ATEEZ member San has sparked a heated debate among K-pop fans after praising BLACKPINK for helping expand the industry’s international reach. The remarks came during the November 8 episode of JTBC’s Please Take Care of My Refrigerator, where San appeared alongside fellow ATEEZ member Wooyoung and BLACKPINK’s Jisoo.
During the program, San expressed admiration for BLACKPINK, crediting the group with breaking barriers and opening opportunities for younger K-pop artists internationally. His comments were intended as praise for the senior group, but clips circulating online quickly drew mixed reactions from fans of BLACKPINK and BTS.
Some social media users questioned San’s consistency, pointing to earlier remarks in which he similarly credited BTS with paving the way for newer K-pop groups. Critics accused him of changing his position depending on whom he was speaking to, while other users defended his comments, arguing that recognizing BLACKPINK’s achievements does not invalidate BTS’s contributions to the industry’s global expansion.
The exchange has reignited longstanding fan debates over which artists deserve recognition for K-pop’s international success. Although the backlash generated attention across social media, the criticism reflects individual fan opinions rather than evidence of a dispute between San, BLACKPINK, and BTS. His remarks highlight how even expressions of admiration between artists can become contentious within highly competitive fan communities.