KCON 2023 Recap: Making Dreams Come True in LA!

If you love K-Pop and all things Korean culture, KCON LA 2023 was the place to be this past weekend! 

KCON made its return to the LA Convention Center and Crypto.com Arena on August 18-20, and brought tens of thousands of people from all over the world together to cheer on their favorite K-Pop idols. Sponsored by Samsung Galaxy, the event allowed fans to get up close and personal with some of the biggest names in the industry, as well as rising stars who are quickly capturing the hearts of listeners worldwide.

I had the opportunity to attend KCON on Day 1, and my experience was one that I never want to forget. My overwhelming excitement for this year’s event started when the lineup was announced in June. Cravity, IVE, NMIXX, SHOWNU X HYUNGWON, TAEMIN, TAEYONG, and WayV were all slated to appear at the concert on Friday. Having turned into a full-fledged Shawol (SHINee stan) during the COVID-19 lockdown, it was difficult to contain my emotions when I realized I would finally have a chance to see Taemin do his own stage at KCON. The first time I saw Taemin was with SuperM back in January of 2020, and I was left speechless by his natural ability to perform. Two months later, well… we all know what state the world was in. During that time, I started to become a fan of many more K-Pop artists, and Taemin was undoubtedly one of them. Both parts of his third album, Never Gonna Dance Again : Act 1 and Act 2, quickly became a part of my daily soundtrack. Of course, there was so much more to love. In February 2021, SHINee came back with their 7th album Don’t Call Me, and just a few weeks after its release, I found myself falling madly in love with the catchiness and charisma of the project. It really didn’t take long for me to start diving deeper into their catalog, and feeling a strong impact from the music. I love all five members equally, and even have a tendency to freeze up when asked who my SHINee bias is – it literally changes every 20 minutes. But Taemin will always be the first member I laid my eyes on, and the opportunity to see him again at last meant everything to me.

Okay, enough of my Taemin tangent… for now.

Tropical Storm Hilary was looming, and the weather was hot and sticky as a result. However, this didn’t stop thousands of fans from waiting hours to enter the doors of the LA Convention Center on Friday. I marched across L.A. Live wearing my brand-new, totally not broken into black platform boots with chains and pearls dangling from them. One of my favorite aspects about K-Pop events is seeing all the creative outfits fans come up with. Platform boots, lace skirts, puffy dresses, hair bows, sparkly crop tops, leg warmers, and cute photocard holders are all common sights at a K-Pop event, and they were all in my field of view upon arriving at KCON. Just like going to a rave, these outfits are a form of self-expression and a chance for fans to let their creativity shine. I really wanted to be festive myself, so I put together an outfit inspired by SHINee’s “Don’t Call Me” music video. 

Once I passed through security and went up the escalators, I officially became a KCONer, and was immersed in my own little world of the fun aspects of K-Culture. The convention floor was bustling with countless activities that would catch the eye of any K-Pop lover. There was truly something for everyone to enjoy, which is just one of the many things that makes KCON so great. There’s no such thing as a dull moment. Even if you’re stuck in line waiting for an activation or to buy food, it’s easy to strike up a conversation with someone next to you and have a passionate fangirl session about an artist you both love! One of the main focal points of the convention was the KCON Stage, where artists got to meet their fans right in the center of the action. There was a wide variety of entertainment on the KCON Stage, including artist interviews with iHeartRadio’s JoJo Wright, showcases from rookie groups 8TURN and LIMELIGHT, and other interactive programming. As one could imagine, the KCON Stage was never empty! There were plenty of other things to do, though. Select KCONers were able to attend Meet & Greet sessions with their favorite artists in a smaller room at the convention center. These sessions would allow some of the group’s most dedicated fans to watch their beloved artists be interviewed, play games, and even greet the artists on stage. Panels and workshops also allowed KCONers to interact and be enriched by fellow fan creators, influencers, industry visionaries, and even a few K-Pop groups!

Back on the convention floor, there were a few activities in particular that really stood out to me. The first was at an area called the message playground, where fans could write postcards to their favorite KCON artists. After placing a stamp on the postcards, fans could drop them off in boxes for that specific artist. I thought it was a very endearing idea to allow fans to send a supportive handwritten message to their idol! The KCON staff let me know that the postcards would be delivered to the artists, and some would even be read out loud during Meet & Greets. Hopefully this will be an activity that returns next year. 

