YouTuber Malwang's blunt BLACKPINK comments resurface

YouTuber Malwang, who has 1.87 million subscribers, is seeing his past blunt remarks regarding BLACKPINK resurface and gain attention. As diverse fan reactions continue to pour in regarding the group's recent 10th anniversary event and their future direction, his previous comments are being revisited online.

On the 7th, a post titled 'Malwang, who shared his honest opinions about BLACKPINK a few months ago' spread across online communities and SNS.

The post contains clips from the video 'Sik-sik-man who saved Malwang TV,' which Malwang released on his YouTube channel last April.

At the time, Malwang revealed he was a fan of BLACKPINK, saying, “As you all know, I am a BLINK (BLACKPINK's fandom name). I have even attended three concerts.”

However, he continued, expressing his thoughts: “Now, they don't have that same group feel as before, and they are focusing too much on individual activities. Fans who loved BLACKPINK as an idol group might not find this very pleasing.”

In particular, he also offered an unfiltered evaluation of the new song BLACKPINK released in February this year.

Malwang stated, “To be honest, I think the new song is a mass-produced track designed for global commercial success,” prompting the production team to immediately add a subtitle saying, “Malwang TV is not related to this statement,” which drew laughter.

While his comments were perceived at the time as a lighthearted moment containing a fan's honest opinion toward an artist they like, his remarks are gaining renewed interest as voices of disappointment emerge from within the fandom regarding the recent BLACKPINK 10th anniversary event.

To mark their 10th anniversary on the 8th, BLACKPINK will hold a fan event, 'Meet & Greet,' at a location in Seoul.

However, because the event announcement was released only two days before the anniversary and attendance was limited to 40 fans, some fans reacted by saying, “Isn't the preparation lacking considering the symbolism of a 10th anniversary?”

The application method also became a point of contention. Eligibility was limited to Weverse membership holders, and the application period was only 9 hours, causing disappointment among fans.

Furthermore, as YG Entertainment announced that “only some members who are available due to their schedules will attend,” curiosity regarding whether the full group would be present grew.

In particular, some fans raised the possibility that Rosé might not attend the 10th-anniversary event after she was spotted in Los Angeles, USA. In response, Rosé's agency, The Black Label, confirmed her attendance through an official statement on the 7th, stating, “To share this meaningful moment with fans, we have prioritized this schedule and secured and finalized all arrangements well in advance.”

Ultimately, it was confirmed that all four members of BLACKPINK will meet with fans on the day of their 10th anniversary.

Since their debut in 2016, BLACKPINK has established themselves as a representative global girl group, producing numerous hits such as 'Whistle,' 'Boombayah,' 'DDU-DU DDU-DU,' 'Kill This Love,' and 'How You Like That.'

After signing renewed contracts for group activities with YG Entertainment in 2023, the members have continued their individual solo activities while simultaneously pursuing group activities under the name BLACKPINK.

However, for a global group that has reached the top, what fans expect is not just simple music release performance or stardom. The relationship with fans who have grown together over a long period, and how they will maintain their 'identity as a group,' remains an important task for BLACKPINK to solve moving forward.