BLACKPINK was criticized by CNET, investigated for harming Fubao?

In 2020, BLACKPINK released a clip introducing the final episode of the reality show 24/365 With BLACKPINK showing that 4 members had the opportunity to visit the zoo - Everland Park and interact with the pandas raised here.

BLACKPINK tried taking care of pandas under the supervision of zoo managers and staff. In particular, they were directly exposed and cuddled with a baby panda named Fubao.

The video quickly garnered 2.7 million views on YouTube with positive reactions from fans because of the cuteness of the girls and the pandas. However, few expected those cute moments to bring BLACKPINK big troubles with Chinese netizens.

According to netizens and Chinese officials, the Blackpink members endangered a baby panda and violated strict regulations. As a result, the country's forestry authority is investigating.

In addition, CNET also criticized the group for violating many rules when touching pandas such as wearing makeup, not wearing gloves (even if they wear them), using perfume, having dogs and cats (easily spreading diseases from dogs and cats to raccoons), etc. v...

The panda is a symbol of national pride for many people in China. China often lends the animals to countries around the world as a way to strengthen diplomatic ties.

Fu Bao was born in July 2020, as a result of a pair of giant pandas who arrived in South Korea from Sichuan province in 2016 as part of China's "panda diplomacy."

Despite being born in South Korea, it is not theoretically owned by the country. The Chinese government actually owns most of the world's pandas, and zoos are simply renting them out. Panda loans cost up to $1 million per year for 10-year "panda diplomacy" contracts, and overseas zoos pay an additional $400,000 for any baby pandas born.

Since the pandas at Everland's Panda World belong to China, zoos are required to comply with strict government regulations to protect them from disease. One of these rules states that public figures are not allowed to touch pandas or come into close contact with them in any way. According to China's State Forestry Administration, allowing non-professionals to touch pandas could increase the risk of infectious diseases for the animals.

The criticism is spreading, countless CNETs both scolded and demanded a boycott of BLACKPINK. Even the big bar pages (fanbase in China) of the group and all 4 members asked YG to explain, apologize, and delete the teaser of the episode. YG finally deleted the latest teaser featuring the panda and announced the postponement of the final episode of '24/365 with BLACKPINK'.

Knet attributed BLACKPINK's 'panda' incident that year to Cnet deliberately waging war on your country. Netizens defended the 4 girls by accusing CNET of gratuitously criticizing BLACKPINK when in the past, countless people, from celebrities to experts, had contact with pandas without gloves, with makeup, etc. v...

After a while, the incident that year was also the story of 4 years ago. Over the years, Fubao has been extremely loved by Korean people, won special affection, also known as "Samsung princess".

On April 3, Fubao officially parted ways with Korea, left Everland Amusement Park (Gyeonggi Province, South Korea) and set off to return to China. The fact that this famous panda girl returned to China has made many fans deeply regret. Despite the heavy rain, many fans gathered outside to bid farewell to Fubao.

Fubao is about to have a movie, netizens argue because pandas are being exploited Khánh Huyền13:51:05 23/04/2024Even though he has returned to his homeland of China, the Fubao fever in Korea still shows no signs of abating. Netizens are currently divided into two debates about the preparation for the release of a documentary about the panda princess.