KCON, the first K-pop festival in three years in Los Angeles, ended on the 21st (local time).CJ ENM, which held the event, announced that 7.17 million people from 176 countries, including online and offline, participated in the “KCON 2022 LA” event, which was held for three days from the 19th.K-CON, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, is the world’s largest K-Culture Festival that provides concert performances and hands-on convention events for fans to enjoy Korean content such as K-pop.
CJ ENM (host company) resumed KCON in LA this year after skipping offline events twice since 2020 due to the COVID-19 outbreak.Major events such as concerts in LA were simultaneously broadcast live online for fans around the world.90,000 fans attended the offline event held at the Convensen Center in LA and Crypto Dotcom Arena, and 7.08 million fans participated through TVing and YouTube channels.The on-site performance in LA drew fans from all over the United States like clouds.Fans who drove five hours in Arizona said, “K-pop attracts us like gravity,” adding, “We are very grateful that K-pop is in the world.”Julie and Jennifer from Seattle said, “I couldn’t go to the BTS (BTS) concert in LA last year, and this event relieved my regret.”The K-pop performance held at the Crypto Dotcom Arena in LA from the 20th to the 21st relieved local fans’ thirst for K-pop with colorful performances and collaboration stages.
Targeting Generation Z, the mainstream consumers of K-pop, ATEEZ, ENHYPEN, Kepler, CRAVITY, STAYC, Right Thumb, and T.O.1, all of the popular idols to new artists have participated.At the LA Convention Center, where the exhibition event was held to promote the excellence of Hallyu content, an audition for “Dream Stage” was held to stand on the same stage with a favorite star.In addition, augmented reality (AR) photo making using Korean drama and movie posters, tasting Korean food, and K-beauty experience events were also held.This year’s KCON event, which celebrated its 10th anniversary, attracted keen attention from local media, with more than 100 media outlets including Variety, Billboard, and CBS covering it.”KCON has returned more intensely as an offline event for the first time in three years,” Variety said. “KCON is a showcase where you can enjoy various advantages of Korean culture, including beauty, products, food, and toys.”
SOPHIA KIM
ASIA JOURNAL
