BLACKPINK’s controversial 10th-anniversary fan event has taken another dramatic turn after South Korean authorities launched an investigation following complaints about the use of the National Museum of Korea.

The group’s anniversary celebration was already facing criticism for allegedly being organized at short notice. Now, the controversy has escalated after complaints were filed over the decision to hold the event at the National Museum of Korea, a major public cultural institution.

According to the report, the Audit Office of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has assigned an auditor to examine the circumstances surrounding approval of BLACKPINK’s fan meeting at the museum.

The authorities are expected to process civil complaints requesting an audit by August 19.

Why was the event controversial?

The central issue is reportedly how and when the event was approved, as well as its impact on the museum’s normal operations.

One particularly unusual detail has drawn attention: even on August 7, just one day before the August 8 event, the specific location within the museum had reportedly not been completely finalized.

When the event eventually took place, access to some exhibitions was restricted, while schedules for existing workshops were reportedly altered to accommodate the BLACKPINK gathering.

That reportedly frustrated members of the public who had planned to visit the museum for its regular cultural programs.

The upcoming review is expected to examine when the museum first began discussing the event, when approval was granted and when the final venue selection was completed.

Officials will reportedly determine whether a formal audit is necessary as the complaints are processed.

Fans question why the museum was chosen

The controversy has also triggered intense reactions online, with some Korean netizens questioning why an idol fan event was held at such a prominent public institution in the first place.

Several comments on theqoo criticized what they described as a rushed decision.

“Why did they choose the National Museum of Korea? If the museum wasn’t prestigious enough, would they really have refused to attend?”

Another commenter questioned both sides of the arrangement, arguing that whether BLACKPINK’s side requested the venue or the museum approved it, both parties should have considered the consequences more carefully.

Others suggested that the event could have been held at a private venue instead, with one commenter sarcastically suggesting that YG Entertainment’s own building would have been more appropriate.

The controversy is particularly sensitive because the National Museum of Korea is not simply an ordinary event venue. It houses and presents significant Korean cultural heritage, making questions about public access and the use of its facilities especially important.

Another controversy surrounding BLACKPINK’s anniversary

The investigation adds another problem to what was supposed to be a celebratory milestone for BLACKPINK.

The group marked its 10th anniversary on August 8, but the celebration has instead generated criticism over the organization of the fan event, venue selection and treatment of attendees.

For now, the investigation does not mean authorities have concluded that BLACKPINK or the museum violated any rules. It is intended to establish how the event was approved and whether the process caused inappropriate disruption to the museum’s regular operations.

The findings could determine whether the controversy ends as an administrative issue—or develops into a much larger dispute over how public cultural spaces are being used for high-profile private events