What was meant to be a thrilling reunion between Blackpink and their fans has turned into a major controversy. During their “Born Pink” tour stop at Goyang Sports Complex, some attendees found themselves unable to see the stage—despite paying full price for their tickets.
The problem? A massive screen placed directly in front of the N3 section. Fans who shelled out ₩132,000 (approx. $95 USD) for B-section seats were shocked to find their view entirely blocked, with no warning that their seats were “view-restricted.” Instead, they were sold as regular tickets. Furious fans took to social media and online communities to vent, questioning the event organizers’ decision and accusing them of exploiting loyal supporters.
Korean Reactions: “Paid for a Billboard, Not a Concert”
Online platforms in Korea were flooded with sarcastic and angry responses from fans who felt cheated by the poor planning and pricing structure.
Top Korean Comments (Source : Nate)
“Might as well have watched on a monitor at home. 😂” (👍 1,606 / 👎 8)
“We waited in the heat and paid a lot—only to watch a screen?” (👍 1,443 / 👎 9)
“This was brainless concert planning.” (👍 1,230 / 👎 8)
“₩132,000 for a seat with zero stage view? Ridiculous.” (👍 80 / 👎 0)
“Why even go if this is what you’re paying for? 😂” (👍 69 / 👎 0)
“Boiling hot weather and this view? Just go to a sports game instead.” (👍 65 / 👎 0)
“Better to stay home with AC and order shaved ice.” (👍 60 / 👎 0)
“Not even labeled as restricted view? Insane.” (👍 50 / 👎 0)
Global Reactions: “Did They Even Try?”
Fans abroad were equally dismayed, expressing embarrassment and frustration over what they described as amateur-level event planning.
Top Global Comments (Source : allkpop)
“What y’all get for supporting the bare minimum from a talentless K-pop group.” (👍 31 / 👎 5)
“A refund isn’t enough if you traveled halfway around the world.” (👍 23)
“It’s all about the money, money, money.” (👍 16)
“This is concert planning 101—don’t block people’s view with a giant screen.” (👍 11)
“I feel bad for Blinks. No new music, poor concerts… just Spotify stats.” (👍 13)
“Imagine flying across the globe and staring at a wall all night.” (👍 13)
“They paid to see Blackpink—what were they expecting? Go girl, give us nothing.” (👍 7)
“I genuinely feel bad for the fans. I’d be devastated.” (👍 7)
Cultural Analysis: Loyalty vs. Accountability
In Korea, concert culture is tightly linked to fan loyalty. Despite past controversies, many K-pop fans often give artists the benefit of the doubt. But this time, the frustration crossed a line—especially as fans felt taken advantage of financially.
Globally, fans tend to be more critical of poor experiences, especially when travel and high costs are involved. Many saw this as yet another example of commercial greed overriding basic respect for paying customers.
In both cases, the incident has prompted a broader conversation: Can even the biggest K-pop acts ignore event quality and still retain fan trust? Blackpink’s next moves—especially how they address these complaints—could shape their global fanbase’s loyalty moving forward.