As someone who has been following K-Pop for quite some time now, I have to admit that this year’s KCON was nothing short of spectacular! The performance by the new global girl group Katseye was electrifying and it was a pity those at home missed out on it. Their energy on stage was infectious, and I can’t wait for their debut EP, “SIS (Soft Is Strong)” in August.
KCON, known globally as the leading “festival showcasing Korean culture and music,” made a comeback in downtown Los Angeles for its 2024 event last weekend.
Each year, the global K-Pop festival attracts both artists and enthusiasts from every corner of the globe, with the Los Angeles Convention Center and Crypto.com Arena as the main hubs. This year, the event expanded its scope by using no less than four stages spread across various locations within or close to the convention center premises: M Countdown (derived from the weekly Korean music show produced by KCON’s parent company), KCON stage, meet and greet area, and a showcase for up-and-coming acts yet to gain significant exposure in the U.S. market.
In July (from the 26th to the 28th), the largest scale ever of CJ ENM’s annual festival – which is managed by the South Korean entertainment behemoth – took place. Notably, KCON revealed that the third night of the concert segment, famously known as M Countdown, would be aired live on The CW network. This marked a first for K-pop performances to appear on national television during primetime hours. Actress Awkwafina graced the occasion with her presence, hosting not only independently but also alongside members Johnny and Mark from NCT 127.
At the south hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center, a variety of passageways showcased booths from diverse companies including web comics, Korean cosmetics brands, food brands, and others. Samsung Galaxy, who was the main sponsor of the festival, had a significant presence, hosting activities on the convention floor where fans could meet them. Although specific numbers were not disclosed, KCON mentioned that around 5.9 million enthusiasts from over 170 countries participated in the event, both physically and digitally.
Check out some key moments from the three-day festival below.
ZEROBASEONE on Their KCON L.A. Experience
In the month following the release of their debut EP, titled “Youth in the Shade,” which came out in 2023, the band ZEROBASEONE (ZB1) graced the stage at KCON L.A. for the first time. Comprising nine members who were brought together through the popular Korean music survival show “Boys Planet,” they shared their experiences of this event with The Hollywood Reporter, expressing their desire to return the love and support to their fans, affectionately known as Zerose.
“Gunwook shared that they’re eager to demonstrate the upgraded and more refined side of their group during this year’s KCON. Since it’s their second time in L.A., they feel well-prepared to prove their growth as a team and artists to all KCON attendees in Los Angeles. The 19-year-old also emphasized that they are putting in a lot of effort to ensure they continually return the love and support from their fans.”
The collective, consisting of members Hanbin, Jiwoong, Zhang Hao, Matthew, Taerae, Ricky, Gyuvin, Gunwook, and Yujin, gave a short show during M Countdown’s first night and delivered a complete performance on the third night. Speaking at KCON L.A., Hanbin, their leader, expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “We’re thrilled to be back at KCON L.A. for our second time.”
“This 23-year-old mentioned that there are high hopes as they arrive… They’re all geared up to enjoy themselves with the L.A. KCON crowd and fans alike. Notably, they’ve been working on a unique performance tailored for this festival. The act they’re referring to, a rendition of Red Velvet’s popular tune ‘Psycho,’ was a standout during night three of M Countdown.”
In the television broadcast on The CW, ZB1 was one of the performing groups. Matthew expressed that it was special for them to appear on Korean TV during Boys Planet, but being able to perform K-pop abroad and then have it aired is truly an exceptional experience for him. Being 22 years old, he also mentioned that their group member Ricky hails from Los Angeles, expressing curiosity about whether Ricky’s parents would be tuning in to the broadcast. Lastly, Matthew shared that the entire group is thrilled about the whole situation.
P1Harmony on Their KCON Experience
Fresh from their North American tour, the six-member boy band P1Harmony started off M Countdown’s first night with a thrilling rendition of BTS’ “Fire.” The group (consisting of Keeho, Theo, Jiung, Intak, Soul, and Jongseob) shared their excitement about their KCON experience with THR, expressing their enthusiasm to be back at the Los Angeles stop of the K-Pop festival after a two-year absence.
“Recently, our band concluded our main North American tour, wrapping things up in Los Angeles. We filled the Kia Forum to capacity, which was an incredible fulfillment of a long-held dream,” shared the band’s leader, Keeho, who hails from Canada and occasionally acts as an interpreter for his bandmates.
