KCON, the premier event celebrating K-Pop and its fandom, is back at the Los Angeles Convention Center, bringing excitement for both fans and artists alike.
The festival runs through Sunday and combines various elements such as panels, meet-and-greets, merchandise, and live performances across different venues.
Shaney Hwang, the marketing coordinator for KCON, emphasizes the event’s focus on enhancing fan interaction.
This year, KCON features five stages dedicated to local cover teams and rookie K-Pop acts, allowing fans to experience performances in an intimate setting.
“It’s going to feel super up close and personal,” Hwang mentioned, highlighting the distinctiveness of KCON compared to traditional artist tours.
Last year’s event saw an impressive turnout, with nearly 6 million fans participating both physically and virtually.
In a first for KCON, Amazon Music will livestream performances from over two dozen K-Pop groups at Crypto.com Arena, including popular acts like aespa, Monsta X, and Zerobaseone.
Reflecting on KCON’s origins, Hwang notes the event started 13 years ago in Irvine, attracting just 10,000 attendees initially.
“We were thrilled to see such interest in K-Pop, and it’s only scaled up from there,” she added.
K-Pop has evolved significantly since the rise of Seo Taiji and Boys in 1992, who introduced fresh sounds and choreographed dance moves influenced by American hip-hop.
The genre has since gained immense popularity across the globe, especially when groups like BTS and Blackpink entered the mainstream spotlight during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sang Cho, a co-founder of hello82, a K-Pop music label and concert promoter in Los Angeles, asserts that the fandom was always present in large numbers.
However, he highlights that the industry’s recognition of the substantial market for K-Pop has only recently caught up.
As Blackpink embarks on its world tour, members of BTS are preparing for their return to music following their mandatory military service in South Korea.
Hwang acknowledges that while there may have been concerns about the future of K-Pop during BTS’s hiatus, the fandom remains robust and continues to grow.
“I’ve seen so many artists rise in that short span of time,” she added, reinforcing the notion that K-Pop’s success is not confined to a single group, but rather stems from its overall engagement with fans.
Los Angeles stands out as a hub for K-Pop fan experiences, with opportunities for smaller gatherings and events that bring fans together.
From casual meet-ups at Boba shops to lively K-Pop flash mobs at iconic locations like the Santa Monica Pier, the city offers unique experiences for enthusiasts.
Hwang noted, “It’s something very unique to Los Angeles and I’m sure everyone in the U.S. is jealous of that access.”
As KCON unfolds, the festival reaffirms the powerful connection between K-Pop artists and their dedicated fanbase, proving yet again that the music’s heart lies within the fandom.
image source from：laist
