&TEAM is a Japanese boyband that was created through the survival program &Audition – The Howling. The band consists of members K, MAKI, JO, Nicholas, YUMA, TAKI, Harua, FUMA, and EJ. They were the first boyband to debut under YX Labels, one of HYBE’s Japanese labels. The band consists of Korean and Japanese members.
&TEAM made their debut in December of 2022. Up until recently, they primarily focused on releasing Japanese songs and promoting in Japan. Through their promotions and album releases, they had already built a strong fan base in Japan and abroad. Much to the anticipation of K-pop fans, &TEAM made their official Korean debut last year. They debuted with the mini album, ‘Back to Life’ and promoted in Korea – attending music shows, etc.
As &TEAM has only promoted in Asia, many western fans were sad to not be able to see the group perform live. However, KCON LA 2026 will mark their first attempt at testing their popularity in the western market. The demand for &TEAM in the US can be seen by how fast tickets sold out and how many fans applied and participated in all the &TEAM fan events taking place during their upcoming trip to the US.
Below are some of the events &TEAM will be doing while on their US promotions for KCON LA 2026:
8.11.2026 (Tuesday) – HELLO82 82Summer with &TEAM & Fan Sign Event
One of HELLO82’s most popular events is their Employee of the Day event. In this event, a K-POP artist becomes a HELLO82 employee. They do things like help with the check out counters, help with directing fans, etc.
This even will also include a fansign. 30 lucky winners will get to do a private fansign with &TEAM. This is a raffle opportunity. The more albums you buy, the higher the likelihood that you will be chosen to attend the fansign. More information of the fansign can be found here.
8.12.2026 (Wednesday) – GRAMMY MUSEUM Performance – SOLD OUT
&TEAM will be holding a discussion and special performance with GRAMMY Museum. The even sold out before it was announced on social media. People subscribed to GRAMMY Museum were notified early of the upcoming event and it quickly sold out.
At KCON, &TEAM will be participating at the Artists Stage at the Los Angeles Convention Center and the M Countdown concert at the crypto.com arena on Day 1. They will also hold a special stage performance with Santos Bravos.
8.15.2026 (Saturday) – KPOP NARA Fansign – Winners Announced
The KPOP NARA fansign event was the first fan event announced for &TEAM’s upcoming trip to the US. The fansign required for possible attendees to purchase an album and submit a creative video explaining why they should be allowed to attend the fan sign. The 50 lucky winners were announced.
Those were all the events that have been announced so far. If any more are announced, I will make sure to update this post. Outside of these fan events, &TEAM recently announced on WEVERSE that they will be having their second Korean album comeback. This mini album is titled ‘Mark on Me‘ and is expected to be released on September 8th, 2026. Fans are already excited to see how this new comeback will turn out. Hybe released a video teasing the comeback. The video can be found below.
KEYVITUP is a five-member boy group that made their debut this year under the label iNKODE. Even though it’s only been a couple of months since their debut, they’ve already earned recognition for their steady vocal skills and strong live performances. The group is made up of Rukia, Hyunmin, Taehwan, Sena, and Jaein, and they launched their careers in April of this year with the tracks “KEYVITUP” and “LEGENDARY.” They initially drew attention in the industry as the first boy group produced by K-pop legend Kim Jae Joong, and since then they’ve kept busy promoting their music, appearing at numerous events, and taking part in a variety of TV shows. Most recently, they took the stage at KCON JAPAN 2026.
ARAISE announced that they will be having a FANNECT with KEYVITUP on Thursday, August 13th, 2026. The event will be taking place at The Eastwood Mainstage at Eastwood Performing Arts Center. The event allows for fans to purchase a silver, gold, or diamond tier tickets. Each tier allows fans to do different things with the artist. More information about the event can be found here. This event will be taking place the day before KCON.