After mailing off my postcard to Taemin at KCON, I was given a holographic pouch with two stickers on it. One said “BE A KCONER” in red letters, and the other said Samsung Galaxy. It was the starting point of a fun adventure for KCONers. There were five more stickers that could be collected by participating in different “missions” throughout the convention. After completing three missions, KCONers could line up for their very own KCON ID card photo, which could be customized and decorated for free. Another activity I absolutely adored was the digital message wall, where KCONers wrote short and sweet messages to their favorite idols. The messages would disappear after a few minutes, and a new set of messages would appear in their place.

Something I really looked forward to about KCON 2023 was the KCOLLECTION, where KCONers could meet different Korean skincare and wellness brands, test out products, and shop for them all in one place. I left with a cooling stick to use on my face, which would really soothe my sensitive skin after it has been dried! This year’s shopping excursion came with a fun twist – at every booth where KCONers made a purchase, a stamp would be issued on a KCOLLECTION stamp card. For each stamp, KCONers could receive a random ATEEZ photocard! I received San and Yeosang photocards, and stored them safely in a collect book. 

In between the convention and concert, I went to a Taeyong cupsleeve event at a cafe downtown to celebrate his KCON appearance. It was fun running into other KCONers on the way to and from the cafe, which was located a few blocks away from the convention center. It was a well-deserved opportunity to cool off and catch my breath, all while enjoying a bucket-sized fruit slush and listening to NCT songs. I made a few new friends, and even got to decorate a toploader with cute stickers! 

Once I made my way back to my car and met with some friends, it was time to walk to the Crypto.com Arena for the concert. My seat was located in a Premiere section, which allowed me to use a dedicated entrance that only accessed the Premiere level and suite levels. This was my first time ever venturing into this part of the arena, and I was so amazed at how exclusive it felt! Chills began to flow throughout my body as I entered my seating section. For as long as I’ve been a K-Pop stan, it has been a dream of mine to enter this arena at KCON and see that stage in-the-round with the video screens that say “M Countdown” hanging right above, while being surrounded by a rainbow of lightsticks. It’s so iconic, and walking in to see this view was something I’ll never forget.

It’s one of those moments when you really tell yourself, “I made it.” All someone can really do at that point is scream – and it won’t be the last time you do it that night. 

My seat neighbors began to arrive, and they were also Shawols and NCTzens. We all shared our excitement with one another and told stories of how we grew to love our favorite artists. A few music videos started to play on the screens, including Taeyong’s “SHALALA.” The arena began to roar with fans shouting the lyrics, serving as a warm up for what was yet to come when Taeyong actually hit the stage. 

After a brief pre-show, the KCON Concert officially kicked off with WayV’s rendition of the KCON Signature Song, “POPPIA.” This was officially WayV’s first stage in America, and the group prepared a performance that sent adrenaline gushing throughout the arena like a broken fire hydrant. IVE’s Jang Wonyoung greeted the crowd immediately after the performance, serving as the special MC for the night. It was IVE’s first visit to KCON LA, and Wonyoung described the opportunity to MC the event as “a true honor.” 

“Hearing all of your enthusiastic cheers, I once again realized just how powerful music is,” said Wonyoung. 

Surely, the night proved how powerful music and a mutual love for it can be. The first full performance came from NMIXX, who have now appeared at KCON LA for two years in a row! The girls were as bubbly as can be, starting their stage by walking through the crowd from the 100’s level of the arena. They greeted fans as they made their way to the arena floor, and it was almost impossible to not feel their excitement for the occasion. NMIXX came ready to show off their charms and a fun, youthful side with performances of “Party O’ Clock” and “Roller Coaster.” I just couldn’t help but feel so happy for the girls, and I’m looking forward to their return to LA! 

Cravity was up next, and just like NMIXX, the group was appearing at KCON LA for a second consecutive year. Now equipped with many more songs to choose from for their stage, the guys opted for the ultra-refreshing “Groovy” and “Baddie.” Member Allen also made sure to let the crowd know about Cravity’s comeback, where the group will release their new mini album “SUN SEEKER” on September 11 at 6PM KST. 

Catching everyone by surprise, Taeyong appeared in the middle of the crowd to introduce WayV. The arena went dark, and all of a sudden, the first few notes of “Love Talk” began to blast through the speakers. In that very moment, the whole arena rattled and I was once again hit with chills. It was one of those “this is real life, and this is really happening in front of you” moments. Myself and thousands of other people were able to give WayV a well-deserved welcome to the US by singing along to a song that will forever be regarded as a 4th generation K-Pop staple. At some points during WayV’s stage, the screams were even louder than the music. The group also sang “Phantom,” and the energy in the room felt as though I was placed in a race car as a passenger and riding at 200+ miles per hour. It was extreme, it was special, it was exciting, and I even felt some tears roll out of my eyes. 

