NOTE: I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you to the thousands of people who have read this article so far, shared it with their friends, or who are swinging by for the very first time. This level of support means so so so much to me. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me on Instagram, X, or email if you have any additional questions or want to chat about anything K-Pop related! I’d love to meet up with some of you and will have Stray Kids freebies on hand. Please be safe and enjoy LA.
UPDATED AUGUST 11 @ 9:32 PM (PDT)
KCON LA 2023 is officially upon us! The three day celebration Korean pop culture will be held on August 18-20 at the LA Convention Center and Crypto.com Arena. Fans can look forward to exciting performances, meet and greets with their favorite idols, and so much more.
For the first time in KCON LA’s 11 year history, KCON LA 2023 will feature three nights of concerts at the Crypto.com Arena. Oh, and the lineup is STACKED!
KCON LA 2023 SHOW LINEUP (FRI 8/18): Cravity, IVE, NMIXX, Shownu X Hyungwon (from Monsta X), Taemin, Taeyong, WayV
KCON LA 2023 SHOW LINEUP (SAT 8/19): ATEEZ, INI, Kep1er, Rain, xikers, ZEROBASEONE, and XG
KCON LA 2023 SHOW LINEUP (SUN 8/20): Everglow, (G)I-DLE, ITZY, JO1, Lapillus, Stray Kids, THE BOYZ
It’s no secret that KCON LA 2023 will be the hottest event for K-Pop stans this summer, and you HAVE to be there! Here’s a guide of everything you’ll need to know about planning your weekend – all in an easy to understand format.
The Basics
KCON LA 2023 consists of two ticketed events. The actual convention, and the concert. The convention is held inside the LA Convention Center during the day, and the concerts are held at the Crypto.com Arena at night! KCON is an all ages event. This year, concert tickets include convention admission for the day you purchased your concert ticket. No need to worry about two separate purchases for the convention and concert!
The KCON Convention portion will be held inside the West Hall of the LA Convention Center from 10AM to 6PM daily.
The Concert portion will commence at 8PM daily, with doors opening at 6PM daily.
The Con + MEET & GREET
KCON will always keep you booked and busy! There’s so much to do on the convention floor. Fun photo ops, food sampling, Korean beauty brand shopping, random play dances, and surprise idol appearances are just a few of the things that take place on the main convention floor daily.
As a separate purchase, KCON attendees may have the chance to attend a meet & greet program with their favorite idols! Some fans will even be able to participate in a special hi-touch at the conclusion of the program.
The following artists will be holding meet & greets on these days:
FRIDAY (8/18): CRAVITY, IVE, NMIXX, Shownu X Hyungwon, WayV
SATURDAY (8/19): INI, Kep1er, xikers, zerobaseone
SUNDAY (8/20): EVERGLOW, (G)I-DLE, ITZY, JO1, ATEEZ
Last year, all of the meet & greets were held in the same room inside the convention at different times of the day. None of them overlapped, so don’t worry too much about it if you are interested in purchasing meet and greets for multiple artists.
The Con(cert)
The KCON Concert will feature a new lineup each night, with unforgettable performances from the biggest names in K-Pop. Each act performs in the round, where a 360 stage allows fans all around the arena to get a great view of the show. Set lengths will vary per act.
Ticketing
Alright… pay close attention now! On June 9 PDT, KCON released the pricing breakdowns for all tickets and add-ons.
Confused by the graphic above? Not quite sure how all of this will work? Don’t worry, we’ll go over this together!
Let’s start by going over the ticket types.
CONVENTION: Entrance into one day of the convention and nothing else. You’ll choose the day you want to attend. As a reminder from earlier, you don’t need to purchase this option if you’re purchasing a show ticket for the day you wish to attend the convention, because your convention ticket will be included in your show ticket. PRICE: $30 (per day)
M&G: Access to the convention on the day of selected artist’s meet and greet, and access to the selected artist’s meet and greet program. There’s two types of M&G tickets being sold – M&G A and B. There is no need to purchase both for one artist – you’ll choose one or the other based on pricing/availability. What happens at M&G? It varies per artist, but look forward to watching a fun interview with your favorite idol that may include games, special messages, even a little singing and dancing!
M&G A was called “Hi-Touch” in the past, and allowed you to watch the M&G from the front section in the room. After the conclusion of the M&G, everyone would line up to go on stage and greet the artist from the other side of a glass. PRICE: $100 PER ARTIST.
M&G B will include your convention access, along with an opportunity to watch the M&G for the artist you select. You’ll also get to participate in a special sendoff with the artist at the end of the M&G. PRICE: $50 PER ARTIST.
SHOW TICKETS: Divided into three tiers based on pricing/section at the Crypto.com Arena. Please refer to the map below.
P1 tickets will be GA FLOOR AND/OR 100’s level. P2 tickets will be in the 200’S/PR level, and P3 will be in the 300’s level. As a reminder, these are tickets for individual nights of the concert. PRICE: $95 for P3, $175 for P2, $230 for P1. Tickets include additional fees.
PREMIUM TICKET: A package that includes a P1 ticket for the show on selected day, convention access on the same day, M&G B for the day, and exclusive access to the red carpet for selected day. PRICE: $500 PER DAY.
HOW TO PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS
axs.com/kcon2023 IS THE OFFICIAL HOME FOR KCON LA 2023 TICKETS. If you don’t already have an AXS account, you’ll need one in order to buy tickets.
Save the date for Friday, June 23! Show tickets and premium tickets will go on sale at 12PM PT, and M&G will go on sale at 2PM PT.
Once you visit the website, you’ll see drop down menus to make selections for the tickets you want. Please note that during high demand concert ticket sales, AXS will not allow you to choose your exact seat location or section – just the pricing tier.
YOUR AXS ACCOUNT / QR CODES / TRANSFERRING TICKETS / ARE THERE GONNA BE WRISTBANDS FOR THE CONVENTION THIS YEAR?
