The KCON 2013 convention dedicated to 'All Things Hallyu' is slated to kick off Aug. 24 at 11 a.m. PT at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena. The theme of the event is fan engagement and will focus on bridging the gap between artists and their fans.
The annual convention, which was initially launched in 2012 for fans to connect to Korean pop culture, had drawn over 10,000 fans last year. Half of the attendees at least year's KCON were non-Asian who had traveled from all over the U.S. to attend.
This year's convention will feature panels such as "Developing K-Pop Songwriting Skills" and "How I Became a K-Pop Choreographer."
Live performances will be offered by K-pop stars 2AM, G-Dragon, f(x), and more. DJ Koo, Dynamic Duo, EXO, Heejun Han, Teen Top, and Yu Seung Woo are also set to make an appearance at the event, along with American rapper Missy Elliot, who will be joining G-Dragon for a duet performance.
South Korean pop culture, which has taken Asia by storm in the past few years, is becoming increasingly popular in the U.S. MNet, the organizers of KCON, want the event to be a gateway hub in the U.S. so fans can have a satisfying engagement with Korean pop. "The offline experience forges that connection and makes people more passionate," said Ted Kim, president and CEO of MNet America.
"It's much more than walking into a live show and watching it sitting (down)," Kim said. "It's the full customer experience."
KCON will be offering instant and exclusive updates via Twitter during the two –day event.
A live video and photo coverage of KCON 2013 will be provided via Instagram.
Click here to see the full program schedule for KCON 2013.
