This yr’s KCON was larger and higher than ever, stretched out over three days and dozens of phases. It’s my eighth yr attending so I really feel like a veteran at this level, however every year’s a bit completely different. 2023 was a worrying expertise in a number of methods so I wasn’t certain what to anticipate in 2024. Nonetheless, I believe this yr might have simply been the very best but. Learn on to find the highlights, the lowlights and some movies to present you a way of the general environment.
And should you’re fascinated about earlier recaps, click on right here: 2016 // 2017 // 2018 // 2019 // 2022 Pt.1 // 2022 Pt.2 // 2023
1. A Pageant Really feel
KCON rebranded itself as a music “pageant” this yr, which is one thing I hoped they’d do for years now. Along with the massive MCountdown stage every night, the pageant grounds noticed a revolving door of showcase and meet and greet phases all through the day. This made the conference much more thrilling than the live performance. You would fill your entire day with mini-concerts and fan-meets from quite a lot of artists, and that’s precisely what we did. This was my eighth KCON, however the first time I spent the whole three days contained in the conference – from opening till shut. There was simply a lot to do!
2. Organized Test-in
Ready in traces has at all times been the bane of my existence at KCON, and the worst of all was normally the check-in line. This yr, they well broke the method into three distinct phases: safety, check-in and venue entry. This made the entire course of go extraordinarily easy and quick, and once we did have to attend they staged us all in an underground (air-conditioned) parking storage fairly than the recent LA solar like in years previous.
3. Conference Format
KCON booked the larger half of the conference heart this yr, which I hope they proceed to do yearly. Issues by no means felt cramped and there was loads of room for giant audiences to collect across the particular person phases. The meet-and-greet stage was a part of the conference flooring, however given ample room and broad screens in order that even these far-off may see the onstage motion. The bigger “KCON stage” had its personal separate entry and felt extra like a correct live performance venue. Panels and workshops have been removed from the hustle and bustle of the conference flooring and there was loads of room to take a seat and eat or calm down.
4. Artist Line-Up
I do know some folks complained about how “nugu” the line-up felt this yr, but it surely was my favourite in fairly a while. I really like how KCON diversified its decisions, bringing in artists from all kinds of sub-genres. They even had rookie acts from smaller firms. It was an attention-grabbing, diversified line-up that had one thing for everybody. As in style as they could be, there’s extra to Ok-pop than Stray Youngsters and ATEEZ!
5. Artist Visits at Panels
For those who actually needed an opportunity to see your idol up shut and private, KCON’s panels provided an sudden means to take action. I used to be shocked at how intimate these have been. They have been principally the form of fan meet some pay large bucks to see. I obtained to take a seat in on DRIPPIN’s recreation panel, which was actually enjoyable.
6. A Nationwide Broadcast
Although the KCON live shows lasted three days, Sunday’s present was broadcast stay on The CW. It was a bit bizarre having the live performance begin at 5 o’clock and be over by seven thirty, however the calls for of the published made for a tighter present with tons of visitor stars. It actually felt like an occasion.
1. Pre-KCON Expertise
To be trustworthy, just about all my gripes about this yr’s KCON occurred earlier than the precise occasion. Communication was spotty and ticket gross sales have been a nightmare. A few of this blame have to be placed on vendor AXS, however KCON’s personal insurance policies didn’t assist. Basically, the ticket shopping for course of makes an attempt to indicate you the “finest accessible” seats in the intervening time. However typically, the web site seems as if it’s offered out and you find yourself panic-buying seats you didn’t need as a result of something is best than being shut out utterly. This occurred to me this yr, buying nosebleeds after I needed to be a lot nearer.
There’s nothing extra irritating that being saddled with dangerous seats after which seeing significantly better ones turn into accessible (and keep accessible for weeks after). The factor that made this particularly irritating was KCON’s “no alternate, no improve” coverage. AXS permits upgrades however KCON doesn’t. I might have fortunately paid extra for higher seats however was not allowed to. This actually wants to vary sooner or later. I imply, why wouldn’t they need the additional cash?
After all, this all grew to become a moot level as a result of our seats have been upgraded totally free a number of weeks earlier than the occasion resulting from logistics (and, I assume lower-than-expected gross sales). Nonetheless, it shouldn’t be this tough and prospects actually shouldn’t wait a complete two weeks to listen to again from customer support (in the event that they hear again in any respect). KCON’s on-site group was so nice this yr. I hope additionally they spend money on their buyer expertise earlier than and after the occasion.
2. The Meals
This isn’t KCON’s fault, and I count on conference meals to be ridiculously overpriced. However, why was it additionally so universally terrible? Severely, the meals choices on the conference heart are actually dangerous. Like… actually dangerous.
3. Outside Pageant Grounds
I really like the thought of increasing the pageant grounds to outdoor, however I’m unsure how nicely it labored this yr. I didn’t spend a lot time on the market, but it surely by no means appear too crowded after I did. Having the “dance all day” sales space outdoors within the blazing solar felt like a wierd thought. Perhaps this entire space ought to simply be transformed right into a meals corridor subsequent yr?
1. Artist Spillover
KCON has turn into an occasion that spreads past the conference heart and enviornment, attracting different artists to the realm. Bias Record favorites from20 and Hey Gloom milled concerning the conference heart for a number of days and I obtained to fulfill and speak with them. Additionally they appeared at a close-by membership in Koreatown on Friday night time to carry out a set, that means I obtained to expertise Mamacita in its pure habitat: a packed, sweaty membership.