For those who purchased tickets when they went right on sale, the tickets were distributed into everyone’s AXS accounts on August 1 (PDT). If you’re reading this right now and they’re not in your AXS account, you should probably give AXS customer service a call.
The ticket is a QR code that will be scanned prior to entering each individual event. The QR codes are “live,” meaning they refresh every few seconds, and therefore cannot be screenshotted for entry. You’ll need to have your AXS app open when the time comes to have the ticket scanned.
You can transfer tickets to friends and family if needed. Please remember they’ll need their own AXS account in order to access their newly transferred tickets.
If you’re attending the convention, your AXS account probably looks a little something like this…
Upon entering the convention for the first time in the day, your CONVENTION TICKET will be scanned and you will be given a wristband (on the spot) that will be used for re-entry. Please keep this on at all times, and be careful to not destroy it! Replacement wristbands can be purchased for $30.
WHAT ELSE CAN I DO AT KCON?
The KCON convention will open at 10AM daily and close at 6PM. There will be tons, and I mean TONS of things to do inside the convention. Here’s a few of them!
- Dozens of KBeauty brands will be ready to meet YOU at KCON and provide you with free samples of their products. You’ll be able to shop from these brands and not have to worry about shipping costs!
- Random Play Dance (oh, if only I could memorize the choreography to my favorite songs… *sigh*)
- SHOWCASE: NICE TO MEET U – this will take place at the KCON STAGE inside the convention. KCON gets even bigger with this showcase! Each group will be ready to meet their fans with a performance, interactive session, and tons of great memories being made. You can catch the following acts at the showcase:
- LIMELIGHT – August 18 (Friday)
- 8TURN – August 18 (Friday)
- CRAXY – August 19 (Saturday)
- VERIVERY – August 19 (Saturday)
- JUST B – August 20 (Sunday)
- XG – August 20 (Sunday)
- RIIZE – August 20 (Sunday)
DREAM STAGE
Isn’t it your dream to dance on stage at KCON with one of the hottest groups around? It’s definitely a dream of mine, but like I said earlier, I can’t remember choreography for the life of me. Womp womp.
If you can’t relate to my dilemma and want to give it a shot, you should apply for the DREAM STAGE! This year, there will be a dream stage with IVE, ZEROBASEONE, and ITZY on their respective performance dates.
The application window is open through August 10 at 11:59PM PDT. Your application will involve uploading a clip of you dancing to a select song from the groups onto your social media pages, and filling out the Google Form. For more info, please view the Google Forms for IVE, ZEROBASEONE and ITZY.
GENERAL KCON TIPS
PACE. YO. SELF. There’s so much to see and do at KCON, and it can definitely get overwhelming! Listen to your body – when it’s time to eat, it is time to eat. Be sure to hydrate well during the convention and before. You’ll be around tons of bodies, and it’ll get hot.
If you’re parking downtown, I would strongly recommend parking under the South Hall of the convention center. Re-entry was permitted for the convention last year, but not for parking! I parked below the West Hall/Petree since it was closer to where I had to go check in for the convention. I ended up regretting it so much because it was a trek to get over there from the South Hall, which is where the convention took place. I know it’s further from the Crypto.com Arena, but think of it this way: the concert only lasts a few hours, but the convention lasts ALL DAY. If re-entry is allowed this year, wouldn’t you want to be able to have the car close by to drop off the endless freebies you’ll be getting? I’d also recommend keeping a cooler in the trunk with snacks that you can access. Outside food won’t be allowed into the convention.
As someone who will be carrying three lightsticks on Friday (multi-stan issues HAHAHA) please remember to carry the appropriate amount of batteries to last you the duration of the show! Target is a few blocks away from the arena, but make your packing list and double, triple, maybe even quadrouple check that you have your batteries. Speaking of batteries, make sure you’re carrying at least TWO portable chargers per day. I like this one from Walmart because it lasts a long time. Make sure your friends have their own, along with the appropriate charging cord. Remember, it’s going to be a LONG day, and it’s better to have more and not need it, than not have enough and have a dead phone before you get to see your fave!
Here’s some more clear bags you might like, if you need one ASAP you can have it shipped to an Amazon locker.
USPECLARE Clear Purse Stadium Clear Messenger Bag Stadium Approved for Men and Women Clear CrossBody Bag (I got this one in purple for PTD LA. It was a good size to carry just the essentials, but it would not close with my lightsticks inside, so I had to hold my lightstick all day.)
BAGAIL Clear bags Stadium Approved Clear Tote Bag with Zipper Closure Crossbody Messenger Shoulder Bag with Adjustable Strap (I really like this one! It’s very spacious, and the standard “clear bag” size for any venue. The only thing is, I guess it’s a matter of whether or not you want to carry something that big or will have room to stuff it under your seat.)
ProCase Clear Purse for Women, Crossbody Handbag Stadium Approved See Through Shoulder Bag for Concert Game Sport Event (For my fellow Shawols 🌚)
BRING MORE MONEY THAN YOU THINK YOU’LL NEED. This is especially true if you’re traveling in – you know deep down you’ll want to venture into Koreatown and check out the K-Pop stores and do Korean BBQ, if time permits. CRYPTO.COM ARENA IS ALSO A CASHLESS VENUE.
Bring a collect book, a few toploaders, or something similar to safely store photocards.
Crypto.com Arena has a strict bag policy which states, “Bags, backpacks, purses, totes, clear bags, fanny packs, and camera bags are not allowed. Small clutches and wallets smaller than 5” x 9” x 1” are permitted and are subject to security inspection.” This applies to all bags, regardless whether or not they’re clear. BUT… they’ve made some exceptions in the past due to the nature of the event. A good example would be the NCT 127 concert last Fall, where the venue seemed to be fine with the majority of fans who just showed up with clear bags. I’ve heard the arena make exceptions for KCON in the past, since they know everyone will be coming from the convention (which does not have such a policy.) Honestly, if you bring a regular clear bag, you’ll be fine. If you have anything larger than your standard “concert clear bag” we’re all used to bringing to K-Pop concerts, you’ll likely need to go to specific entrances where there’s X-Ray machines. Security will guide you there!
