KCON 2024: the world’s largest K-Pop festival takes over Downtown LA

Fans can watch some of their famous K-pop bands perform while tasting K-beauty products and trying out Korean food.

A Global Gathering for K-Culture Enthusiasts

KCON, the world’s largest K-pop music festival, is taking place in downtown Los Angeles this weekend.

Organizers expect 160,000 people from around the globe to attend the three-day festival, which celebrates all aspects of Korean culture, including K-beauty, K-food, and K-pop music.

Excitement for Top K-Pop Acts

“I’m here to see Enhypen and NMIXX,” said Olivia Chang. “I’m here to see Enhypen and P1Harmony,” her friend Kira Ishida added, giggling as she expressed her excitement about seeing her favorite boy band members.

Both girls traveled from San Francisco with their parents. The enthusiastic screams of fans filled the expo during meet-and-greet introductions on Friday afternoon.

Vibrant Expo and Vendor Concerns

The expo inside the Los Angeles Convention Center featured free items and products for purchase.

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Some fans noted a reduction in the number of vendors compared to previous years, but organizers explained that spreading the attractions over three days allowed for a better experience.

Outside the Convention Center, artists and DJs hosted dance parties throughout the day at the Gilbert Lindsay Plaza. Each day concluded with performances inside the Crypto.com Arena.

A Unique Opportunity for Fans Nationwide

KCON offers a rare chance for K-pop fans, especially those from smaller towns, to connect with like-minded individuals. “We came all the way from Montana,” said Ivan Wells, who attended with his mother and friend.

“We’ve been KCON-ers for a long time. This is our third KCON.” Phoebe Hintz, from Arkansas, shared, “Not a lot of people from Arkansas really know about K-pop. Our town is really small, so there are no concerts out there.”

A Community Like No Other

Organizers highlight the unique sense of community that KCON fosters. “It’s a real feeling of involvement and engagement that’s really hard to find in pop music these days,” said Joen Choe, VP of Marketing for CJ ENM America, the event’s organizer.

Choe emphasized the rigorous training that K-pop artists undergo, often training for four or five years before debuting, which contributes to the high performance standards seen at KCON.

KCON 2024 is not just a festival; it’s a celebration of Korean culture and a testament to the global impact of K-pop.