The K-pop fan & artist festival 'KCON' has officially announced its locations for 2025.
CJ ENM revealed that the first KCON of this year will take place in Chiba, Japan, from May 9 to 11. The U.S. will then take over, continuing the excitement of KCON in Los Angeles from August 1 to 3.
KCON is a unique festival that combines a convention where fans can directly experience Korean-style lifestyle with K-pop shows, making it the first of its kind in the world. Since its inception in the U.S. in 2012, KCON has been held in 14 locations worldwide, including Japan, Abu Dhabi in the UAE, France, Mexico, Australia, Thailand, and Saudi Arabia. KCON has introduced Korean culture and music to the world, facilitating the global expansion of artists and helping small and medium-sized enterprises enter overseas markets. Over the past 13 years, it has attracted approximately 1.99 million offline attendees, while millions of fans have enjoyed Korean culture and K-pop through digital platforms, forming a strong global fandom that transcends language and borders.
This year, KCON will meet fans with a refreshed experience in the U.S., the birthplace of KCON, and Japan, its first Asian hub. In these iconic locations, KCON aims to maximize the festival experience for fans, artists, and participating companies with more diversified content. The festival will significantly expand fandom programs that can only be enjoyed at KCON and prepare innovative stage productions that enhance diverse performances and interactions between fans and artists through multi-stages. Additionally, there are plans to strengthen online content to broaden the connection with fans, allowing them to vividly enjoy the atmosphere and excitement of KCON from anywhere through digital platforms.
Meanwhile, 'KCON JAPAN 2024', held last May, attracted a record-breaking 140,000 attendees and featured approximately 100 performances by 44 artists, marking the largest KCON ever held in Japan. The previous 'KCON LA 2024' was enjoyed by over 5.8 million fans from 176 countries and regions through both in-person and digital platforms. Notably, it was broadcast live during prime time across the U.S. on the CW Network, which reaches about 120 million households, solidifying K-pop's global status as the first K-pop festival to achieve such a feat.
[Ji Seung-hoon, Star Today Reporter]
