A video featuring K-pop sensation Blackpink and a giant panda cub has ignited controversy in China.

Blackpink has stirred up strong reactions in China after videos surfaced showing the group members interacting with a panda cub at a zoo in South Korea.

This month, the group shared footage on YouTube of members holding Fu Bao, the first panda born in South Korea, as reported by Reuters.

Fu Bao was born at the Everland Resort, located about 20 miles south of Seoul, to pandas brought from Sichuan, China, in 2016, according to Yonhap news agency.

For years, China has sent giant pandas to other countries as a gesture of friendship and diplomacy, a practice known as 'panda diplomacy,' which strengthens international ties while offering people the rare chance to see these iconic animals up close.

However, Blackpink's video, which showed the band members interacting with the panda cub, sparked outrage. Originally intended for their '24/365 with BLACKPINK' reality series, the video was quickly taken down following the backlash.

In response, China's Wildlife Conservation Association urged Everland Zoo to stop allowing unauthorized interactions with panda cubs, arguing that the zoo violated guidelines meant to protect the animals by allowing the band members to handle them.

On November 5, the China Wildlife Conservation Association sent a formal letter to Everland Zoo in South Korea, accusing them of breaching professional standards for panda protection by allowing entertainers to have close contact with the cubs for a performance, the association said in a statement.

The association has urged the zoo to halt the distribution of related videos, recommending stricter management, scientific oversight, and enhanced protection measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

Blackpink announced that they would delay the release of their show, originally set for November 7. They clarified that the panda interaction took place under the supervision of qualified veterinarians and breeders, with strict hygiene and anti-virus protocols in place.

The band, who skyrocketed to global fame after their 2016 debut, explained in a Twitter statement: 'In line with expert recommendations and international guidelines that advise against non-professionals having close contact with baby pandas due to potential misunderstandings, we have decided to delay the airing of these videos.'

Despite the apology, Weibo users in China voiced their frustration. Thousands of comments on a news post about Blackpink’s statement demanded the group issue an apology.

One commenter questioned, 'Why did they handle the baby panda while wearing heavy makeup?' Another popular response simply read, 'BLACKPINK should apologize.'

Some users shifted their anger towards the Everland theme park, with one prominent comment asking, 'What was Everland thinking? They’re supposed to be professionals!'

Giant pandas are among the most endangered species on Earth. Although conservation efforts have made progress, only about 1,800 pandas remain in the wild, classified as 'vulnerable' by the World Wildlife Fund.