'KCON 2018 NY' attracts 53,000 K-pop fans

'KCON 2018 NY' attracts 53,000 K-pop fans. June. 26, 2018 08:02. by Yong Park parky@donga.com.
The crowd at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey greeted K-pop girl group Red Velvet with hearty cheers Saturday night when they took to the stage at the KCON 2018, the world’s largest Korean culture convention and music festival.

K-pop fans yelled out a cheer when the Korean girl group sang their hit song “Bad Boy” in English. Super Junior, which is often compared to Backstreet Boys, sang their hit songs including “Sorry Sorry” and “Mr. Simple,” sending the crowd wild.

During the day, there were also other programs, where participants can learn K-pop dance, experience Korean foods and beauty products, and discuss Korean culture. “As many as 53,000 audience gathered at our two-day KCON festival,” the organizer CJ E&M said.

Taking the opportunity, local media covered stories about K-pop’s rising popularity six years after Psy’s “Gangnam Style” made a big hit in the United States. “When BTS’s ‘Love Yourself: Tear’ debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard album chart in May, K-pop began yet another serious bid for American mainstream acceptance,” wrote The New York Times on the eve of the festival. It also introduced K-pop stars who will perform at the festival such as Haze, EXID, Super Junior, Wanna One and Red Velvet.

KCON videos and talk with K-pop stars were streamed live on Facebook and YouTube by American entertainment media brand Billboard.