The second event that KEYVITUP will have with ARAISE will be a fanmeeting in LA. The event will be taking place on Monday, August 17th, 2026 — the day after KCON LA 2026 at KPOP BESTIE. Fans can do many things with the artists. From taking polaroid photos, photo booth photos, to doing a fansign, this event will be more interactive. More information can be found here.
KPOP NARA just announced on their social media that they will also be doing a fansign event with IZNA during KCON this year. The event will take place on Sunday, August 16th-the last day of KCON LA 2026. IZNA is the girl group that debuted in November 2024 through the popular singing survival program, “I-LAND 2”. They debuted with the song “IZNA”, which was produced by The Black Label’s Teddy. They recently just released the ‘SET THE TEMPO’ album with the title track “METRONOME”.
The KPOP NARA event information can be find here. The fansign will allow the first 50 people to get a chance to do a fansign with IZNA. Fans had to buy the album from the event page then fill out the form to confirm their spot in the fansign. The fansign quickly sold out.
They also made a surprise announcement that they will allow some fans to view the fansign. The first 50 people to purchase the viewing ticket were allowed to attend the event as viewers. These tickets quickly sold out as well.
There are a lot of announcements of K-POP artists holding fan events in Los Angeles. These artists will be in town for KCON LA — the biggest K-POP event in the US. The 3-day convention allows for K-POP Fans to see their favorite artists perform live. With many artists in town, this gives K-pop artists the opportunity to hold events and interact with their international fans. KPOP NARA had announced fan sign events with &TEAM,SANTOS BRAVOS, and TAEYONG of NCT. ARAISE announced their fan event with KEYVITUP. And just a week ago, MAKESTAR announced their fansign and fan event with KickFlip. MAKESTAR made another announcement, they will be holding a fansign and fan event with MEOVV. This event will be taking place on Monday, August 17th — the day after KCON LA.
MEOVV is under The Black Label (BLACKPINK’s Korean label). The band created lots of pre-debut buzz when it was rumored and confirmed that the band will include the famous child model Ella. Ella became popular online for her elegant looks and for looking like JENNIE of BLACKPINK. The band debuted in September 2024 with the song, “MEOW”. The band consists of members Ella, Narin, Sooin, Gawon, and Anna. Since their debut, they have been steadily building their fan base and releasing many popular songs with unique concepts.
Recently, they have released their EP ‘Bite Me’. The album features the title tracks “Ddi Ro Ri” and “Hit ‘Em”. The fun songs, iconic dances, catchy intro verses, and concept already has confirmed the EP’s uniqueness and popularity.
The MAKESTAR event will take place from July 13th to July 19th, KST. Fans can enter for a chance to be one of the lucky fans who get to do a fansign with MEOVV or take polaroids with MEOVV. More information of the event can be found here. The event allows for multiple entries and require fans to purchase albums to be entered into the event.
Outside of the fan event, this will be MEOVV’s second appearance at KCON LA. Last year, they participated in KCON LA 2025 by participating at the Artist Stage and performing at the M Countdown Stage. This year, they will be doing the same activities with their newly released songs.
KCON is the largest US Korean Convention that is held in Los Angeles every August. Thousands of people travel to LA to attend the event. The event brings some of the most popular and/or up-and-coming K-pop artists together. Fans can attend the convention during the day to check out Korean brands (cosmetics, food, etc.) and get freebies. Or they can also get the chance to attend close up stages to see their favorite artists live, participate in fan meetings, or interact with their favorite artists. In the evening, fans can go to the night concert at the crypto.com arena and watch the concert line up. With KCON LA 2026 quickly approaching, KCON and other organizers are finalizing their events in preparation for the big day and have been making big announcements on their social media. Check out what to expect and look forwards to for KCON LA 2026.
KCON Special Stages
KCON recently announced more special stages for this year’s M Countdown stages. The special stages are something that fans have always look forward to when it comes to big events like the end of year shows or KCON.
