[K-Exclusive]: KCON LA Bigger than Ever in 2024
KCON LA returned once more this year to Los Angeles’ Convention Center, GILBERT LINDSAY PLAZA, and Crypto.com Arena from July 26th to July 28th. Following the same format as 2023, the event featured three days of convention, and three nights of concerts. While still taking place at the same venues, this year’s convention moved to LACC’s South Hall, a bigger hall with more room and more people.
The convention featured several panels, sponsor booths, and stages for fans to enjoy throughout the weekend. Panels such as the Kpop Photography panel were enticing to young fans looking to get into the industry, and sponsor booths from brands such as TIRTIR, bibigo, paldo, and SHEIN stayed packed and busy as fans shopped and won freebies. Even larger booths such as the Samsung Galaxy Experience Space also had artist appearances throughout the weekend, with visits from BOYNEXTDOOR, ENHYPEN, ZICO, Kep1er, and KATSEYE.
With even more stages within the convention this year as well, fans were able to enjoy artist appearances at the KCON STAGE, the MEET & GREET, and the SHOWCASE stage. Each stage featured different artists and different activities, with some highlighting performances and others featuring artist interviews. While in past years, MEET & GREET required a separate ticket and took place in a different room, South Hall’s larger size allowed for everything to take place in the same hall, with the exception of panels. Another notable event this year were actor fan meetings, the first of their kind. KCON brought actor Kim Soo Hyun and actress Park Min Young to Los Angeles this year, hosting special fan meetings with the two actors.
Artist appearances at each convention stage were as follows:
KCON STAGE:
Friday:
AleXa
INI
JO YURI
P1Harmony
ZEROBASEONE
Saturday:
BIBI
BOYNEXTDOOR
HYOLYN
LØREN
NMIXX
Tiger JK
Sunday:
A.C.E
god
STAYC
TWS
MEET & GREET:
Friday:
Kep1er
NMIXX
ZEROBASEONE
Saturday:
BOYNEXTDOOR
JEON SOMI
P1Harmony
Special Fan Meeting: Park Min Young
Sunday:
HYOLYN
STAYC
TWS
Special Fan Meeting: Kim Soo Hyun
SHOWCASE:
Friday:
APOKI
DRIPPIN
DXMON
Saturday:
CRAXY
POW
Sunday:
Isaac Hong
ME:I
With this year’s announcement of the MAMA AWARDS coming to Los Angeles as well, KCON also had an area where fans could vote for their Worldwide Choice Award for MAMA. Next to the voting area, fans could also be seen completing a Stamp Tour curated and created by KCON as a group activity.
Each night when it came time for the show, fans flocked across the way to the Crypto.com Arena. Notably, with the general admission format on the floor, many fans even opted to skip the convention and line up hours ahead of time for the concert. Each night’s show featured its own lineup of artists, with each act performing two to three songs, and headliners performing four. Each evening also featured its own special MC.
Friday:
MC: ROWOON
BIBI
BOYNEXTDOOR
INI
Kep1er
P1Harmony
TAEMIN
Special Appearance: ZEROBASEONE
Saturday:
MC: JEON SOMI
ENHYPEN
god
JO YURI
ME:I
NMIXX
TWS
Special Appearance: P1Harmony
Sunday:
MC: Kim Soo Hyun
BINI
JEON SOMI
NCT 127
STAYC
ZEROBASEONE
ZICO
Special Appearances: BIBI, HYOLYN, INI, ME:I, TWS
Each concert night also began with a pre-show performance. Artists such as Isaac Hong, KATSEYE, and Filipino girl group BINI took the stage during the pre-show event, showing off their own charms to fans that entered the venue early.
Another first, KCON LA also broadcasted for the first time on U.S. television this year. Available to stream on The CW, night three of the show was broadcasted live for American audiences to enjoy.
Wrapping up yet another year of festivities, KCON LA ended with a fun-filled third day of convention and concert. Thank you to the KCON LA team for allowing Officially Kmusic to attend once again!
Written By Gregory Kolodziejski (Guest Writer)
Edited By Ephney Tsai
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