flow of general visitors."
In the K-pop scene, a 10th debut anniversary holds significant meaning. Most idol groups disappear before reaching seven years. In other words, 10 years is a symbolic time that only top-tier groups can experience.
A K-pop industry official interpreted the situation, saying "YG only has BLACKPINK's IP. Ultimately, the artists must move. YG's leadership was lacking, and the members prioritized individual activities. As a result, fans faced a disappointing 10th anniversary."
Meanwhile, the group contract between YG and BLACKPINK is known to be nearing expiration. Contract renewal discussions have not yet begun in earnest. Observations suggest this incident could become a variable.
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