The new stages include a special collaboration stage with Park Gun Wook, Kyehoon, and So Jung Hwan. Park Gun Wook became a member of ZEROBASEONE from the popular survival show “Boys Planet“. ZEROBASEONE has been participating in KCON since their debut in 2024. Kyehoon is the oldest member of JYP’s up and coming boyband KickFlip. This will be their first time participating in KCON LA. So Jung Hwan is from Treasure. Treasure debuted in 2020. This will be their second US event. They held their first US tour last year. The collaboration song between the three groups has not been announced yet. Fan are excited about what kind of performance they will give.
ZEROBASEONE will be performing a special stage of ‘Exotic’ from their new mini album 「𝘼𝙨𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙙-」.
Kim Tae Rae from ZEROBASEONE will be performing a solo cover stage of ‘Love Wins All’ by IU.
MEOVV will be performing a cover of BLACKPINK’s ‘뛰어(JUMP)’. MEOVV has been dropping hints about this special stage in their fan calls. And fans were excited that hey guessed correctly when the stage was confirmed this week. This will be MEOVV’s second time performing at KCON.
ALPHA DRIVE ONE (AD1) and Wing will have a collab stage for AD1’s pre-debut song, ‘Formula’. ALPHA DRIVE ONE was formed through “Boys II Planet” (the second season of Boys Planet). Wing is a well-known beatboxer who has produced viral songs like ‘Dopamine’. This will be both of their first time participating in KCON LA.
KCON also announced that NCT 127 will also have a special stage at M Countdown. They will be performing one of their new songs for the first time at the evening concert. NCT is an evolving group formed by SM Entertainment. This year, many of the member’s contracts have expired/will expire. Members Mark, TEN, and WINWIN have decided not to renew their contracts with SM Entertainment and have chosen to start their own solo journeys. NCT 127 performed at KCON LA last year. They will be performing again this year with the return of members TAEYONG and JAEHYUN from their military service. Taeyong will be dropping a new solo album and NCT 127 will be releasing a new album to celebrate their 10 year anniversary.
A new announcement is the inclusion of Wanna One as a special performer for the M Countdown Stage on Day 1 of KCON. Wanna One was the first boyband produced by the popular survival program, “Produce 101”. The band debuted in 2017 and had many hit songs like ‘Energetic’ and ‘Boomerang’. Their contract ended in 2018 and they have been pursuing solo careers in music, variety shows, and acting since their group contract ended.
This year, they recently held a reunion variety show. Members Kang Daniel and Lai Kuan-Lin will not be participating in the special stages and comeback as Daniel is currently serving his mandatory military service and Lai Kuan-Lin is currently focusing on his new career path. Lai Kuan-Lin was able to make a short appearance in their comeback variety show and fans were thankful to see him and get an update on how he has been.
Outside of the special stages, KCON has also announced that the “X-Stage” will be referred to as the “Toyota Music Den Stage” this year. They added new line ups to the previously announced lineup. The X-Stage was the stage where smaller or up and coming artists could perform. The performances were filmed and later broadcasted on YouTube. The stage is strategically placed in the convention so it could attract passerby and introduce the bands to a larger audience. The new lineup for the stage can be seen above. H//PE Princess, K01KEYZ, cosmosy, MODYSSEY, and NEXZ were added to the lineup.
Artists will also be participating at the dance stage this year. KCON announced a dance stage sponsored by SANRIO. Artists stopping by this stage include H//PE Princess, Cosmosy, MODYSSEY, and RESCENE.
KPOP NARA Fan Sign Events
This year, KPOP NARA has partnered with many K-pop artists to bring a fan sign event to fans visiting LA for KCON LA 2026. The artists they have announced collaborations with include &TEAM, SANTOS BRAVOS, and TAEYONG of NCT.
The &TEAM fan sign event allows for 50 lucky winners to attend a fan sign with &TEAM and get a ‘We on Fire’ album signed. The event entry runs from June 24th, 2026 – July 7th, 2026. The winners will be contacted and announced on July 20th. The event is expected to take place on August 15th, 2026 in LA. To enter for the &TEAM events, fans must:
Purchase one of &TEAM’s ‘We on Fire’ albums from KPOP NARA. There is a limit of 1 entry per person. The event page can be found here.
