On Friday, the Los Angeles Conference Heart was a sea of inexperienced.
The conference middle was residence to L.A.’s twelfth annual KCON, a Korean music pageant that ran from Friday to Sunday. Whereas the three-day conference started in 2012 as a celebration of Ok-pop, its programming has expanded to function panels with Ok-drama actors, skincare cubicles and Webtoons, or Korean digital comics.
Every day of the conference culminates in a live performance on the Crypto.com Area. On Friday, the live performance closed with an act by Ok-pop boy group NCT 127, whose signature shade is lime inexperienced (or, to get particular, “Pearl Neo Champagne”). At each the conference and the present, followers of the group confirmed their help by sporting inexperienced clothes, equipment, luggage and banners.
For a lot of, KCON gives a singular alternative for followers to stand up shut with their favourite idols. One of many occasion’s marquee performances is the Dream Stage, the place just a few fortunate winners have been chosen to bounce onstage with a Ok-pop group through the mainstage present.
24-year-old Jaelyn Jones flew to L.A. from Virginia to audition for Friday’s Dream Stage. Arriving in a lime inexperienced T-shirt and matching bandana, she’s one in all dozens of candidates vying to carry out NCT 127’s “Fact Check” on the KCON stage.
“I’m so proud of everybody here,” Jones says. “Everybody worked so hard, so I’m really excited for the day.”
“I’ll work a full 9 to 6 or something, and I’ll still come home and just keep practicing,” Jones says. “I was very dedicated to this.”
Conference-goers carry out a random play dance, the place followers dance to a random Ok-pop track, at KCON’s Dance Stage.
(Brian Feinzimer / For The Occasions)
The success of KCON, which has attracted 2.1 million in-person concertgoers over its 12 years of operation, signifies a rising worldwide viewers for Korean popular culture. Since its starting, the pageant has expanded to 10 international locations together with Japan, Saudi Arabia and Germany, as curiosity in Korean tradition has unfold globally in what has turn out to be often called the hallyu wave.
Park Chan Uk, the pinnacle of stay leisure enterprise at KCON organizer CJ ENM, factors to the recognition of Ok-pop teams like BTS, Blackpink and Stray Children as contributing to Korean tradition’s worldwide attraction. However Park additionally cites the worldwide attain of Korean films and TV exhibits resembling “Squid Game” and “KPop Demon Hunters,” in addition to Korean magnificence merchandise. Certainly, KCON’s main sponsor this yr is the Korean cosmetics chain Olive Younger.
Park says that every one these completely different avenues, from music to skincare, have turned the abroad notion of Korean tradition into “a very promising lifestyle that appeals to the global audience.”
Ok-pop’s worldwide attain was evident on this yr’s KCON lineup, which included Full Circle Boys, an American boy group that takes affect from Ok-pop. The group was created by choreographer Keone Madrid, who’s behind a number of of Ok-pop’s most well-known dances, together with Jungkook of BTS’s “Standing Next to You.”
“There are all these amazing groups in Korea,” Madrid says about what impressed him to type the group. “Why isn’t there a group at home for us to work with that will lean into dance as much as these Korean groups do, but also put that American spin on it?”
Aidan Talingting from San Diego determined to come back to KCON as a result of a number of of his favourite teams have been performing. However for him and lots of others, going to the conference had a second function: to fulfill and spend time with different Ok-pop followers. Talingting traveled to KCON with buddies Anitza Cerna and Dahrla Silva, each of whom hail from Tijuana.
“We got to meet a lot of new people,” Talingting says. “It’s been a great experience making friends and seeing your favorite artists. I really love it because it brings everyone together like a family.”
Talingting and Silva, who attended the identical highschool, met Cerna at a live performance in 2023. She approached the 2 after overhearing them discuss Ok-pop. For a lot of followers, their shared love of Korean music gives an avenue for forming lasting friendships.
Rookie group Newbeat performs on the KCON conference. Regardless of being lively for lower than 5 months, the group has amassed a loyal fanbase.
