BLACKPINK marked its 10th anniversary on August 8, thanking fans for staying with the South Korean girl group since its debut and acknowledging some disappointment over a small anniversary event.
The four members—Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé and Lisa—spoke to fans during a live broadcast on Weverse, a fan-communication platform, celebrating a decade since BLACKPINK debuted on August 8, 2016.
“It’s already been 10 years,” Jisoo, the group’s oldest member, said during the broadcast. “Today is an important day for us. We’re grateful.”
Rosé said the decade had passed faster than she expected.
“People say time flies when you’re having fun, and 10 years really did go by quickly,” she said, adding that it didn’t feel like a full decade had passed.
Rosé had prepared a cake and bouquets of flowers for the other members. Jennie smiled and called her “the romantic one,” while watching messages from fans appear during the livestream.
Lisa said she was so nervous about the anniversary that she hadn’t been able to eat.
“I was listening to BLACKPINK songs even while getting my hair and makeup done,” she said, underscoring her affection for the group.
BLACKPINK, one of South Korea’s most internationally successful pop groups, also held a small meet-and-greet event with 40 fans at the National Museum of Korea in Seoul on August 8.
The event drew some disappointment from the group’s fan base, known as BLINK, after the announcement was posted only two days earlier, on August 6, and fans learned that only 40 people would be able to attend.
Jisoo apologized for the limited event and the short notice.
“We prepared a small event. We originally wanted to see many more of you,” she said. “We knew how important this day was, but I think there were some communication issues on our side. We’re sorry.”
Jisoo also told fans who felt disappointed that the members wanted to celebrate the anniversary with them.
“We wanted to spend today feeling happy and celebrating,” she said. “To the BLINKs who may feel a little disappointed, I’m sorry, and I want to tell you that we love you. I hope you understand how we feel.”
The anniversary marks a decade since BLACKPINK debuted under YG Entertainment and went on to become one of the leading acts in the global K-pop industry, with a large international following and a major presence on streaming platforms and social media.