Fans must create and upload a public video explaining why they should be chosen for the fan sign and also include the necessary tags: #andTEAM #KPOPNARA #KPOPNARASUMMERFANTASY
Submit the video on the video submission form.
There is also the possibility that KPOPNARA may invite 50 more participants to be viewers and watch the fan sign event take place.
The SANTOS BRAVOS fan sign is similar to the &TEAM fan sign. Fifty lucky fans will be able to attend the fan sign and get their album signed. Entries can be submitted from June 24th, 2026 until July 7th, 2026. The luck winners will be announced and contacted on July 20th, 2026. The event will be held in LA on August 12th, 2026. To enter for the SANTOS BRAVOS fan sign, fans must:
Purchase one of SANTOS BRAVOS – Dual deluxe album. There is a limit of 1 entry per person. The event page can be found here.
Fans must create an original drawing and publish it publicly online with the tags: #SANTOSBRAVOS #KPOPNARA #KPOPNARASUMMERFANTASY
Submit the drawing using the drawing submission form.
The TAEYONG fan sign event is scheduled to take place in LA on August 16th, 2026. Different from the &TEAM and SANTOS BRAVOS entry, it allows for multiple entries and has different ways for fans to participate. It is a raffle system. The event runs from July 1st, 2026 until July 14th, 2026. Winners will be announced on July 23rd, 2026. To enter fans can:
Purchase a TAEYONG – The 1st Album ‘WYLD’ OR participate in the “Free Entry” option. For the Free Entry option, fans MUST purchase the album on-site upon arriving for the fan sign OR bring their own copy of the exact album. More information can be found here.
Fill out the required entry form for the entry type you are making.
Arise recently also announced that they will be holding a fan connect for new rookie boyband KEYVITUP. KEYVITUP is a 5-member boyband under iNKODE — the company created by famous TVXQ member Kim Jae Joong. They recently debuted this year and has already made waves with their stable live vocals. They recently participated at KCON Japan. The fan connect will take place at The Eastwood Mainstage at Eastwood Performing Arts Center on Thursday, the day before KCON begins.
Are you excited for KCON? Every year, KCON changes a little bit. This year, it seems like it will be bigger than ever. With reunions of Wanna One, the first performance for many artists like &TEAM and TREASURE, and the big fan events taking place in the same weekend.
The large crowd surrounding Huntington Bank Rotunda at the Mall of America got louder as it got closer to 6PM. Everyone was waiting for the first K-pop band to ever perform at the Mall of America. Debuting in 2023 under FNC Entertainment, AMPERS&ONE is a 7-member boyband that consists of Kamden, Brian, Jiho, Siyun, Mackiah, Kyrell, and Seungmo.
Who is AMPERS&ONE?
AMPERS&ONE combines “ampersand” (&) and “one” to represent the group’s mission: uniting together to achieve their dreams. Even before their debut, they were already making waves in the industry, thanks in part to popular Boys Planet contestants Brian and Kamden. Since then, the band has continued to grow steadily.
What sets AMPERS&ONE apart is their remarkable international makeup. Kamden and Kyrell are from Seattle, Brian is Chinese-Canadian, Jiho spent a year living in Massachusetts, and Mackiah has Australian roots. This global background gives the group a unique advantage — they can connect and communicate comfortably with fans all around the world.
They recently released their fourth mini album titled, Definition. This mini album features six songs led by their title track, “GOD”. The title track showcases a more mature side of the group, telling a story of rising from the ground, overcoming doubt, and being ignored to finally claiming their place at the top. It also incorporates traditional Korean instruments in the song and has an addictive and repetitive melody. The album has a diverse mix of sounds, from the upbeat pop song like “All Eyes on You” to the heartfelt ballad track like “Tears in Your Smile” and upbeat hip hop dance track like “What you Talking About”. The members also participated in writing the songs in the album.