(Brian Feinzimer / For The Occasions)
One such friendship was evident at KCON’s X Stage, the place rookie boy group Newbeat carried out to a cheering viewers. In the course of the group was a bunch of a dozen or so enthusiastic followers, lots of whom have been sporting personalised Newbeat jerseys. Although numerous followers could have interacted with one another on-line, KCON was their first time seeing one another in particular person.
One fan, who goes by Ash on-line, first noticed the group finally yr’s KCON and was immediately a fan. Benjy, who is predicated in Boston, grew to become a fan when her Ok-pop dance crew collaborated with the group. A lot of them have supported Newbeat since — and even earlier than — their official debut in March.
“We’re here to wholeheartedly support Newbeat, literally from beginning of the day to end of the day,” says a fan named Olive.
Whereas Newbeat is a lesser-known act, performing solely on the conference and as a gap act for Sunday’s predominant live performance, the followers’ enthusiasm is something however small. They waved indicators with the members’ names and cross out do-it-yourself pamphlets about Newbeat to convention-goers. They gushed in regards to the group’s a number of performances on the conference flooring, which included the premiere of their new track “Cappuccino” and a canopy of Katseye’s “Gnarly.”
When requested what made them resolve to come back to KCON collectively, all of them say in unison: “Group chat!”
The followers, who met on X, are an instance of how Ok-pop and its fandom — significantly abroad followers who can’t journey to see their idols stay — leans closely on the web. They forged on-line votes for Newbeat on music exhibits, attend video fan calls and talk with the members utilizing Plus Chat, an app that lets followers and idols message one another.
However in addition they made a bunch chat to debate the potential of seeing Newbeat — and one another — in particular person at KCON. A number of traveled throughout the nation to make their plans a actuality, typically taking a number of flights.
“As they say, the plans made it out of the group chat,” Olive says.
Followers store for playing cards of their favourite Ok-pop stars exterior the Los Angeles Conference Heart. Photocard buying and selling is a well-liked passion amongst Ok-pop fans.
(Brian Feinzimer / For The Occasions)
Within the few days since assembly in particular person for the primary time, the group has rapidly bonded, sharing inside jokes and speaking over one another like longtime finest buddies.
“It’s literally been nonstop talking, laughing — it certainly feels like we’ve known each other for months,” Olive says.
“We get along very well because we’re so passionate about the same thing and supporting Newbeat,” Benjy provides. “We can relate to each other, so I think that’s how we became very close.”
For some attendees, their aspirations at KCON transcend assembly different followers and seeing their favourite artists. The conference included an open audition for Season 4 of “Produce 101 Japan,” a contest actuality TV franchise that goals to create a Japanese idol group. Male candidates have been invited to check out for this system with a one-minute track, rap or dance.
19-year-old Chris Zamora from Torrance determined to audition after workers on the conference’s “Produce 101” sales space inspired him to take action.
“I thought going into it would be very nerve-racking, but they were really welcoming,” Zamora says. “They asked a lot of questions, and they obviously care about everyone who enters the audition.”
Ok-pop followers pose for a photograph with NCT 127 after Friday’s Dream Stage.
(Courtesy of CJ ENM)
Outdoors the Dream Stage tryout room, Jaelyn Jones waits with bated breath. A KCON workers member declares the numbers of the dancers who handed the ultimate audition — and certain sufficient, Jones’ quantity is known as.
“It just feels very surreal. I feel like I’m not here,” Jones says.
On the mainstage live performance that night time, the Dream Stage winners rush onto the stage to bounce to the refrain of “Fact Check” with NCT 127. The sector lights up in inexperienced as Ok-pop followers — female and male, younger and previous, from across the globe — carry out the high-energy track alongside the group that recorded it.
Within the viewers are Jones’ buddies from residence, cheering her on.
“I think it’s gonna become a ritual or traditional type of thing with my friends [where] we come here every year,” she says.