“Returning to L.A. in particular is just wonderful since you know there’ll be individuals eager to wait, and folks enthusiastic to greet you,” Keeho remarked, pointing out that the energy was particularly vibrant during their first show.
As a member of P1ece, I’ve got to say that my personal favorite performance from our repertoire is “Killin’ It”. Being the youngest in the group, it’s incredible to see fans across the globe singing along to my part, especially when I spit my rap lyric, “My root came 2005”, which has truly resonated with our audience.
Each member has a distinct preference for their summer tune, as indicated by their responses: Jiung expressed his fondness for “Paradise City” by Guns N’ Roses; Intak revealed that he’s been listening to Brent Faiyaz’s “Best Time” extensively on Spotify; and Soul chose Billie Eilish’s “No Time To Die” as his pick for the summer.
NCT 127 Dazzles Crypto.com Arena Crowd
At the finale of the weekend’s M Countdown festival, though NCT 127 wasn’t originally scheduled to perform, they left a lasting impression on the audience. Being billed as a unique lineup, this sub-group of SM Entertainment’s popular boy band took center stage for The CW broadcast and brought down the house with their performances of “Walk” and fan favorites such as “2 Baddies” and “Fact Check.” The arena was illuminated by their signature green light sticks throughout the night.
M Countdown Night One
To start off the first night of KCON L.A., held at the Crypto.com Arena, the evening segment began with a blast featuring artists such as BIBI, BoyNextDoor, INI, Kep1er, P1Harmony, Taemin, and a unique performance by ZEROBASEONE. The lineup for M Countdown’s night performance was indeed impressive on this particular occasion.
As a dedicated fan, I got to witness BIBI’s incredible versatility as an artist firsthand at the event. She effortlessly transitioned from the soulful ballad “Bam Yang Gang” to the pulsating rhythm of “Sugar Rush.” Meanwhile, BoyNextDoor truly stole the show. This six-piece boy band brought the energy and charmed the crowd with some members even stepping up as hosts for the night, adding a personal touch that made the experience even more enjoyable.
At KCON L.A., the seven-member girl group Kep1er, originating from the survival show “Girls Planet 999”, made their debut performance. They captivated the audience with an assortment of their own tunes and a powerful rendition of Stray Kids’ hit song “Back Door.”
It wasn’t unexpected that the crowd erupted in excitement for Taemin, the youngest member of the renowned K-Pop group SHINee. On Friday night, the 31-year-old performer wrapped up the show with a quartet of songs, featuring his latest hit “Guilty” and an enchanting performance of “Criminal.”
M Countdown Night Two
On the second night of M Countdown, it was equally full of energy, featuring acts such as Enhypen, god, Jo Yuri, ME:I, NMIXX, TWS, plus a unique performance by P1Harmony.
NMIXX, the six-member girl band under JYP Entertainment, opened the evening with a rendition of their hit single “Dash.” Later on, they returned to the stage for energetic performances of multiple tracks such as “Run For Roses” and “Dice.”
As a die-hard fan, I recently witnessed TWS, the fresh faces from Hybe’s Pledis Entertainment, grace U.S. audiences for the first time with their infectious repertoire of vibrant, youthful tunes. Notably, three members showcased a unique rendition of BTS member Jungkook’s smash hit solo track “3D.” The Japanese girl group ME:I also took the stage to share their upcoming single “High Five,” a bubbly summer anthem that had everyone swaying in sync. What an unforgettable experience!
Jo Yu-ri, once part of the group Iz*One and now a solo artist, delivered a vibrant set that included a rendition of Taylor Swift’s popular song “Cruel Summer.” The 22-year-old was recently confirmed as a cast member for the upcoming season of Netflix’s Emmy-winning series Squid Game, and her performance at this event served as a preview.
On a bustling Saturday evening, after unveiling their freshly released album, the seven-member boy band Enhypen took center stage for a spectacular performance that sent the crowd into a frenzy. As they belted out their latest hit “XO (Only If You Say Yes),” fans echoed their enthusiasm with passionate singing along.
M Countdown Night Three
On The CW, the third night of M Countdown started early – the pre-show commenced at 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time, finishing as the sun was still shining. The evening’s schedule, the most extensive of all three nights, featured Jeon Somi, NCT 127, STAYC, ZEROBASEONE and Zico, in addition to exclusive performances by BIBI, Hyolyn, INI, ME:I, and TWS. Awkwafina was also present, hosting a segment of the live broadcast.