Performance at Mall of America.
AMPERS&ONE held a free performance at 6PM. Although the show was free, fans had the opportunity to purchase upgrades to get closer floor seats to watch the show and interact with the idols. Some of the VIP events were held before the concert. However, the High Touch Event and the You+ and Selfie events were held after the show. The full schedule can be seen on the Instagram post below:
Before the show started, many people could be seen crowding around the Huntington Bank Rotunda. The lucky few who were able to get upgrades or claimed floor wristbands were able to stand by the stage to watch the performance. Everyone else was encouraged to watch the performance from the balcony from the other floors.
AMPERS&ONE opened their show with their newest title track, “GOD”. The performance started at 6PM and ended at 8PM. Throughout their entire performance, the boys could be seen giving 100% of their energy. From dancing vigorously on stage to interacting with the crowd, every second was filled with entertainment and energy. Fans could be seen singing along to the songs, shouting fan chants, and dancing throughout the entire performance. Some of the members even stepped off stage to interact with the fans.
Outside of their songs, AMPERS&ONE prepared special unit stages for the fans. Kamden and Jiho performed a dance cover to “Fever” by Enhypen; Brian and Kyrell sung a cover of “Love Story” by Taylor Swift; and Mackiah, Seungmo, and Siyun prepared a cover of “Drag Me Down” by One Direction.
During their short commentary breaks, the members mentioned how excited they were to be back in Minnesota again. They were here last year for their 1st US tour. Member Kamden mentioned that it was his dream to perform at a big mall. He thanked everyone for making his dream come true. They also talked about how they came a day early to rehearse and set up and were able to ride the log and SpongeBob rides at Nickelodeon Universe inside the Mall. Throughout the night, the members also thanked Mall of America for allowing them to have their concert there. In good FNC style, Mackiah ended the night by telling fans to attend their other stops if they wish to see AMPERS&ONE perform again.
AMPERS&ONE is currently on their <BORN TO DEFINE> U.S. Tour with LEO Presents. They are about halfway done with their tour. They are visiting 17 U.S. cities for this tour. After their Minnesota show, they will be heading to Des Moines, Iowa then to Kansas City, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Albuquerque, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Santa Ana, and ending their tour in San Jose on June 2nd. The tour features lots of merch that fans and concert attendees can purchase. The prices and items can be seen below.
From chewy tteokbokki to show-stopping K-pop performances, the 2025 Korean Festival in Atlanta was one massive celebration of Korean culture. Held on October 4th and 5th in the back parking lot of Sugarloaf Mills, this two-day celebration-hosted by the Korean Festival Foundation – brought together everything from sizzling street food and cultural performances to full-blown K-pop concerts.
Rain or shine, event goers showed up ready to vibe, dance, and eat.
Headliners that Rocked the Festival
Kim Hye Yeon (김혜연) – Bringing Fun and Energy to the stage
Kim Hye-yeon lit up the stage with her signature trot-style performances, bringing a wave of nostalgia and joy to the crowd. A beloved singer with numerous hits from the 1990s and early 2000s, she especially resonated with the older generation—many of whom sang along to every lyric and had their phones out to capture the moment.
Energetic and full of charm, Kim Hye-yeon quickly became a fan favorite, breaking all age barriers and turning her set into one big party. She laughed and danced with the audience, even inviting audience members on stage to join her in the fun. At one point, she stepped off stage to dance among the crowd, creating an unforgettable moment of connection that perfectly embodied the festival’s inclusive and joyful spirit.
Kevin Woo – Opening the Honmoon
One of the standout moments of the festival was Kevin Woo’s performance. Having moved to Korea and debuting as a young teenager, Kevin has built an impressive career that spans over a decade in the K-pop industry. From his early days in XING and U-KISS to his solo ventures and musical theater work, Kevin’s dedication to his craft continues to shine.
