BLACKPINK officially launched their highly anticipated DEADLINE world tour with two sold-out nights at Goyang Stadium, South Korea. Drawing a total of 78,000 fans, the event marked a historic moment as BLACKPINK became the first girl group ever to perform at the stadium—turning it into a breathtaking pink ocean of light sticks and fan chants.
K-pop Royalty Gathers to Support BLACKPINK
While BLACKPINK’s explosive performances thrilled the crowd, the concert quickly became the talk of the town for its A-list celebrity guest list. Day 1 saw appearances from actor Lee Min Ho and EXO’s Suho, setting the tone for what was to come.
Day 2, however, turned into a full-blown K-pop summit. The audience included:
- J-hope (BTS)
- Mingyu, The8, Jeonghan (SEVENTEEN)
- Jihyo, Nayeon (TWICE)
- Irene, Seulgi (Red Velvet)
- Jung Hae In
- LE SSERAFIM
- BABYMONSTER
- TREASURE
- Jung Ho Yeon
- Hyeri
- Lee Soo Hyuk
- Lee Dong Hwi
- WINNER’s Seungyoon, Seunghoon
- IVE’s Yujin, Gaeul, Liz
The concert’s celebrity power rivaled that of major Korean award shows, with fans stunned by the unity among members of the “Big Five” third-generation K-pop groups EXO, BTS, SEVENTEEN, TWICE, and Red Velvet all under one roof to support BLACKPINK.
BTS’s J-hope Steals the Spotlight with Surprise Appearance
The most buzzworthy moment came when BTS’s J-hope was spotted in the general audience section. Fans went wild, turning their attention (and cameras) away from the stage and toward the BTS star. His presence alone was enough to set social media on fire, especially given the perceived rivalry between BTS and BLACKPINK.
Adding to the excitement, fans noticed a staff member with a BLISSOO gift bag—Jisoo’s personal brand hinting that J-hope may have attended at Jisoo’s invitation. The subtle but meaningful connection between two global icons quickly trended across social platforms.
Fan Reactions: Buzz, Unity, and Controversy
While most fans celebrated the heartwarming show of camaraderie, J-hope appearance wasn’t without backlash. Extreme fanbases from both BTS and BLACKPINK engaged in online arguments, sparking brief waves of controversy and speculative rumors.
However, the overall sentiment was clear: the DEADLINE tour kickoff symbolized a new era of mutual respect and unity in K-pop. BLACKPINK’s ability to draw support from across fandoms and generations highlighted their global influence and industry respect.