2. An Unintentional Improve?
As I discussed earlier than, our tickets for the live performance have been upgraded to a a lot nearer seat, and our conference wristbands additionally obtained upgraded to premium – although this was an error on the employees’s half. I assumed it was all a part of the unique improve, however our wristbands have been finally taken and changed with regular ones midway via the weekend.
Nonetheless, we obtained to expertise premium advantages for a day and a half and – should you can afford them – I extremely suggest going for premium. It’s what I initially needed, however they have been offered out so rapidly I couldn’t get them. Mainly, this tier allows you to into the entrance part of each showcase, KCON stage and meet-and-greet. You get to be extremely near the artists, which is by far the easiest way of experiencing their phases. And from what I noticed, KCON both must promote much more premium passes or make the premium space a lot smaller as a result of it was at all times sparsely populated and extra folks should have an opportunity at this expertise.
1. TWS
For those who’ve learn this weblog in any respect in 2024, you most likely understand how I really feel about TWS and their music. I’m an enormous fan and was so comfortable they’d be attending KCON this yr. I particularly love seeing new artists of their first few months since debut as a result of the power is simply completely different and may’t be recaptured later.
So, though our premium wristbands had been snatched by this level, I used to be intent on making Sunday’s conference TWS-focused. This meant a protracted 90-minute wait on the Samsung sales space to attain a particular ticket getting us into the entrance part of their KCON Stage. We managed to get proper up entrance subsequent to the stage – perhaps the closest I’ve ever been for a live performance. The fellows carried out a 5 music set and have been completely unbelievable. I’m not over-exaggerating after I say that being proper within the thick of the Hey! Hey! power felt like heaven.
The fellows additionally carried out on the primary stage Saturday and Sunday, that means we obtained to listen to three separate performances of Plot Twist – a music that everybody appeared to know and love, by the best way. It really is among the yr’s hottest tracks amongst Ok-pop followers. Shinyu, Dohoon and Jihoon additionally did a killer cowl of Jungkook’s 3D.
240728 KCON DAY 2 #투어스 #TWS #신유 #도훈 #지훈
🎧3D pic.twitter.com/GrCsoHe44B— 계란 (@myboyismeerkat_) July 28, 2024
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2. g.o.d.
I really like love love when KCON invitations older acts to the present. It was such a deal with to witness first-gen legends. g.o.d. took over the live performance stage on Saturday night time, getting everybody on their ft. There have been undoubtedly established followers in attendance, but it surely was so good to see them win over a lot of the viewers who might not have been accustomed to them or their music. Joon was as entertaining as he at all times is, comfortable to be performing in his residence city of LA.
3. Somi
I used to be utterly gained over by Somi. We obtained to see her meet-and-greet on Saturday morning and I couldn’t recover from her pure charisma and charming humorousness. She’s actually grown into her personal, and that confidence got here throughout in her job as each a live performance host and performing artist.
4. BOYNEXTDOOR
Aside from TWS, BND have been the opposite group I used to be most excited for at this yr’s KCON. I’ve slowly and steadily turn into a mega-fan over the previous yr and so they didn’t disappoint. Sadly, we have been farther from the stage for all their performances, however their colourful power undoubtedly reached the whole venue. The members have been as quirky and entertaining as I’d hoped. Jaehyun is a charisma machine and virtually a residing meme, whereas youngest Woonhak had considered one of my favourite moments at their meet-and-greet, making an attempt to be foolish with the silly image body prop KCON made all of the artists use however as a substitute breaking it into items and virtually taking out the cameraman on the identical time.
WHY DOES WOONHAK BREAK EVERYTHING HE TOUCH 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/nAhU0vKU9n
— AND, mina (@taesanwon) July 28, 2024
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5. Taemin
Taemin will at all times be a sight to behold, however his rock remix of Prison at Friday’s live performance was really a bring-down-the-house second. I used to be so enthralled I forgot to take footage of the very best elements, however fortunately all of the live shows are professionally filmed.
TAEMIN at KCON LA 2024 Prison Efficiency ✨
LEGEND TAEMIN #TAEMINxKCON #KCONLA2024 #TAEMIN @TAEMIN_BPM pic.twitter.com/3LPLyWbCvw
— SHINee World Academy PH (@shawolacademyph) July 27, 2024
6. Hyolyn
There’s one thing to be stated about expertise, and Hyolyn simply has this aura of famous person round her. Her stage on Sunday night time was a distinct degree. “Fierce” doesn’t even start to explain it. We additionally obtained to catch most of her prolonged KCON stage on Saturday.
7. DRIPPIN
The truth that a Woollim group attended KCON this yr was a really nice shock. They didn’t get a slot on the primary stage, however their Friday showcase was wonderful. Their cowl stage of SHINee’s Love Like Oxygen was particularly memorable.
8. DXMON
They carried out at each a showcase and Friday’s pre-show and I used to be impressed by their power. I’m at all times cheering on rookies from smaller companies and DXMON present a ton of potential.
9. Bibi
Bibi’s music isn’t typically one thing I’d hunt down, however I discovered her performances to be very charming. She introduced a distinct power than anybody else and provided a pleasant counterpoint to among the live performance’s extra clanging, hyper-aggressive phases.