** UPDATE: Due to Visa issues, the LA and San Francisco stop of the tour has been moved to after the Chicago stop. For full information, please check out the official announcement from Oppang: First Announcement & Announcement of change of dates **
Solo artist JUNHEE (previously JUN of A.C.E) recently announced his first US solo tour, <INTO THE OCEAN>. The tour will begin in San Francisco, California before making his way through Texas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, New York, Minnesota, and ending in Chicago, Illinois. The tour is ran by oppangofficial and KORUS Entertainment.
JUNHEE began his career as a contestant on episode 7 of the hit Korean variety show <I Can See Your Voice 4>. He later debuted as the leader of the K-pop idol group A.C.E under Beat Interactive. In 2024, A.C.E embarked on a U.S. Tour and participated in K-CON LA 2024. Their contract ended after the tour and the members of A.C.E decided to pursue solo careers under different companies.
Since starting his solo career, JUNHEE has established his own label, H&P Entertainment, is actively working on his music, and continues to connect with fans through live broadcasting platforms. He recently released his solo single “Supernova” and the mini album “The First Day & Night.”
He also released a singing cover of the hit song “Your Idol” and “Free” from the popular Netflix animated film KPop Demon Hunters after many fans requested it. Many fans noted that the character Jinu sounded and looked similar to JUNHEE. Fans celebrated when JUNHEE released a surprise cover of the songs.
We are looking forward to seeing JUNHEE performed in Minnesota on January 13th at the 7th Street Entry at First Avenue. Tickets for the Minnesota stop can be purchased on AXS.
Outside of the tour, JUNHEE will also be holding a Video call and Photo Event in Seoul on 12.25.2025 (KST). The chance to apply for these events can be purchased on inmyroom.co.kr with a purchase of his album.
The chilly weather and first snowfall of the season didn’t stop fans from lining up outside the Varsity Theater on Sunday night to see Hannah Bahng perform at her long-awaited Minneapolis concert. Even passersby could feel the fans’ dedication — many had been waiting outside for hours before doors opened, despite not being dressed for the cold.
Fans shivered in the freezing air, chatting to keep their spirits up. Some tucked their faces into their sweaters or pulled their shirts over their legs in an attempt to stay warm. But as soon as the venue doors opened and everyone stepped into the cozy theater, the cold was quickly forgotten. The warm, intimate atmosphere set the perfect tone for an evening of laughter, heartfelt stories, and soul-soothing music.
Who is Hannah Bahng?
Hannah Bahng is a rising Korean-Australian artist known for her relatability, genre-blending music, and engaging TikTok presence. This show marked her first-ever visit and performance in Minnesota. Many fans outside mentioned discovering her through TikTok or through her brother, Bang Chan, the leader of the K-pop group Stray Kids.
Concert Experience
Tickets were sold in three tiers:
VIP 1: Meet and greet, photo with Hannah, sound check access, and a lanyard
VIP 2: Sound check access and a lanyard
General Admission: Entry to the main concert
During the sound check session, Hannah created a personal, lighthearted atmosphere with her VIP fans — answering questions, cracking jokes, and even attempting a Minnesota accent. When one brave fan asked her to marry her, Hannah playfully responded by asking the fan’s age. Upon hearing “13,” she laughed and said, “For legal reasons, I cannot marry you,” earning laughter from the crowd.
Hannah also shared her latest obsession: gumball machines. She had one on stage and invited a fan up to turn the handle to choose that night’s sound check song. The lucky pick was Sabrina Carpenter’s “Good Luck, Babe!”, which Hannah performed beautifully, turning the moment into a spontaneous duet with the fan.
After sound check, general admission ticket holders entered the venue. While waiting for Hannah’s main set, excited whispers spread through the crowd — fans had spotted her parents in the audience. Later, Hannah confirmed it was indeed their first time attending one of her shows. She thanked a couple who gave up their seats for them, gifting them a signed setlist as a token of appreciation.
Opening Act: RealestK
The night began with a soulful performance by RealestK, a Canadian R&B artist known for his smooth vocals and introspective songwriting. His emotional delivery and heartfelt storytelling won over many new fans in the audience. He closed his set with an inspiring message: “Chase your dreams.”
Hannah’s Set
When Hannah finally took the stage, the crowd erupted. She effortlessly commanded the room — performing her songs, connecting with fans, and sharing stories behind her lyrics. Her authenticity and warmth made the night feel deeply personal.
The Misunderstood World Tour includes 27 stops across North America, and Minneapolis marked the halfway point. From here, Hannah will head west and into Canada before wrapping up her tour in Dallas, Texas.
