Blackpink 10th anniversary gift sparks controversy over sincerity

The controversy surrounding Blackpink's 10th anniversary celebration shows no signs of subsiding. This time, the 'reverse tribute' gift delivered to fans attending the event has come under fire. As news spread that the rice cake set provided alongside bouquets was a product sold for approximately 6,900 won in the market, a new debate has erupted among fans.

On the 8th, Blackpink (Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, Lisa) held a 'Meet & Greet' event at the National Museum of Korea in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, to celebrate their 10th anniversary and meet with fans. While it was a special occasion for fans who have shared the past 10 years with them, disappointment surrounding the event began even before it started.

The first point of criticism was the timing of the announcement. The event was announced only two days before the anniversary date, and attendance was limited to 40 people. Furthermore, reviews surfaced stating that the duration of the event did not meet fans' expectations, leading to a flood of voices expressing disappointment online.

Amidst this, the controversy reignited when the reverse tribute gifts delivered to fans after the event were revealed.

The gift consisted of a bouquet and a rice cake set. The problem arose when it was discovered that the rice cakes were not specially produced commemorative items, but rather a general product sold online for about 6,900 won.

For some fans, the number '6,900 won' was not the issue itself. Rather, given that this was a gathering prepared specifically for only 40 fans during the symbolic moment of a 10th anniversary, there was significant disappointment that a gift carrying more special meaning could not have been prepared.

Online reactions included comments such as, "It's too lacking in sincerity to be called a 10th-anniversary commemorative gift," "The price itself isn't the problem; what matters is whether the composition was worthy of the 10th anniversary," "If it's an event where only 40 people can attend, couldn't they have prepared something more special?" and "It's disappointing considering this was a place for fans who have been together for 10 years."

On the other hand, there are many opinions that this is excessive criticism.

Counterarguments such as, "Isn't the heart more important than the price of a gift?", "Just because it costs 6,900 won doesn't mean the meaning of the gift becomes 6,900 won," and "If the members did not personally decide on the event planning and gift preparation, the criticism should not be directed at the members" also followed.

Ultimately, analysts suggest that the core of this controversy is not the price of a single set of rice cakes, but rather the gap between the 'specialness' fans expected from the number 10 and the actual experience they felt at the event.

For Blackpink, 10 years is not just a simple debut anniversary. Since their debut in 2016, they have changed the global landscape of K-pop girl groups, and now, even while pursuing individual solo activities, they are a team building a global fandom. Blackpink's 10th anniversary is a monumental event for fans to look back on their own time together.

Therefore, it is highly likely that what fans expected was not an expensive gift, but 'something that only those who have been together for 10 years could receive.'

In this situation, as the specific price of 6,900 won became known, the price tag was highlighted before the meaning of the gift, and for some fans who were already dissatisfied with the event management, it was received as another element of disappointment.

In fact, while this controversy started with a single set of rice cakes, its roots go back to communication issues regarding the event as a whole.

Previously, this event was only open to those who had joined the paid membership, and the announcement was made on short notice. Additionally, reviews continued to claim that even combining the live broadcast and the Meet & Greet, it did not reach the scale and duration of the '10th anniversary commemorative event' fans had expected.

The points where fans felt dissatisfaction varied, but they ultimately converged into one emotion.

It was: 'This is an event for fans who have been together for 10 years, so why didn't the fans feel sufficiently respected?'

As the controversy grew, Jisoo spoke out directly.

Through a live broadcast, Jisoo stated, "We also wanted to meet more people, and we knew well how important the 10th anniversary is," adding, "It seems there were issues in the communication process." She continued by apologizing, saying, "I am truly sorry to BLINK, who must have been upset," and added, "We haven't forgotten the fact that BLINK is what has made Blackpink shine for 10 years."

In the end, what is important in this controversy might not be the price of 6,900 won.

In fandom culture, a 'reverse tribute' is not just a simple gift, but is accepted as a symbol of an artist's gratitude toward their fans. Especially during a moment as symbolic as a 10th anniversary, how much the gift conveys that the fans have been remembered for a long time can be more important than the cost of the item itself.

Even a 6,900 won rice cake set could have carried a completely different meaning if it had been delivered with a special message commemorating 10 years. Conversely, no matter how expensive a gift is, it is difficult to guarantee satisfaction if fans feel alienated during the event itself.

Ultimately, the controversy surrounding Blackpink's 10th anniversary is expanding from the 'price of rice cakes' to the 'way fans are treated.'

What fans who have been together for 10 years want is not necessarily an expensive gift. Perhaps the greatest gift they desire is simply the assurance that: 'You remember these 10 years we spent together as something precious, just as we do.'