If you have any other questions about KCON LA 2023, feel free to leave a comment below, email me, or reach out on X or Instagram. If you want a buddy to hang out with, I’ll be more than happy to take your pictures 😉
I really hope I was able to help you with this article. Feedback would be greatly appreciated, as always. KCON LA 2023 will be absolutely epic, and I can’t wait to share highlights of the event with you!
First time going to KCON. so excited! I have my ticket for the show but not the M&G yet. How does the M&G usually work? Can you do this with more than 1 artist? I want to meet Xikers but want to support Zerobaseone also. Thanks so much for all your tips!
Author
Congrats on going to your first kcon! You can buy m&g for as many artists you want, granted they’re available. Last year none of the m&g overlapped and I can assume it’ll be the same thing this year.
Thank you so much!
Thank you so much for this informative article! I’m considering going to KCON this year for the first time. If you happen to see this comment in time, I was wondering if you could shed some light on the below?
1. How long is the M&G, generally?
2. How quickly do the concert tickets get sold out? (Particularly P1). Specifically, if I waited until after I’ve secured a M&G ticket to buy a concert ticket, is there a high likelihood the P1 tickets will already have sold out by then? (I.e., less than 2 hours).
I’d appreciate any light you can shed on the above 🙂 Thank you!
Author
Hey! Okay so
1. M&G is about an hour
2. It’s really hard to say. This has been a concern of mine as well and I’m also really nervous about the ticket sales bc I am so desperate to see that entire D1 lineup but especially Taemin. For P1, GA Floor for all days will definitely be sold out before seats. It’s just hard to gauge how fast the seats will sell, but I would say if you’re determined to get P1, you should secure that.
Thank you so much!!
hey! do any schedules come out that show SPECIFIC times (like for meet and greet and activities) ? the day i’m going is my college move in day and need to make sure certain times don’t overlap!
Author
If I remember correctly, they either announce them the day of or literally the day before. I did hi-touch for Cravity last year and remember wanting to be at the wristband pick up (last year people’s convention passes were on wristbands) well before the doors opened so I wouldn’t be stressed rushing to go in. But also, as you probably know campus move-in can be time consuming and can last a lot longer than expected. Also all the RA’s called a mandatory meeting for that evening of my move in, and no one knew about it until we were there at school 😩 My best advice for you is getting settled into school > everything else.
I bought meet and greet tickets for Friday, is there a special check in that I need to do that day? or is there something else I need to do more than just show up in the day of the meet and greet?
Author
We’re gonna have to wait until at least the beginning of August (once AXS disburses tickets) to find out. I know this isn’t a really good answer, but something tells me they’re gonna do stuff differently than previous years which involved picking up the m&g vouchers and a wristband to access the convention all at the check in at the convention center.
Hopefully they post clearer information. My ti Jets don’t specify anything yet. Thanks for the article and the reply 🙂
Author
They definitely will, we just have to be patient. Probably like the week of the convention tbh.
Thanks for all this great info. I scored concert tickets for Day 3 and plan to check out the convention before the concert. How much time should someone plan to spend at the convention center?
Author
I’m so glad I could help! I was able to get D1 P2 tickets yesterday and ATEEZ hi touch, but it was so insane and stressful getting the concert ticket 😩 well, it’s over now lol…
Spend the whole day at the con if you can, it’s fun but like I said definitely pace yourself. Don’t forget to eat meals at normal times. Last year they had Asian food trucks on Chick Hearn Ct and hopefully they bring that back so it gives people an option to eat lunch/dinner.
Will there be other vendors inside the convention? Like fan-made merch and such?
Author
No fanmade merch
Thank you for the info.
Question about the concert: Floor or seated area ? I am 5 feet tall. And for floor, how early do you have to wait inline to get close enough to the stage?
Author
I’d recommend seated, because even if you wore demonias or other huge platform boots (you’re gonna be really uncomfortable) people will guaranteed be pushing, and the stage is really high up from what I’ve heard so it won’t make much of a difference.
Hi! This article is super helpful and it makes me more excited!
It’s my first time visiting Kcon and I got Day 3 concert tickets with my sisters! I was wondering though, if there’s a lot of things to buy at the con itself or even the venue? My sister was wondering if they will have light sticks and stuff like that for purchase.
Author
Hiii! Sorry for such a late reply, I’ve been on vacation. You’re gonna have an awesome time at the show! I would strongly recommend getting lightsticks beforehand – you have plenty of time. Not sure if you’re local but there are a good handful of kpop stores in LA that sell lightsticks (would recommend though quantities may be limited due to the demand. Inside the convention there’s tons of kbeauty/skincare brands that offer free samples of products if you follow them on Instagram. They’ll have those products and more on sale but last year not all of them took credit cards… so be prepared! A few of the kpop stores from LA also had booths inside the convention last year selling albums and dicon pcs. Do not expect fanmade goods and kcon is also pretty strict about fansite goods being sold on property.
Thank you so much 🫰🏽😊
Thank you! Do you know when we should line up to get as close to the stage as possible if we have GA tickets? Like do we need to wait all day or do they give out wristbands and/or numbers the morning of?
Author
Honestly, we won’t know the protocol about the wristbands until KCON actually comes, unless there is an announcement made beforehand (but I highly doubt that’ll be the case.) All I can say is if you think something is too early, it WON’T be too early.