(Minor side note: I’m really not one to cry at concerts, so if it happens, you know the performance was on a brand new tier of legendary status.) 

A stage like that could only be followed by IVE, who wowed the crowd with their warm song “Kitsch.” The girls also performed “LOVE DIVE,” another anthem that helped define the 4th generation of K-Pop. The first thing that comes to mind when I look back upon IVE’s stage is “professionalism.” Although the group made their debut in 2021, their chemistry feels as if it has been flowing for so much longer. 

The KCON Concert is also a place where you can enjoy special stages, bringing different idols together to create an exciting unit performance. We were treated to NCT U,  which featured Taeyong and Ten performing the NCT classic, “Baby Don’t Stop.” As a bonus treat, NMIXX also returned for a “Gen-Z Special Stage,” performing TWICE’s “The Feels.”  As I sang along, I also realized these songs and artists aren’t just helping to define my generation – they really are the soundtrack to my life, and I wouldn’t be who I am without them.

MONSTA X’s SHOWNU X HYUNGWON recently launched their own subunit, and their appearance at KCON marked the first time American audiences got to enjoy it. I haven’t seen MONSTA X since 2018, and being able to see these two in action felt like seeing some old friends again. The duo performed “Love Me A Little” from their mini album THE UNSEEN and the MONSTA X hit, “WHO DO U LOVE?” The members also participated in a dance challenge where they had to guess song titles with just emojis – then go dance the song! Watching them dance to songs such as “Alcohol-Free,” “TOMBOY,” and “Shoot Out” was a total thrill.

And of course, the crowd barked for the two! 😉

TAEYONG was up next, and he waltzed onto the stage with the kind of swagger that would leave anyone who isn’t familiar with the Neo knowing he’s a leader, a boss, and a young legend. Ready to shower Taeyong with love, the crowd’s lightsticks automatically rose up, and we all collectively began to scream the lyrics to “SHALALA” at the top of our lungs. 

“It’s my first time coming alone like this,” Taeyong mentioned. “But it’s so much fun!” 

Since the very moment it was released, Taeyong’s first mini album SHALALA has been on repeat for me. I love all of the songs dearly, and was wondering which other song he would choose for his stage. It was no other than “GWANDO,” which showcased Taeyong moving in perfect harmony with his backup dancers. 

KCON is also home of the “DREAM STAGE,” a competition that allows KCONers to dance on stage at the KCON Concert with a featured artist for one song. Thousands of applicants entered the competition for a chance to dance with IVE, with finalists being chosen early in the morning at the convention. IVE returned to the stage to perform “I AM,” joined by all of the finalists from this year’s competition.

While one might say the night was coming to an end, things were only heating up, and it felt like mine was just getting started. There was one more performer left for the first night of KCON LA 2023, and it was no other than Taemin! I violently waved my SHINee lightstick in the air, and I started feeling jitters taking over my entire body. This was the moment I had waited so long for. An introduction video showed clips from Taemin’s solo music videos, and with each clip, the screams got louder and louder. The arena was dark, and as the screens rose, Taemin emerged from the center of the stage. When the first note of “Advice” started to play, the audience screamed louder than ever before. I want to put emphasis on the fact that it was LOUD AF, and I have yet to find a fancam that does justice to exactly how loud it was. It was definitely one of those “you had to be there” moments. It was so special for not just me, but for every KCONer who was fortunate enough to be in the building that night. 

Taemin mentioned how much he missed us, and just how big of an honor it was to perform for us. He also told the crowd that he studied English during his time away from us, and he expressed his gratitude for us in English too! (And of course, I cried. I really did.) Taemin then made a smooth transition into “Criminal” and “MOVE.” Taemin moved around the stage with a level of precision that simply cannot be recreated by any other act. His showmanship was, is, and forever will be absolutely unparalleled. Watching Taemin perform at KCON LA 2023 was a showcase of over 15 years of hard work and love for his craft all coming together, and to say it was “an honor” would be underestimating just how proud and grateful I am to have been a witness. Taemin IS a K-Pop legend, and that’s a fact.

This was my second year attending KCON, and one of the biggest things I’ve been told by friends who are veterans to the event is the friendships one makes at KCON is one of the biggest highlights every year. While it can be very difficult to coordinate meetups at such a large event, I was able to meet up with a good handful of my readers during the day, which was super special to me. I also bonded with so many fellow Shawols and Atiny who all came from different parts of the country. I hope that everyone pulls their bias’ photocards when they open their next album, and I hope we can meet again next year in LA at KCON!

Care to join me at KCON LA 2024?