Jisoo's BLACKPINK Comeback Announcement Faces Criticism Over BTS Timing
Controversy Surrounds BLACKPINK's 2026 Return
BLACKPINK member Jisoo recently confirmed plans for the group's comeback during an interview with ELLE Korea, but her announcement has sparked controversy among K-pop fans regarding the timing coinciding with BTS's anticipated return.
Jisoo Confirms Early 2026 Release
In her interview and editorial feature with ELLE Korea, Jisoo revealed that BLACKPINK's new album would arrive in early 2026. She also mentioned working simultaneously on her own solo project, stating that she feels immersed entirely in music while discovering new emotions through the creative process.
The girl group has been hinting at a comeback for quite some time, with previous reports suggesting various release dates. However, recent updates confirmed the album had been pushed back to 2026.
BTS Connection Sparks Debate
The backlash stems from perceived similarities between BLACKPINK's schedule and BTS's planned activities. Following their military discharge, BTS members have hinted at a 2026 comeback along with a potential tour. Some critics have suggested that BLACKPINK's timeline shift appears strategically aligned with BTS's return.
Social media users pointed out what they consider suspicious patterns, noting that both groups went on hiatus around the same time, released solo albums during their break periods, and are now planning comebacks in the same year. Critics argue that the original 2025 comeback date was adjusted to match BTS's schedule.
Fan Reactions
The announcement generated significant discussion online, with some users expressing skepticism about the timing. Comments highlighted concerns that BLACKPINK postponed their release to compete directly with BTS's activities rather than maintaining their original schedule.
1.BTS went on hiatus and so did BLACKPINK
2. BTS released solo albums and so did BLACKPINK
3. BTS are returning in 2026 and so are BLACKPINK.
Crazy coincidence 🥹 https://t.co/LycOLf8q3o— isa (@solmerv) November 28, 2025
Others questioned why a group of BLACKPINK's stature would need to align their comeback with another artist's timeline, suggesting it undermines their independent standing in the industry.
Despite the controversy, both BLACKPINK and BTS fans are anticipating new music from their respective groups after extended periods without full group releases. The actual impact of overlapping comeback schedules remains to be seen as 2026 approaches.