Recently, he’s stepped back into the spotlight as the singing voice of Mystery Saja in the hit animated film “K-Pop Demon Hunters.” Fans—many of whom came out as longtime U-KISS supporters or new fans from the movie—braved the pouring rain just to see him perform live. Kevin treated the crowd to a dynamic setlist of his solo songs and even surprised everyone with a special “K-Pop Demon Hunters” collaboration stage with Big Ocean.
After his performance, 200 lucky fans had the opportunity to purchase a fan sign session where they could meet Kevin Woo up close, share a few words, and leave with a cherished autograph. It was a moment full of smiles, gratitude, and memories. Kevin Woo will be having a solo concert on November 25th in West Hollywood, California.
Big Ocean – Making Waves Everywhere
The main headliner of the 2025 Korean Festival in Atlanta was Big Ocean, a innovative three-member boy band under Parastar Entertainment. Since their debut in 2024, members Chanyeon, PJ, and Jiseok has been making waves in the K-pop industry as the first boyband where all of the members are hard of hearing. Trained as global idols, they have learned multiple spoken and sign languages to connect with their fans. They recently wrapped up a successful US tour in August 2025. Many fans were ecstatic when they heard that Big Ocean was coming back to the US. Fans from across the country flew or drove to Georgia to show support for Big Ocean.
Despite some technical issues and the rain, Big Ocean rocked the stage. They performed fan favorite songs like, “Flow,” “Attention,” and “Bucket hat”. Each song brought thunderous cheers from the crowd, who sang, signed, and danced along in unison with the boys. Big Ocean also performed fun and new stages like “Troublemaker,” originally by HyunA and Jang Hyun Seung.
Outside of their performance, many fans had the opportunity to interact and meet the members on both days of the festival. Fans had the opportunity to join Big Ocean for their Food Tour, purchase opportunities to do high-touch, fan signs, group photos, solo photos, buy merchandise from the members, or attend the fan café event. The fans said they really appreciated the opportunities for many fan engagements.
Food, Fun, and Culture Galore
Of course, no Korean Festival is complete without the feast. The air was filled with the scent of fish cake soup, tteokbokki, and sweet hotteok. But this year’s biggest food buzz came from a very special guest—Chef Jisun Jung, star of the Netflix hit Black and White Chef: Culinary Class Wars. Fans lined up to get a taste of her dishes and snap a quick selfie.
Beyond food, the festival’s cultural zones gave everyone a chance to experience Korea hands-on:
Taekwondo demonstrations that got the crowd cheering
Hanbok-wearing photo ops
Traditional Korean games
Masked Singer singing contest and K-Pop cover dance performances that had local talent shining bright
And, of course, endless rows of vendors selling everything from handmade crafts and skincare goodies to trendy K-pop merch. You couldn’t walk away empty-handed (or hungry).
** A special thank you to KORUS Entertainment and Parastar Entertainment for having me as the photographer for the event!
This past weekend, the Mall of America hosted the 2025 Midwest K-POP Festival (MKF) & MN Korean Culture Festival. MKF has grown to become a beloved tradition in Minnesota, drawing hundreds of fans and performers from both in and out of state. Different from previous years, this year, the two festivals were combined together. This year’s celebration showcased a vibrant mix of cultural performances alongside high-energy K-pop cover dances.
The festival began with the Korean national anthem played on the traditional Korean instrument, Gayageum, by Luna Lee, a message from the president of the Korean American Association of Minnesota (KAAM) and the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Chicago, and a performance by Minnesota K-POP Dance Crew (MKDC).
This year’s theme of K-POP Demon Hunteralso drew in a large number of young children and their parents. The crowd erupted in cheers as three members of MKDC performed a powerful cover of the popular track, “Golden” from the animated film. Originally founded as a student group at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, MKDC has since evolved into a renowned dance crew known across the K-pop community. Over the years, they’ve competed in South Korea, won numerous competitions, and helped organize many K-pop dance events. Outside of the “Golden” performance, the festival also had a sing-along that the event attendees loved.
