By Hannah Lau
April 2, 2024
The inaugural KCON 2024 Hong Kong, organized by CJ ENM, concluded at AsiaWorld-Expo with a remarkable showcase of K-pop fan-centric content and an awe-inspiring performance highlighting global trends. Taking place on March 30 and 31, this groundbreaking event marked the first-ever KCON held in Hong Kong, attracting a staggering 45,000 fans who gathered under the slogan of “K-pop Fan & Artist Festival.”
The KCon festival, an annual convention held in locations across the world to celebrate K-pop culture, is making its debut in Hong Kong as part of its global tour by starting from March 30 to 31. Hong Kong has kicked off the 2024 edition before the event travels to other international destinations such as Japan in May and Los Angeles in July. Additionally, plans are underway to bring KCon to Europe and Saudi Arabia in the latter half of the year.
Kcon 2024 has started the festival with a star-studded opening ceremony, performances, and mesmerising visuals by inviting fancy lineup of 14 teams brand groups act for the two-day performances include aespa, Boynextdoor, Ateez, Zerobaseone, TWS, WayV, Day6, Viviz, and many more.
The capstone of Kcon festival：
Kcon is organised by CJ ENM, a leading South Korean entertainment company, which is committed to becoming the world’s largest K-pop convention to bring together passionate fans from all corners of the globe under that global phenomenon to celebrate the vibrant culture and music of K-pop for a weekend by unforgettable performances and interactions with their idols.
The flagship of its first KCon edition in Los Angeles event was launched in 2012, and expanded to New York in 2015. Afterward, Kcon has further brought its cultural festival to over 12 regions across the world, including Japan, Thailand, Mexico, Australia, and the UAE. Yet, Hong Kong was highly anticipated as the first station to start such a grand occasion in 2024.
As the tradition of Kcon, fans will have the opportunity to witness their favourite idols up close throughout the exclusive fan meetings and interactive sessions— “Meet & Greet” and “Hi-touch” sections.
It was worth queuing up from 9am to meet my favourite idol face-to-face. I appreciate Kcon for giving me this opportunity. I hope Hong Kong will get a second chance to host it next year.”
– Freda, a fan of the Korean brand group— Boynexdoor from Guangdong
The Korean girl group- aespa has performed with their fans on the stage during the “Dream stage” section on day 1 of Kcon 2024. Source: YouTube
KCON Hong Kong 2024 garnered immense popularity among fans due to its diverse range of programs. One such program was the “KCON Stage,” where fans were treated to up-close performances and engaging talk shows by their favourite K-pop artists. Another exciting program was “Dance All Day,” which allowed fans to learn and enjoy K-pop choreography, and the “Dream Stage “ was the most exciting moment for K-pop enthusiasts to make their dream comes true by dancing and cooperating with their idols on the stage.
Apart from the main event, Kcon 2024 will host a variety of exciting side activities, including a K-beauty zone, showcasing the latest trends in Korean cosmetics, Korean tourism, dramas, and movies at the captivating “Lifestyle Zone”,and a K-food corner, offering unique insights into the world of K-pop. Attendees can explore various vendor booths, providing an extensive selection of K-pop merchandise and albums.
Also, the “K-pop Zone” hosted various fan programs, including fan art contests and fan club booths connecting and sharing the love for K-pop among worldwide fans , exchanging fan-made merchandise and participating in fan-driven activities that showcase their dedication and creativity in those fan-centric activities.
Due to the overwhelming demand for tickets to Kcon 2024, fans are eagerly reserving their spots for this exhilarating event. However, for those who are unable to attend in person, CJ ENM has revealed their intention to live-stream the performances. This means that K-pop enthusiasts from all around the globe can still experience the thrill and excitement of the event from the comfort of their own homes.
With the successful opening of Kcon 2024 in Hong Kong with worldwide K-pop enthusiasts, Kcon 2024 promises to be an unforgettable celebration of K-pop again by uniting fans to celebrate the power of K-pop music and create precious memories. As the launch of this extraordinary event has begun, the K-pop fans around the world are eagerly anticipating the exciting experience that will be staged on other stations as well.
Reported by Hannah Lau
Edited by Irene Meng and Sam Sadie