Korean indie rock band Se So Neon (새소년) stopped in Dinkytown as part of their North American “NOW” tour. Originally formed in 2016 as a project duo band, the band has undergone several lineup changes over the years. Today, Se So Neon is a solo project led by guitarist and lead vocalist Hwang So-Yoon, who performs under the stage name So!YoON!. The tour shares its name with her album released earlier this year, which features tracks such as “Jayu,” “Kidd,” “Twit Winter,” “Remember!,” and “New Romantic.”
Joining So!YoON! on tour were Spencer Zahn on bass and Gyun on drums. Minnesota was one of the few stops without an opening act, and the show began about 30 minutes later than scheduled. Still, the energy in the crowd remained high as fans were excited and more than ready when Se So Neon finally took the stage.
The Se So Neon show drew a diverse crowd. Some attendees were K-pop fans eager to show their support, while others were University of Minnesota students taking advantage of the concert’s close proximity to campus. Many in the audience, however, were long time fans who first became interested in Se So Neon because of the band’s distinctive and genre-defying sound.
Se So Neon had a diverse setlist. They played slow songs, upbeat songs, and heavy rock songs. The most memorable performance was when she performed her song, “Remember!” Se So Neon took a moment to teach the audience the chorus to the song. She mentioned it was the easiest track to sing along to, thanks to its repetitive melody and simple lyrics. With a hint of shyness, she encouraged the crowd to groove along with her. Fans responded enthusiastically, cheering as they picked up the tune. As the chorus echoed through the venue, the audience sang and danced together in sync.
Other than performing, So!YoON! took some time to talk with her fans. She mentioned that she really liked Minnesota. She walked around Minneapolis, walked across a nearby bridge, and took a short nap before returning to the concert venue to perform. She also mentioned that when she first started the tour, the songs felt very foreign to her– as if they weren’t her songs. But after performing them for each stop, they now feel as if they were her songs.
They ended the concert with a short encore. They performed popular songs like their track, “Midnight Train”. After they completed their setlist, So!YoON! threw a tour t-shirt and guitar pick into the audience. Drummer Gyun grabbed the set list and handed it to a lucky fan at the front barricade. They ended their performance with a bow to the crowd before exiting the stage.
Minneapolis is the 9th stop of their 16-stop US tour. Se So Neon will stop in Seattle, Vancouver, and Portland before they finish their tour with 4 stops in California (San Francisco, San Diego, Santa Ana, and Los Angeles). After they finish their US tour, they will go on their Asia tour, then end the year with an Australia tour.
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.
Big Ocean (빅오션) is an up and coming boyband produced by Parastar Entertainment. The band debuted in 2024 with a remake of the famous SMTOWN ending song, “Hope (빛)”, by H.O.T. The band consists of members PJ, Jiseok, and Chanyeon. They are the first K-Pop boyband that was produced with all the members being hard of hearing. They have gone through vigorous training and utilize technology and AI in their performances / music production.
Despite only debuting last year, the group has already amassed almost 100,000 followers on instagram. Many fans feel inspired by their hard work and dedication to pursue music despite their hearing loss.
On their first full day in the U.S., the boys held a café-themed event at Niko Niko Boba Cafe in St. Paul. Despite the sweltering heat, many fans waited patiently for their chance to meet the idols. Big Ocean served drinks, chatted briefly with attendees, and expressed their gratitude for the support. Following the café event, Big Ocean stepped outdoors to take a group photo with all attendees then returned back into the cafe for a short break and to prepare for the fan events.
After a few minutes, fans returned back into the cafe to begin the fan events. Big Ocean took selfies and Polaroids with fans and held a fan sign session for those who purchased additional add-ons. After the fan events ended, fans gathered at the front for send off to say goodbye to Big Ocean as they loaded into their van.
** A special thank you to Parastar Entertainment, KorUS Entertainment, and mnkpopconnect for inviting me and letting me cover the fun events of the day!**
On Thursday, Korean alternative rock band ONEWE stopped in St. Paul as part of their first World Tour, ‘O! NEW E!volution Ⅳ’. The band consists of lead vocalist Yonghoon, vocalist and pianist Dongmyeong, rapper and bassist Giuk, guitarist Kanghyun, and drummer Harin. They performed at Amsterdam Bar & Hall and brought in a large crowd of concert goers.
The band began as a small “neighborhood band” that formed because of their love of music. They did busking on the streets of Korea then later signed with their current company, RBW, and appeared on globally popular variety shows like “Produce 101 Season 2” and “The Unit“. Previously known as M.A.S 0094 or M.A.S, they re-debut under the name “ONEWE” in 2018. Since their re-debut, they have been focusing on their musical skills and has found their unique color in the industry.