A major part of the festival was to showcase Korean culture. Cultural performances can be seen by Jangmi Dance, Gayageum performance by Luna Lee, Samulnori by Sejong Academy, and a special Taekwondo performance by Lee’s Champion Taekwondo. The local children and senior choir also performed during the show.
K-POP dance performances were a highlight throughout the festival. This year, MKDC welcomed several guest performers from out of state, bringing even more excitement to the stage. Well-known cover dance groups like Hush Crew, Chemical X, and aXis traveled to Minnesota to showcase their talent, while up-and-coming dance crews such as CypherSide and Makeway also delivered standout performances. The festival featured not only individual sets but also exciting collaboration stages, where dancers came together to perform tracks like J-Hope’s “Killin’ It Girl,” SHINee’s iconic “Sherlock” and “Lucifer,” Jennie’s “JENNIE,” and a high-energy remix of SNSD classics.
The 2025 Midwest K-POP Festival & MN Korean Culture Festival was more than just a showcase of talent—it was a vibrant celebration of culture, community, and creativity. From traditional performances to high-energy K-pop stages, the event brought people of all ages together through a shared love of Korean culture. As the crowd cheered, danced, and sang along, one thing was clear: the spirit of K-culture is alive and thriving in Minnesota.
** A special thank you to MKDC for having me back again this year to photograph the event! **
Minnesota celebrated a major milestone in its K-pop community with the first K-POP Convention in Minnesota. Held at the RiverCentre in downtown St. Paul, KPOP MINNECON was organized by the beloved local event organizer MNKPOPCONNECT. Best known for their energetic Random Dance Play (RDP) gatherings, MNKPOPCONNECT has continued to expand their influence — recently partnering with KORUS Entertainment to bring K-pop boy group Big Ocean to Minnesota for a café fan event at Niko Niko Café and a concert at the Uptown Theater.
KPOP MINNECON was a celebration of everything K-pop. The convention offered a variety of booths where attendees could shop for albums, posters, handmade crafts, K-beauty products, stick-on nails, and more. Photo card trading tables allowed fans to connect and swap cards, while a large open area was reserved for an all-day RDP — a fan-favorite highlight. The event also featured community-led panels, where attendees could sign up before the convention to present on various K-pop-related topics.
For food, the RiverCentre provided indoor concessions, while food trucks lined Rice Park offering a diverse range of options — from Mexican and Japanese dishes to desserts and refreshing sugarcane juice.
After the dance lesson ended, fans waited to watch local talent compete for the K-POP dance competition. Ellen and Brian were the judges for this year’s show. The contest included solo performances and group performances. The winners took home a combined prize of $1,000. Many friends, family, and fans came to support the local talent.
Originally, the headliner was set to be BE:MAX, but due to unexpected visa issues, the group was unable to travel to the U.S. Despite the last-minute change, the concert remained on schedule, with the other artists extending their performances to keep the energy going strong.
During the convention, fans had the chance to meet and take photos with artists performing in the evening concert. Long lines formed at the artist booths as attendees waited eagerly for the opportunity to take photos with performers like Ted Park and Beomhan.
When interviewing some attendees in line, many people mentioned that they were big fans of Beomhan. They had recently seen him perform in Georgia and flew to Minnesota just to see him again. Others mentioned that they were sad that they were not able to see BE:MAX.
As the convention portion wrapped up, fans made their way upstairs to the concert hall. The evening show opened with a unique performance by Mimi Lee, who captivated the audience with K-pop covers on the cello. The night continued with high-energy sets from Ramiro Brave, LUC-iD, Alan Z, Ted Park, and Beomhan.
To end the night, fans had the option to purchase access to fan sign events, offering a more personal moment with the performers. Many fans mentioned that they came out to support KPOP MINNECON because they were avid KPOP fans. They hope that the event will grow larger next year and someday become multi-days like KCON LA. Many fans also hope that more artists participate next year.