Thank you! Sorry for another question. I also don’t know if you know this but do you know where the line for the GA will be (where at at the convention center) or do you know any one that might post the updates for the GA situation? Thank you again.
omg so it’s my first time going to con and im going alone!! I also had a question, so I had bought the premium package for the day ate performs but I noticed that their m&g are the next day, would I be able to go the next day to their meet in greet or would I have to choose a m&g from the day im watching their show? I hope this makes sense I have found no answers to this question 🙁
Author
You’re going alone? You’re more than welcome to come hang with me hahahaha. Your concert ticket would only include convention admission for the day you bought the concert ticket. So if you wanted to go to the convention on Sunday, you need to buy a convention ticket for Sunday – either by getting a m&g for that day somehow, buying a concert ticket for Sunday night, or just buying a convention ticket for Sunday.
omg thank you that’s so sweet!! so if i buy a convention ticket for sunday i’d be able to do the m&g for that day? i’m not sure if i’m making sense but i’m basically trying to see if there’s a way i can watch ateez perform and do the meet and greet while purchasing one premium pack
Author
Sorry I’m barely responding haha, I’ve been drowning in post concert depression. I hope this doesn’t make stuff confusing!
atz performs at the concert on saturday and their m&g is sunday. If you wanted to see them but participate in their m&g here’s the options:
– buy a saturday concert ticket (could be regular or premium, but i’d recommend saving your money and getting a regular ticket unless there’s people you really want to see at the con on sat)
then you either
– buy a sunday m&g A or B off someone
Around what time do you recommend to line up for ga?😭 and do you think it’d be worth it to pay someone to wait in line for you so you can go to the convention ?
Author
It’s hard to say, but do keep in mind there’s gonna be people there overnight!
Thank you for this article! I also got ATEEZ hi-touch but I’m glad to see the information hasn’t been released yet lol.
Do you know if there will be a line for that, too? I saw on the website they won’t honor any lines until it’s 30min before but not too sure.
Reading this was sooo helpful, it’s also my first time going!! Can’t wait!! (:
Author
Yay I’m so glad I helped! There’s lines for hi touch M&G A and B will probably have separate lines, I can’t exactly remember how it was done last year but I remember not really wanting to wait in line for long. Since atz have their hi touch on the last day of the con, we’ll be able to know how things work by then by looking at how stuff was done on Friday and Saturday.
I’m lowkey nervous but also extremely excited!
Hello! It’s my first time going to KCON and i’m going alone so i’m very nervous and have no idea what i’m doing. I just bought tickets off of someone on Twitter and i’ve been trying to do my research. Is there still a check in process? I heard in the past you had to check in on the day of and if so I was wondering what’s a good time to check in. I also heard that in the past you had to register your tickets on their website before the event, not sure if they still do that? As for detailed times of the M&G and performances do those really just come out on the exact day of? Seems hard to plan out your day that way lol.
Author
Hi! Congrats on going to your first kcon, you will enjoy it 🙂 and like I told someone above, you’re more than welcome to join me at the con as I’ll be alone too lol.
In previous years they did a big convention check in with benefits being attached to a wristband, but there’s no telling whether or not they’re doing stuff the same way this year because they used AXS for everything. I wouldn’t be surprised if they just had people use their AXS QR codes for everything like a regular concert ticket being scanned (if you know what I mean)
The M&G/program schedule should be released a few days before kcon starts. It’s hard to plan everything far in advance but this year I would also say I’m gonna just “go with the flow” when I’m at the con, while of course keeping my hi-touch time/meal breaks in mind.
Hi! How long does the concert part of kcon last? It starts at 8pm correct?
Author
Yes! And maybe 3-4 hours.
Hello! I bought a ticket via StubHub. Will that still be applicable to attend the convention or do I have to purchase a convention ticket separately since I didn’t get the concert ticket from their official website?
Author
The concert ticket and convention ticket are supposed to be attached to one another!
Hi!! You described the stage but can you elaborate more on that? I want to get tickets that I actually get to see the acts straight on, not their side or behind as I have been stuck with at different concerts. Im looking at the 100’s sections. Thank you so much for all of the great info!!!
Author
Hi there! I’m gonna be completely honest – there’s no way of telling for sure which sides the acts will be facing because there’s always the potential of things changing.
Thank you!
Hi! Do you know if we can bring lightsticks to the crypto arena? I checked out their website and saw that they had some pretty strict regulations on what we cannot bring, but they did not mention anything about lightsticks– I don’t want to risk having it taken away!!
Author
You’ll be fine! It’s a kpop concert, so they will expect them and batteries too 😊
I’m flying in on Friday (work trip before KCON trip lol) so I may miss the convention on D1 but not the show. Do I need my wristband to get in the show or just my QR ticket?
Author
I want to take a wild guess and say your QR ticket on AXS will be fine. It’s really hard to say (as of now) whether or not they’re gonna tie everything to a wristband this year or just use the AXS QR codes and forego the wristbands. I can totally see that happening but let’s wait a little longer to see what the KCON officials direct us to do!
Hii, this is my first time going to kcon and I’ll have to travel from abroad so I have a bunch of questions about pretty much everything
1st of all I already purchased the tickets and have them online, but do we need a wristband or physical ticket to get in? and if so, how will the physical tickets be delivered? or will I be ok with the online ticket? (I’m pretty worried abt this since im not living in LA)
2nd, I still can’t understand what the sendoff and m&g program are, i bought premium for day 3 but Idk what those programs or the red carpet mean, where they are held or how to enter
3rd Are the timetables for the convention posted anywhere? bc we know that the concert starts at 8 but nothing abt convention
and last, do they sell kpop merch or is it just programs the whole day? and if they do sell it, would recommend buying there? bc many times in events everything is overpriced so maybe I could just go to a local kpop store
hope u can answer my questions and TYSMM for the tips and the info, they were really helpful <3
Hi!
This will be my first time going to Kcon. Like some of the others up above, I’m going alone. I’m also new to the K-pop scene, though learning rapidly. LOL, I’m older because I tried to avoid K-pop, to be honest. You know, the whole thing where you use your money to not engage in something that might harm others, the environment, and the like as much as you can. Yeah… Going about my life until a Felix short fell in front of my eyes; suddenly, I became a Stray Kids fan, and through them, I slowly became an Attez fan through watching Kingdom. Anyway, I tried to ask Kcon questions but got no response.