Paving their own path.
Breaking away from the typical K-POP norm, ONEWE has been forging their own unique path. As a non-dance band, they’ve prioritized live music—continuing with busking, outdoor performances, and appearances at festivals. By focusing on authentic engagement, ONEWE has been steadily building their fanbase. Many fans look forward to see them perform at festivals like the PEAK Festival and Grand Mint Festival in Korea.
Meeting U.S. Fans
Many U.S. fans at the concert shared that they had been longtime fans and were thrilled to finally see ONEWE perform live in Minnesota.
During the soundcheck, Yong Hoon noticed a fan in tears and called out to her from the stage. The moment turned to humor and brought out laughter as Yonghoon serenaded her with a playful, “Don’t cry”. Dongmyeong brought even more laughter as he started serenading her as well.
After the show, many fans expressed that it was the best concert they have ever attended and voiced their hopes for ONEWE to return. Many fans even bought tickets and traveled to another state to see Onewe perform again.
Guitarist Kang Hyun playing the guitar.
Looking ahead, youngest member Giuk shared his hope to perform at the biggest stage in the Minnesota. Or if possible, he would like to perform at K-CON USA.
Minnesota marked the halfway mark of their 20-stop North American tour. The tour offers special opportunities to get close to the artists such as fan signs, sound check, high touch, and taking selfies with the members. Outside of the concert and events, attendees can also purchase their signed album, light sticks, and souvenirs. ONEWE will finish their tour in Vancouver on May 9th.
Hundreds of fans lined up at Uptown Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to see K-pop girl group Loossemble (루셈블) perform for their Up_Link Station Tour. The band consists of members Hyunjin, ViVi, Go Won, Hyeju, and Yeojin. Yeojin is currently on a health hiatus and did not attend the US Tour. They debuted in 2023 with the song, “Sensitive”. The members are former members of girl group LOONA. After leaving their previous agency, they signed with CTDENM to form Loossemble. “Loossemble” stands for “LOONA Assemble.” Throughout the concert, you could hear long time fans cheering “LOONA” in the crowd.
Last month, Loossemble released their 3rd mini album “TTYL” (short for “Talk to You Later”). It features their title song “TTYL”. This is one of their most popular songs as many fans have performed dance covers/dance challenges to this song. Throughout the tour, the girls could be seen making short videos and performing the songs at local landmarks. In Minnesota, Loossemble member Hyeju filmed a dance challenge for “TTYL” at the Spoonbridge and Cherry. Hyeju also taught the choreography to concert goers and filmed a short video for their social media pages.
Some other popular songs that the girls performed include fan favorite “Cotton Candy” and “Confessions”. The girls ended the concert with a high wave event / group photos with VIP, VVIP, and VVIP Wonder ticket holders.
Thousands flocked to Mall of America (MOA) to see international girl group Katseye perform at Huntington Bank Rotunda. The band consists of members Sophia Laforteza, Manon Bannerman, Lara Raj, Yoonchae Jeong, Megan Meiyok Skiendiel, and Daniela Avanzini. Formed through a collaboration between HYBE and Geffen Records on the popular music survival show “The Debut: Dream Academy,” Katseye was formed utilizing the K-POP training system and promotional style. Since their debut on June 28th, they have already released two hit songs: “Debut” and “Touch.” Thousands of fans have featured their songs in videos and shared dance covers on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and more. MPR estimates that around 8,000 fans attended the performance at MOA on Saturday.
MOA held special events to celebrate Katseye’s special performance. The events included selling Katseye merchandise, cup sleeve events, and purchasing Katseye’s album from Barnes and Noble. However, to get and hold a good spot, the viewer would have to arrive early and remain in their spots. The first floor was only for the lucky few who were able to purchase an album and got the chance to participate in the meet and greet or the lucky few who secured a first floor viewing spot during ticket sales.
The event was scheduled for 2PM but MOA opened doors at 7AM to allow spectators and VIP viewers to enter early and find spots to watch the show. Unlike typical K-POP concert culture, where people usually camp out for days to secure a good spot for general admission, there were lots of good spots available when I arrived at 9:30AM. It wasn’t until 11AM when the mall started filling up with kids, parents, young teens, and adults eager to catch a glimpse of Katseye. Even the nearby Starbucks was crowded with spectators waiting to see Katseye perform.
Security faced challenges with many people who refused to move when ordered. Some instances of these challenges included crowds blocking the second floor escalator–preventing people from getting off the escalator–and people blocking designated walking paths for mall goers on the first floor. The area was so congested that many fans resorted to taking the escalators up and down to catch a short glimpse of the girls.
