BLACKPINK returned to Asia with two explosive concerts at the Kaohsiung National Stadium in Taiwan — the main venue for the Asian Games — drawing an estimated 100,000 fans over two nights, according to China Times.

The shows marked the group’s first performances in Asia after a two-month break, with new stage outfits and updated setlists that included solo performances never seen in previous concerts.

Opening with Kill This Love, the four members instantly ignited the stadium with cheers from tens of thousands of fans. The setlist included their mega-hits Pink Venom, How You Like That, and Playing With Fire, each surpassing hundreds of millions of views online.

Despite the excitement, the concerts sparked mixed reactions online. Some fans and media outlets criticized the Pink Venom performance for appearing “messy” and “uncoordinated,” commenting that the choreography lacked the precision and intensity expected from BLACKPINK.

“It felt under-rehearsed and chaotic — not the level we’re used to from them,” one fan commented on Weibo.

The group’s youngest member, Lisa, once again became the center of public discussion due to her provocative stage style.

During her solo stage Rockstar, Lisa appeared in a short, cut-out outfit accentuating her figure, performing bold dance moves alongside backup dancers. The performance went viral on social media, with netizens divided between praise for her confidence and criticism for being “too revealing.”

“Lisa’s confidence is unmatched, but the stage felt overly sexualized for a group concert,” wrote one user, while another defended, “She’s an artist expressing herself — nothing more.”

This is not the first time Lisa has faced controversy for her sultry image. Her fashion choices and choreography have often drawn comments labeling them as “too daring” or “borderline inappropriate,” sparking ongoing debate about performance freedom versus cultural standards in K-pop.

Lisa’s performance also reignited broader discussions about artistic expression in global pop culture. Music scholars point out that pop music has long reflected changing social structures and power dynamics, challenging conventional views of femininity and performance.

In that light, Lisa’s boldness could be seen as part of a larger global trend: the liberation of performance art and the redefinition of what it means to be a modern female artist.

Sources: Znews