Honestly, I wish I’d found this earlier. It was beneficial even if I was reading some of the info post buying things and the like. Still, it’s great info to know for other things too. So thank you for taking the time to give such detailed and precise information. Like any older person, I’ve babbled on for far too long, so my questions… I’m just copying the posting from the email I sent them. Heh…
Question 1 – Is the order on the day of the concerts the order the artists will perform?
Question 2 – How does GA Floor work with a premium ticket, and how are you insured your spot once you get in? My reasoning for this question is that you can line up from 11 am until the arena’s opening at 6 30 pm. That’s a long time to stand and then stand for the shows.
Question 3 – Can you leave after the artists you want to see have performed, or must you stay for the whole show?
Question 4 – So, while in the concert venue, they ask you to use your phone to order and to use the QR code on your seat, for Ateez I have a seat, but for Stray Kids, I made a newbie blunder and didn’t figure it out until after I’d already did the tickets for Ateez first so I got GA for them. 🙁 Not too happy about it, but Stray Kids was who I wanted to see, not that I’m not equally as excited to see Ateez, but they were the ones that lured me to them with the mysterious deep voice Felix… LOL So augh… I’m sorry I’m going off on a tangent again… *sigh* How do you order from the floor?
I’m so nervous to be on the floor, but I really, really wanted the tickets for Stray Kids, so Yeah… I’m also short, so my prospects of seeing them will be limited, and I’m also not too happy to think about the possibility of pushing and shoving. I don’t want to be near the stage. I planned to be in the backish of the GA area, nearer to an exit, in case anything happened. OO Any advice to try to have as comfortable and enjoyable a time as I can watching the shows from the floor?
Hello! Thanks for such an informative article! Excited to go to kcon for the first time with my sister! I just have a couple of questions:
1. For the “standard concert” clear bag, how many do you think I can bring? I’ll also be bringing multiple light sticks (multi stan issues lol) and I want to make sure I have enough space for that and probably the endless freebies/products I’ll get there. Would it be weird to bring 2 bags? I’ll be fine going through security check, I just want to make sure that there isn’t a limit on bags.
2. Can you recommend any kpop shops that sell decently priced albums and light sticks in the area?
3. Do they allow outside water in water bottles or does everything need to be purchased inside the convention center/crypto arena?
Thank you so much!
Author
Hey! Okay so
1. I’ve never tried to bring more than one clear bag to a show, but (as someone who will be carrying 3 lightsticks on day 1) I would personally want to travel as light as possible and focus on the essentials. I’ll be bringing a clear tote and a gallon sized ziplock just incase the freebies don’t fit in that tote. You should be fine.
2. If you’re willing to drive out to Buena Park, K-Place at The Source is my go-to for albums and they count towards Hanteo. Best prices around imo. The mall it’s in (The Source) is a very popular hangout spot for kpop stans in so cal, I’m there so often I would consider it my second home 🤣 You can make a half day out of it. If you need something in LA, you can go to kpop nation on 8th street. It’s on the border of ktown and westlake. I got my SHINee lightstick from them in 2021 and now at their permanent store, they have a bigggg banner of Stray Kids in the parking lot. Album prices are great there too, but they do not count towards Hanteo afaik if that matters to you!
3. I’m not sure about the convention but for the concert they definitely will not allow outside food or water… unless the venue makes a statement (a few days before the show) about allowed/prohibited items and says factory sealed water bottles are allowed.
Hit me up if you have any more questions!
Hi!
This will be my first time going to Kcon. Like some of the others up above, I’m going alone. Honestly, I wish I’d found this earlier. It was beneficial even if I was reading some of the info post buying tickets. Still, it’s great info to know for other things too. So thank you for taking the time to give such detailed and precise information.
Question 1 – How does GA Floor work with a premium ticket, and how are you insured your spot once you get in? My reasoning for this question is that you can line up from 11 am until the arena’s opening at 6 30 pm. That’s a long time to stand and then stand for the shows. Could I come around 2 – 3 pm and still not be too bad at a good place? I don’t care about being close to the stage. The back of the GA area would be fine for me, to be honest.
Question 2 – Can you leave after the artists you want to see have performed, or must you stay for the whole show? It’s just in case something happens where I need to leave because of health reasons.
Question 3 – So, while in the concert venue, they ask you to use your phone to order and to use the QR code on your seat; for Ateez, I have a seat, but I got GA admissions tickets for Stray Kids. How do you order from the floor?
Question 4 – I’m so nervous about being on the floor, mainly about the possibility of pushing and shoving. I don’t want to be near the stage. I planned to be in the backish of the GA area, nearer to an exit, in case anything happened. Any advice to try to have as comfortable and enjoyable a time as I can to watch the show from the floor?
Question 5 – I’m nervous about the clear concert bags mentioned above. I’ve read the bag policy repeatedly, and there isn’t a hint of even saying clear bags are okay. I’m just afraid of either a) not being allowed in after spending so much money to go over a benign mistake such as this or b) getting the bag confiscated and losing my things. Have you done this before many times and had no problem despite the rules saying only a clutch?
Author
Congrats on your first Kcon! I’m soooooo so so so glad I could help you out with this post, even if it was just a little. Let me try to answer these questions as best as I can.
1 – The arena will likely release a notice on their social media the week of the event explaining how that’s going to work. Someone in a Facebook group I’m in mentioned that they reached out to the arena themselves and they said there would be numbered wristbands distributed in the morning, but of course, that’s a “heard it thru the grapevine” thing. Please take that with a grain of salt. I will say though, it sounds like that system would be likely because KCON wants you to be able to enjoy the convention during the day – or else, why would they sell premium tickets with all day M&G AND red carpet access? They know you’re all super dedicated to showing your favorite idols support, so I can definitely see that system happening. The final answer: We’ll have to wait a little longer to find out exactly how GA will work, but having to sit outside all day long as the convention is going on seems unlikely for this year 🙂
2- You can leave the concert at any time!