Katseye member Megan was noticeably missing as she is currently taking a break for a back injury. The band performed three of their songs. They opened the show with “Debut” then performed “My Way” and closed with “Touch”. Many fans can be spotted dancing and singing along during the performances.
Most of the crowd dispersed after Katseye performed their last song and disappeared backstage. However, Katseye came back on stage to do the Meet and Greet portion. Many fans who waited were delighted and screamed with joy when Katseye returned to the stage. The Katseye members greeted the lucky few who was able to get limited VIP tickets, gave out hugs, had short conversations, and took photos with their fans.
K-POP soloist Black On recently visited Minnesota for a special fan sign and busking event held at Maplewood Mall, ahead of his concert at Granada Theatre the following day. The event served as a fun and intimate pre-show gathering, and many fans were excited to see him again—especially those who had attended his previous busking performance a couple of months earlier.
Held in the mall’s atrium, the event drew a large crowd of supporters eager to meet the rising artist. Fans had the opportunity to purchase posters, albums, and other merchandise to get signed, as well as buy tickets to take photos with Black On.
Black On spent several hours at the mall, warmly engaging with fans, signing autographs, and posing for photos. After the fan sign ended, he gave a short live performance. Then, the fans and Black On took some more photos with the fans before riding the Merry Go Round together.
The next day, Black On performed at Granada Theatre in Minneapolis. Fans arrived early to watch the rehearsals. After rehearsal completed, they started letting GA enter. Black On performed on stage then took a break to have a special commentary with his fans. Black On pulled an audience member onto stage with him. He hugged her as he sung a special song.
Black On ended the concert with taking photos and spending time with his fans.
** Thank you so much for Sweet Escape Store and planetkpop.llc for giving me the opportunity to shoot the fansign and concert! **
A new and talented boy band will be debuting soon! Beat Interactive, the company which currently houses popular Korean boy band A.C.E., collaborated with local K-POP store, Sweet Escape Store, to hold their first US busking and Meet & Greet event at Maplewood Mall. The trainees (word for pre-debut K-pop idols who are training under an agency), are currently on tour with A.C.E. The trainees consists of members Park Minseok, Hong Minsung, Jeon Yeoyeojeong, Choi Seohyun, Kim Taeyang, Jo Yunhu, and Kim Riwoo. The event started with a busking and meet & greet on the main atrium on the first floor before ending with a Hi Touch event at the Sweet Escape Store.
The busking stage took place in front of the iconic carousel at Maplewood Mall. Spectators began to gather long before the boys came out. Many hoped to secure spots in the front for the best view. Those who arrived later lined the railings above, hoping to catch a glimpse of the performance from higher ground.
Trainees Choi Seohyun and Park Minseok were the first to step onto the busking stage, entering with shy smiles and waving to fans as they waited for the rest of their team to join them. They grooved to the music to pass time as they waited. Member Park Minseok notably received an extra warm and enthusiastic welcome as he had recently participated in the globally popular survival show, Boys Planet. Many people in attendance named him as their favorite contestant on the show.
Without any formal introductions, the boys launched straight into a high-energy cover dance performance. They performed a powerful mashup of the popular songs “Siren” by RIIZE, “Not Today” by BTS, “Fire” by BTS, and “Undercover” by A.C.E. Their powerful and synchronized movements highlighted their talent as an upcoming dance boy band. Below is a short snippet of their cover of “Kick” It by NCT 127.
After their performance finished, they did a short commentary with their fans. They introduced themselves then did another dance performance.
After their performance ended, the boys went back stage to get ready and the fans went upstairs to the Sweet Escape Store to line up for the Hi Touch event. The line was so long it wrapped around the top atrium of the second floor. Newbeat’s Management was strict and photography was not allowed in this area. A curtain was placed at the front so fans cannot see inside until they entered the K-pop store.
During the Hi Touch event, fans were able to high five the members of Newbeat and received a random gift. After receiving their gift, many fans lingered outside and opened the gift. Inside were beads and a string to make a friendship bracelet. They also included a random photo card of one of the member of the band.
Most fans were waiting to catch a glance of the boys again before they leave for the night. They squealed in delight when the boys came out for send off. Newbeat waved goodbye to their fans as security guards lined the walkway and led the band to their vehicle.
Unfortunately, the event ended earlier than expected and a handful of people who arrived later missed opportunity to see the boys. They left in disappointment for not being able to participate in the events for the day. Some were lucky to see the boys for send off. However, others missed the opportunities to see the boys completely.
** A special thank you to Sweet Escape Store for letting me participate for the event and photograph the event for them. **