At the event, Jeon Somi’s hit single “Fast Forward” from 2023 had the audience enthusiastically singing along, while Zico got everyone moving with his latest release “Spot,” which includes Blackpink’s Jennie as a featured artist. In a unique performance, BIBI and former SISTAR member Hyolyn teamed up for a special collaboration.
As someone who has been following K-pop for years, I was thrilled to attend the recent concert featuring STAYC, ZEROBASEONE, and NCT 127. It was my first time seeing STAYC perform live, and I must say they did not disappoint with their energetic performance of “Cheeky Icy Thing.” The crowd’s enthusiasm for the song was infectious, and it was clear that fans had been eagerly anticipating their U.S. debut.
The Return of K-Pop Legends
At KCON L.A. 2024, one of the standout features was the diverse lineup of K-Pop artists spanning from the first to the fifth generation. Among these, a legendary group from the inaugural wave, known as “god,” mesmerized the M Countdown night two crowd. Joon Park, a native of L.A., expressed concern before their Saturday performance that the audience might not recognize them, jokingly referring to himself and the group as “the senior performers.”
“Hey there, you all showed me something different,” he said to the audience members. The band managed to get everyone up and dancing, synchronizing their applause with the divine rhythm, creating a profound moment that stood out amongst the whole weekend’s events.
Fans Get Unique Experience with “Dream Stage”
An annual tradition at KCON, known as the “Dream Stage,” invites fans to showcase their dancing skills by submitting videos of them performing selected choreography from the festival’s artists. After a preliminary round, chosen participants are given the opportunity to perform live at KCON, with the most talented ones getting to dance alongside their favorite artist on stage. This year, Taemin, Enhypen, and Zico extended this invitation to their fans, resulting in outstanding performances that were meticulously executed. The dancers also had the thrill of taking a group photo with their idol on stage after their performance.
K-Drama Joins the Fold
As someone who has been following Korean dramas for quite some time now, I was thrilled to hear that Park Min-Young and Kim Soo-Hyun attended this year’s KCON L.A. Their popularity in the Korean entertainment industry is undeniable, and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see them live. The festival provided a unique experience for fans like me, with special fan meetings at the Meet and Greet stage.
Katseye Makes a Dynamic Live Debut
Regrettably, viewers tuning in from home on The CW missed out on the M Countdown preshow, meaning only those present at the Crypto.com Arena were able to witness Katseye’s first live performance as a new global girl group. Established through the audition program The Debut: Dream Academy, which was available on YouTube and Japanese streaming channel Abema, the band released their debut single “Debut” last month, followed by their second single “Touch” just last Friday.
Katseye, who have teamed up with Geffen Records and K-Pop leader Hybe, showcased their energy during their initial live performance. Their first EP titled “SIS (Soft Is Strong)” is set to drop on August 16th. Moreover, the group will be highlighted in an upcoming exhibit at the Grammy Museum, which is managed by Hybe.
Goodies Galore Thanks to K-Beauty Street and Vendor Booths
Attendees at the convention received free merchandise from various brands, many of which provided incentives for following them on social media platforms. Olive Young, a Korean health and beauty superstore similar to Sephora and owned by CJ ENM’s parent company, CJ Group, had a prominent presence on the exhibition floor. Most attendees carried around Olive Young tote bags (obtained by signing up for the store’s email list) in the brand’s signature green color, filling them with items from the “K-Beauty Street” section of the convention. TIRTIR, a Korean cushion foundation that has become popular on TikTok, and makeup company colorgram were among some of the beauty booths at the event with long lines.
At the festival, Shein was quite prominent as well. Their Y2K-style booth offered guests the chance to create their own photocard holders, a popular feature in K-Pop fandom. They even invited artists such as girl group STAYC to interact with fans. Moreover, it appeared that they supported the Meet and Greet platform.
Festival Programming Introduces Fresh Faces to New Fans
KCON has established itself as a platform for introducing fresh talent to U.S. viewers, and among these emerging acts was POW, a five-member boy band managed by GRID Entertainment. On a sunny afternoon at the festival, fans were treated to a choreography lesson from POW for their song “Valentine” in the outdoor Dance All Day area. The group graced both the showcase stage and one of the M Countdown pre-shows during the event.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by BINI_ph (@bini_ph)
BINI, an eight-member Filipino girl band, made their KCON debut recently. Their catchy bubblegum pop single “Cherry On Top” has been generating buzz worldwide online. During the pre-show of M Countdown night two, they performed this single for the first time in the U.S., and also held a panel to meet fans and introduce themselves at the event.
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2024-07-31 20:25