3- I’m assuming the QR code you’re referring to is an “order from your seat” type thing? I’m not sure if they do that for concerts, but I can definitely see them doing that for sporting events. I heard they do it in the PR sections for basketball games, but not for concerts. As for GA this is just a rule of thumb- if you’re looking for concessions, you’re gonna have no choice but to go outside to the concourse and grab it yourself. Also pls keep in mind that most venues, including Crypto.com Arena are now cashless, so you must use a credit or debit card to pay for snacks or merch inside.
4- That right there is the exact reason I opted for a seated ticket for Day 1. If you stand in the back, I can almost guarantee you’ll still have a great view of all the performers. You’ll also have more room to dance around! It will hopefully not be as overwhelming since you’re not really going to have to deal with standing in a thick crowd. Another thing I want you to know is the venue has a really good, caring guest services/ADA team that will be there for you if you need them.
5- I hear you, and this is a concern many people have too! Like I said earlier, as the event gets super close (the week of) the arena will put out a big post on their social medias explaining what is allowed and what isn’t. Typically, they have been okay with standard clear bags for KCON. The convention portion hasn’t had a strict bag policy and they know everyone’s migrating from the convention center to the arena, so they’re pretty lax about stuff. And for what it’s worth – when I went to go see NCT 127, I can’t recall them making any social media posts saying they were amending the bag policy (letting people bring in bags larger than a clutch). Just about everyone (myself included) showed up with clear bags. As Kpop stans, that’s what we’re used to for concerts, right? The arena seemed to have absolutely no problem with people’s clear bags. I think both of us will be fine with our clear bags, but of course, please pay attention to the Crypto.com Arena social media pages the week of the event.
Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any more questions, concerns, or want a buddy to fangirl with 🙂
Thank you. I’m a bit less nervous about certain things now.
I get so anxious about first-time things. So, even having a little pre-info about things alleviates some fear of the unknown. Once I get there, the first showing on day 2 of being inside the concert hall will make me feel better for the last day.
I also watched both shows of Ateez and Stray Kids last year when Kcon put the videos out and was both freaked out and excited at the same time. HAHA, I was trying to figure out where I was seated from the map and going back and forth from the video to the map of the seats to see where I’d be; it seemed like I got some possibly pretty good seats, but it looked like all seats were good. It was the floor area that was a bit intimidating looking!! However, I’m hoping the excitement of watching Stray Kids will make me feel more confident. 🙂
Thanks again!
Author
I’m soooo excited to see what Ateez and Stray Kids are going to do! Personally I’m not too worried about my seat view, I’m happy to just be in the arena and in a section that isn’t going to give me crazy vertigo. The good thing about being on the floor (and sticking towards the back) is you’ll be able to move around at your pleasure. Make sure you bring a handheld fan, because it will get hot on the convention floor.
I was wondering if I should bring one of my hand fans! Okay, ill bring it then. I have a big fan. It is enormous; the wind it can create is so lovely in the heat. LOL
I hope everything goes well and all the groups coming are as healthy and rested as possible. I know that both Ateez and Stray Kids will bring it!! 🙂 This will be the first time I see them live. I’m a pretty baby K-pop fan only within the end of last year and into this year. But I’ve seen a lot of performance videos of them and watched some concert footage. 🙂 Both groups are good at performing and giving their all.
Author
Yes, I want everyone to be healthy too! You’re really going to enjoy seeing Ateez and Stray Kids. They are amaaaazing performers and I don’t think videos can fully capture just how vibrant their energy is. Prepare to be bias wrecked in real time too!! My bias is Hongjoong but the first time I got to see Ateez Jongho reeeeally wrecked me.
hi! thanks so much for this informative article! I wanted to buy a M&G for ateez, but they all sold out and I can’t find a legitimate reseller (except scalpers…). in your experience, is it possible to buy a last-minute M&G without paying an arm and a leg closer to the event/ resale on AXS? ;_; I also understand that tickets are on AXS, but I was reading something about physical tickets for M&G…? any info you can provide on that would be much appreciated! ;_;
Author
Hey! So unfortunately they don’t really tend to release more M&G. I can’t really help when it comes to finding resellers, but all I can say is make sure to pay ONLY with PayPal Goods and Services if you decide to go that route. Venmo will not cover you if anything happens, and there’s tons of people ready to scam others unfortunately.
Anything involving a physical voucher – nothing has been announced yet, and we will have to wait until KCON begins making announcements about the flow of the event to hear the specifics about how M&G queueing will work. We can expect that the week of the event. Please try to not stress about it for now!
thank you so much for your reply! I have to arrange my flight and hotel too, so I was hoping to get things sorted before things are locked in, but I guess there’s no way around that ;_; but I appreciate all the info! If I end up going to kcon, it’ll be my first time and I’ll also be going alone, so happy to join you if you’re still going alone too hehe ^^
Author
Yeeeeah trust me, I know it’s unsettling especially because a lot of people travel in for this every year. In general, us Kpop stans are kinda known to want to start planning stuff wayyyy in advance. If my intuition is correct, it seems like they’re gonna be doing everything differently this year and just having people scan stuff from their phone. But of course please do not take my word for it, I don’t want an angry mob if I’m wrong you feel me 😩
I really hope you’re able to make it!
I’m really seriously considering it! one more question if it’s okay ;;; do you know if we’re allowed to freely leave and enter the convention premises? or (historically) has it been a situation where once you enter, you can’t re-enter if you leave? (just thinking if I wanted to get food elsewhere/ chill at hotel during the day before the concert in the evening…)
Author
Yes so historically, or at least within the past few years, re-entry was allowed since they had food trucks parked on Chick Hearn Court. There’s going to be some activities right outside the convention center that are open to the public on Friday. The radio station Kiis FM will be hosting a “KPOP Village” with performances from Benson Boone (he’s so sweet and talented!) NOTD, Tkay and a debut stage for Leo from B.I’s 131 Label. There’s also going to be a ferris wheel, the food trucks, and some artists from the KCON lineup may just show up to do interviews. And like I said, since that’s open to the public, re-entry should be allowed!
