Killing this love? Blackpink fans angry over silence ahead of 10-year anniversary.

Fans have criticized the lack of celebratory events to mark Blackpink's 10-year anniversary, fast approaching on Saturday.

K-pop groups usually celebrate the milestone with special albums or concerts. BTS lit up different landmarks of Seoul in its signature purple for its 10-year anniversary in June 2023, along with a string of events for its so-called Festa event. Boy band Seventeen released the full-length album "Happy Burstday" (2025) for the milestone and held a special performance and fan festivals in Seoul.

Similarly, girl group Twice celebrated its recent 10-year anniversary with a fan meet-and-greet, special album, concerts and the release of a documentary highlighting the group’s journey. Twice debuted less than a year before Blackpink. 

Contrary to other groups' fanfare, the only official celebratory events planned for Blackpink's 10-year anniversary are merch releases and giveaways.

The quartet is scheduled to release limited edition merch in collaboration with MU:DS, the official merchandise brand of the National Museum of Korea and the National Museum Foundation of Korea. Another is a special badge giveaway for Weverse Membership holders. 

Fans have complained that the members are choosing to ignore the fanfare. 

“When each of [the band’s members] can do so much for their solo careers [festivals, interviews, red carpets, etc.], it kind of seems like a slap in the face that they do absolutely nothing for the group or Blinks at all,” one user on Reddit posted on Wednesday, referring to the group's official fan club.

"Blackpink members, please come to your senses," one user posted on X. "It's not the 8th or 9th anniversary — it's the 10th."

Another online user pointed out that the band did not host a single livestream last year for its nine-year anniversary, despite the band being on tour. The post also pointed out that the group’s latest album, “Deadline,” had no in-person promotional events, despite being its first group-wide album in three and a half years. 

Some fans complained that the agency is to blame for the silence, saying that the agency "doesn't respect Blink." 

Angry comments such as "August already… YG is sleeping same useless events who asked… we want songs" have flooded the agency's post on X announcing a special badge giveaway for the anniversary. "You shameless YG," another user commented.

Some fans came to the members' defense.

"It will be difficult for everyone to come back together since they are all under different labels now," one user wrote on DC Inside, an anonymous online forum. 

"It's understandable since all the members are extremely busy," another user wrote on Nate, another anonymous online platform. 

The quartet debuted in August 2016 under YG Entertainment with its album “Square One" (2016). The group consists of four members — Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé and Lisa. The band is known for hits such as “Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" (2018), "Kill This Love" (2019) and "How You Like That" (2020). 

The four singers' contracts ended with YG Entertainment in 2023 and none of them renewed. Each went their own paths: Jennie founded her own agency, OA Entertainment; Rose signed with The Black Label and released the chart-topping hit "APT." (2024); Lisa founded her own agency Lloud and released hits such as "Rockstar" (2024) ; and Jisoo founded her own agency Blissoo and pursued an acting career. 

Their group contract with YG Entertainment, however, was renewed. The band made a group-wide comeback with the single "Jump" (2025) and EP "Deadline."

BY LEE JI-WON [lee.jiwon10@joongang.co.kr]