** A special thank you to MNKPOPCONNECT for having me as a photographer for the event! **
Hundreds of fans lined up early Friday morning outside the LA Convention Center and Crypto.com Arena, eagerly waiting for wristbands to access GA or to enter the convention for Day 1 of KCON LA. Held every year in early August, KCON is the largest Korean convention in the U.S. Starting as a small 1 day event, KCON has grown to become a three day convention that brings thousands of fans to downtown LA. This year, the city of LA even officially declared August 1st as KCON Day.
From morning until evening, fans immerse themselves in Korean culture. In the day time, fans can attend panels, visit booths, attend fan meetings, or watch performances at the LA Convention Center. In the evening, fans head over to the Crypto.com Arena to see the M Countdown concert.
Way Better artists from20 and HELLO GLOOM performing at X Stage.
NEWBEAT holding a fan event on the Busking Stage.
This year, KCON LA featured three stages for fans to enjoy throughout the convention: the X Stage, Busking Stage, and Artist Stage. The X Stage and Busking Stage showcased smaller, up-and-coming artists, giving them a platform to connect with new audiences. Strategically located in the main hall and by the food trucks, these stages were designed to maximize exposure and draw in crowds, helping rising artists gain the attention of passing by fans.
The Artist stage was placed in a different hall. Bigger or more senior artists like Hwasa, Zerobaseone (Zb1), IZNA, and Lee Young Ji performed at this stage. The Artist stage was like a short concert. Fans could watch their favorite artists perform their biggest hits in 45 minute sets. Fans can purchase different tiered tickets to get better views. Those with 1Day Plus tickets were allowed to go to the front area to see the artists perform up close.
One of the panels this year featured renowned dancers Brian Puspos, Keone Madrid, and Aaliyah Flournoy. Brian is a famous choreographer and dancer who has choreographed dances for BTS, Justin Bieber, and Chris Brown. Keone Madrid has choreographed for Jungkook, Justin Bieber, BTS, NCT, SHINee, Enhypen, etc. Aaliyah has danced and performed with Jennie, TXT, Stray Kids, and Jungkook. They talked about choreographing for K-pop artists, fun stories with K-Pop idols, and their dance journey. After their performances finished, Keone introduced Full Circle Boys and they performed on stage. After their performance, Full Circle Boys spent time with fans by taking photos with them.
Aespa performs on the M Countdown Stage for KCON LA 2025 – Day 2.
After the convention completed, fans walked to the building next door to watch the M Countdown stage. This year, Crypto.com Arena had a strict bag policy. Any bags bigger than 5″ x 9″ x 1″ was not allowed in the arena. Fans must pay to store their bags outside or go back to their hotel/car to store their items.
KCON LA opened up M Countdown this year with a special guest appearance from popular actor Lee Byung-hun. Lee Byung-hun was recently in popular Netflix series, “Squid Game”. He also played the voice of Gwi-Ma (the demon king) in “KPop Demon Hunters”. Fans screamed in excitement from his surprise appearance.
Ricky and Hanbin from Zerobaseone (ZB1) emceeing for the night.
Hanbin from Zerobaseone continued as the main emcee for M Countdown. M Countdown is a music program in South Korea. It allows the top popular artists in Korea to perform their songs live on stage and broadcast throughout the nation. Hanbin has been the emcee for the show since 2023.
Each night, M Countdown ended with a special stage. This special stage allowed fans to dance on stage with the headliner of the day. The headliners for each night differ each night. This year NCT 127 headlined Day 1, Monsta X headlined Day 2, and Hoshi and Woozi (HxW) of Seventeen headlined Day 3.
Other artists that performed at M Countdown include JO1, NEWBEAT, 82 Major, Way Better artists from20 and HELLO GLOOM, IVE, Aespa, IZNA, NMIXX, Baby DONT Cry, MEOVV, Jackson Wang, KEY, Roy Kim, Zerobaseone, Hwasa, and Lee Youngji. A full list of artists who attended and performed at KCON LA can be found on the official KCON site.