I would definitely appreciate an air conditioned place to go get myself together and get changed for the concert though lol.
thanks so much for all your helpful and informative replies! I’m in the middle of purchasing a ticket from someone right now, so maybe I’ll see you around at the convention on saturday! 🙂
Hi there. I had a question. Me and my friend are also new to the kpop fandom and concerts in general.
We saw a notice on social media about tickets being cancelled if they were bought through scalpers / bots. It says you have to buy tickets through an authorized seller but didn’t give examples. I see originally the tickets went on sale officially through AXS. However, sites like StubHub were selling tickets too. My friend got theirs through StubHub and they were transferred to her AXS account so are those considered legit? It shows the QR code and has the concert and convention ticket or is StubHub considered a scalper? I know that is a dumb question but I’ve heard conversations online of people considering StubHub and even Ticketmaster scalpers since people resell their tickets there. I don’t want my friend to have issues getting in on the day we attend the convention & concert.
Thanks
B
Author
I think you’re gonna be fine
Hi again! Could I also ask historically what time did the convention end/ when is the latest time you would recommend showing up? I heard from someone that things tend to die down around 4pm, which was the time I was originally planning on showing up, so I was wondering then if it would be better (as a first timer) to show up earlier? There’s nothing specific I’m looking to do, just walk around and check things out, but I don’t want to miss out on too much either… would appreciate any anecdotal tips! 🙂
Author
Hi! The convention will begin at 10AM and end at 6PM. As a first timer, I would recommend showing up much earlier if possible. There will be a lot happening that you don’t want to miss, but my personal recommendation will of course be to take things at your own pace, do not get burnt out running from booth to stage to booth. Any multi-day festival or event is a marathon, not a race!
Hi again! I’m happy to announce I will officially be attending D2 🙂 I’m interested in seeing Ateez, and I noticed they are listed as being part of the “convention daily lineup” on D3. I know they have their M&G that day (ugh couldn’t get tickets…), but I’m confused as to what else they’re going to do at the convention, since their show is D2. From your experience, what does it mean if an idol is listed as being part of the daily lineup (not show)? ;_; Now I’m debating buying a last-minute D3 ticket… hahaha….
As always, thank you SO much for your helpful replies!
Author
I’m glad you got a D2 ticket! I wish I was going D2 but… it’s complicated 🙁
On day 3, ATEEZ will do their meet and greet at 4PM. They’ll also be doing an interview with Jojo Wright from KIIS FM at the Kcon Stage (this is the stage inside the convention) at 12:40PM. This is why they are listed!
omg?! could I ask where did you see that ;;;;; I’ve been scouring the kcon website and twitter, but I couldn’t find anything…
ahh! now I’m tempted to buy a convention ticket for D3. hahaha
Author
Go for it!
Hello again,
I have a question about meet and greet if I go for Ateez on the third day. So they have the lineup for the meetup, and Ateez is first in line. Is this during the day at the convention or after the shows? I just got the tickets for the activities and show part, not the high touch.
Also, do you know from previous times you’ve gone if they close down the concourse part where seats and food are when the shows start? I just had an idea if I got tired of standing before Stray Kids came on if I could sit for a while during a few sets to rest and then go back in again.
Author
Hi! I’m soooooo so so sorry but I’m going to need you to clarify the first question a little more. As for your second question, I’ve never gone to the KCON concert portion but no arena will close their concession areas when the concert starts. However I don’t remember there being any seating in what I call the “concourse,” which is the main area when you walk into the arena with all the concessions. You might find a bar stool or something but I wouldn’t count on finding anything. I’m sure there will be some people who sit on the ground in the very back of the floor, but that’s gotta hurt 😩
It’s okay. I got the first question semi-answered. LOL, I found a map on the Kcon site and found out the Meet and greet is possibly being held outside or building beside the convection center. Now I have to figure out the times that these meet and greets are happening. 🙂 Ahhhh… I’m starting to feel less and less anxious about the experience. 🙂
Hmm… well, that’s okay. It was just an idea I had if my feet got tired or my legs to go find a chair to sit in somewhere by the food or something. Odd they don’t have tables and chairs just in case you want to sit and eat. *Shrugs.*
It’s okay. I’m doing much better after reading your article and having some of my questions answered, so thank you for easing my nerves this much!!! Now if there was only a cure for the personality trait of being anxious about the unknown and first-time experiences!!! HAHA!!!
OMG, I just re-read my post… I should have done that before I sent it!! I made a hilarious typo!! “Convection Center” Where we all go to get baked and served to the idols? *blinks* No, that can’t be right!!! AHHH, I’m amusing myself way too much… 😛 🙂 LOL
Author
If Hyungwon came to me with a tray of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies, I would devour the entire tray in an instant. What’s a diet? 🤣
HAHA, AHHHH, Chocolate chip cookies served by a handsome man. Don’t forget Felix’s brownies!!! Those are well renowned!!! LOL *winks.*
OMG!! I feel like such a pest, and I’m beginning to wonder if I’m getting into territory with my questions that you might not even know if they do different things each year at Kcon.
Okay, I was reading the informative brochure for Kcon, which helped me a lot. However, it is also confusing me a bit about the queueing for the Crypto Arena part of the day and if you want to attend the Meet & Greet on a particular day and the Red Carpet when the time is right when you are supposed to be queueing up. Is it mandatory to be in the queue at the time listed for the Crypto Arena, or can you go in after whatever you want to do during that time and not get into any trouble?
Also, there are events with a Kcon Stage and a Fan Club Zone. Have you ever been to any other Kcon that had these events, and was it worth seeing/doing them?
