A typical October Saturday, a swarm of people crowded around the Verizon Amphitheater in Irvine to attend KCON, a convention and concert celebrating and spreading the fame of Kpop, (or Korean pop) music. The 11-and-a-half hour event had many guests that were famous for their Kpop music, or lent their support to the prominent genre.
The KCON concert was an effort by Korean entertainment company Mnet to broaden the reach of Kpop music and to put on a concert to loyal fans who, since they do not live in Korea, have had no opportunity to experience such an event and meet the celebrities they have only previously seen on television.
Guest performers included popular artists G.NA, 4MINUTE, B.A.P, and VIXX. Their performances were the much-anticipated highlights of KCON and the aspect fans seemed to enjoy the most. An eclectic mass of people jumping up and down and singing the same lyrics no matter what nationality they were evoked an emotion of wonder from many a spectator.
“It was a really good event for people of all races to come together and just appreciate Korean music.” said Beckman sophomore Magnus Kim. “There is no language barrier with Kpop.”
Besides the concert, there were also merchandise kiosks, fan workshops, and other interactive activities for the fans to enjoy. Famous Youtube stars also contributed their presence to KCON such as Dumbfoundead and Aj Rafael. Fans also had the opportunity to snap a picture or get an autograph from their favorite performers.
The first ever KCON can be considered a success as the turnout was quite large and the concert was a great hit. Recent Kpop mega-hits such as Psy’s “Gangnam Style” which achieved global fame through publication through the mainstream media, helped to expand Kpop’s influence and popularity.
Beckman junior and self-proclaimed Kpop aficionado Chris Seo summed it up best, ” I believe Kcon was a wonderful experience and that it help spread Kpop and enjoyment to many fans.”
Jay Choi
Jay Choi is a junior at Beckman High and a new editor for the Spring Semester. An avid musician, he enjoys playing the clarinet and saxophone and listening to all types of music. He spends his free time hanging out with his friends and playing improvised jazz solos. He hopes to make a positive contribution to JSR and looks forward to the semester.
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