Author
Hey – do you think you could send me a DM on IG? I promise you’re not a pest, but WordPress likes to be weird when I’m on my phone and I want to give you some really good answers when I’m on the go. I really don’t want to be vague with you!
You can line up for the arena whenever you want. And if you (as we discussed before) wanted to just hang out in the back of the floor, technically you don’t even have to line up early. Just show up when the doors open.
Everything else is personal preference. I’ll be going to the Taemin/Shawols fanclub room on Friday for sure.
Hi ☺️ Thank you for your article and comments. It helped me really a lot!!! I have a question, I’m going to kcon la for the first time to see Shownu&Hyungwon meet and greet. I don’t see the show, I only see the meet and greet (I have m&g A ticket) and leave the convention center because of my flight. How long does kcon meet and greet program usually last? I’ve searched tons of blogs and vlogs… I guess it usually takes 30-45minutes. Is it correct? I’m wondering how long the program will last… I’m pressed for time 😭
Author
Thank YOU so much for your feedback and for stopping by this article! It means a lot. You’re going to have an amazing time at KCON and at Shownu & Hyungwon’s hi touch! (I’m a little jealous haha.) From what I remember last year when I did hi touch with Cravity, the whole thing ran about an hour, give or take. I hope that helps!
Hi there! Great info. We’re driving in from Montana again this year & I wondered if you know if they are going to do any of the “pre” wristbanding on Thursday this year? Or will it all be at the door? That sounds like a nightmare waiting to happen. I took off extra time at work just to make sure I’d be there Thursday just in case but havent seen anything yet…
Author
Thank you so much for reading and I’m wishing you safe travels out to California! Everything will be done at the door, and it makes sense. Just think about it this way – all the tickets were issued as QR codes on our AXS accounts. They scan your entry ticket as you come in (like you’d get scanned in at any regular concert) and the ticket taker puts a wristband on you right then and there. It’s quick. As for artist engagement and stuff, they scan that specific QR code as you head through the door for that M&G.
Hello! I am attending kcon la day 1 this year for the first time! I honestly have no idea what to bring/prepare and what I should know and reading this did help, but I’m still a bit confused. For the bags, does it have to be clear? I have a small shoulder bag that fits the size requirement but it’s black.
Also, I saw that people under 18 should be accompanied by an adult. I’m 17, and I don’t know how seriously I should take the “should” part since it says 12 and under is a MUST.
Thank you for this post by the way! I hope you could answer my questions, I’m getting more nervous as the day approaches!
Author
You can bring any bag you want for the convention. Last year I brought a Jansport backpack (for the convention.) Now as far as the concert goes, if you bring a standard concert clear bag (I gave some examples above!) you’ll be fine and you’ll get through security faster. Just don’t stuff it to the point where security has to fish through it to see what’s inside.
Guests under 18 SHOULD be accompanied by an adult, but (many will not and you know, as long as you’re responsible… which I know you are… you’ll be fine. They’re not checking IDs to see who’s over a certain age.)
thank you so much!
I heard that at the convention they give you a tote bag for freebies, but I’m assuming they won’t let us bring that to the concert..? The problem is, both me and my friend are getting dropped off so we can’t leave our tote bag anywhere meaning we’d have to bring it to the concert unless we throw it away.
Do you know anything about that?
Author
If they’re giving out tote bags this year, you can bring them into the concert. I’m gonna be honest, since KCON is a whole thing, they’re not that strict about bags at the convention. I know this information I’m giving you goes against what is said on the venue website, which is what’s worrying a lot of attendees. Historically, they’ve made exceptions to the bag policies for the concerts and you can pretty much bring any bag you want. However, if it’s not within a certain size or it’s not clear, (like let’s say I were to try to bring a backpack) you’re gonna have to go thru a specific entrance (the staff there will guide you to those entrances) where there’s an x ray machine to get the bag scanned. It’s a bit of a headache, and definitely slows down the entry process. If they give tote bags this year, I’d stick to that and maybe a clear bag. I hope this makes sense!
hi! I’m not sure if you’d know the answer to this question, but posting it anyway in case you know of anything ;;
I bought an all-access M&G B from someone, and they said I would have to purchase the convention ticket separately. it was successfully transferred to my AXS account, so I am not concerned about its legitimacy, but I noticed that the ticket doesn’t specify “convention ticket required” (unlike some other M&Gs?). I was wondering then if I really needed another separate convention ticket, or if the kcon staff will see it as an all-access M&G and let me in even though I don’t have my own separate convention ticket (since originally the M&G was supposed to come with the convention admission anyway…) ;_;
would appreciate any leads you may have on this… ;_;
Author
I really think you’re gonna need a convention ticket, and I would have one just to be safe but also don’t take my word as a solid hard fact.
Hi, thank you for posting this. I have a question. It’s my first time at KCON 2023. I bought the premium ticket. It includes meet and greet program all day and send off all day. What does this mean? Does this mean I can attend meet and greet and send off? What is the program? You are like the only person we can get answers from so thank you so much in advance and for being kind.
Author
Thank you for reading! M&G B “All Day” means you can go to all the meet and greets that day (but you won’t have hi-touch.) The “program” is M&G. So M&G B is basically you being an audience member at the M&G.
Thank you so much!!! I couldn’t get hi touch so I’ll try next time. I can’t imagine how cool that is. Sounds so exciting !
Hi! Thank you so much for this article! This is my first Kcon experience! Do you know anything about being able to send fan letters to a group at the convention? I read something about a fan letter booth so I’m wondering if I could bring a letter to the convention to send?
Author
Thank you for reading! I’m sure it wouldn’t hurt to bring your own?
Hello, so excited to be going to my first K-con! 🙂
I was wondering if the fan pickets with the idol’s face are okay to bring to the convention and concert.
Hello! I’m going to kcon day 1 tomorrow and I was just wondering if knew anything about where to get dropped off? I know the convention is at west hall but is there a place to get dropped off easily? Also, for the concert, is there a place to get picked up?
Thank you