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Six years since its conception, KCON made its way to Bangkok for the first time and the two-day convention-cum-concert was a delightful fanfare for Thaisβ undying love for Korean pop culture.
The Korean Wave β known familiarly by now as Hallyu β had long hit Thailand before it did KCONβs origin in the American West Coast. Naturally, organisers CJ ENM and BEC-Tero could expect feverous response. Over 41,000 people were reportedly in attendance at Impact Exhibition Hall 1 and Impact Arena throughout last weekend of September.
AsiaLive365 joined in on the fun on Sunday, September 30, where fromis_9, The Boyz, Varsity, (G)I-DLE, The EastLight, Pentagon and GOT7 were billed with 2PMβs Nichkhun acting as special host.
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The Boyz Β©KCON Global
By the time yours truly got there, the stretch outside the venues was already buzzing, with fan-run market stalls, giveaways β people literally handed out photo cards of their bias for free β and local influencers vlogging their day away. Inside, the convention was a sweet symbiosis of all things K-hyphenated: from music, dramas, digital content, beauty and fashion, food, to arts performances. Beside different booths that showcased these, fans had the chance to interact with their favourite creators and idols whether at meet and greets, talks or via activities at music channel M-netβs corner.
It works the other way around as well: KCON is a way for smaller acts and recent debutants who have yet to have an opportunity to tour or perform outside South Korea to get the kind of exposure YouTube and social media alone cannot give.
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(G)I-DLE, Nichkhun and fromis_9 Β©KCON Global
This was also evident in the structure of the M-Countdown concert itself, with segments like βWhoβs Next?β that brought rookies fromis_9 and (G)I-DLE shoulder-to-shoulder, completing several tasks, like the aegyo and speed dancing, to impress Thai unnis and oppas; or special performances like that by Show Me The Money Thailandβs top contenders, (G)-IDLEβs rendition of Shinhwaβs 2004 βBrand Newβ and The Boyzβs take on Girlsβ Generationβs βThe Boysβ, following a long tradition of younger acts performing their seniorsβ songs.
While fans could stream it from their couch thanks to main sponsor AIS, the show was best experienced live, eternally dolled up for broadcast as K-pop is. Like the genre, there was enough variety for everyone whether youβre teenybopper, hip-hop, electronica, or reggaeton-inclined, and it was never not eye-popping.
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Pentagon Β©KCON Global
But Cube Entertainmentβs latest batches of talent Pentagon and (G)I-DLE stood out from the rest. The productive now nine-member male group worked their playful boyish charms for βNaughty Boyβ and βPretty Prettyβ before getting fans in the pit attempting the βshoot danceβ in βShineβ, their biggest hit to date.
Meanwhile, their female labelmates captured the crowd without any help of viral moves. Led by Unpretty Rapstarβs Soyeon and Thailandβs own Minnie, (G)-IDLE put on a remix version of βHann (Alone)β and dancehall-tinted βLatataβ, their first two releases that have already made to the Top 5 of Billboardβs World Chart.
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An ocean of green formed by “Ahgabongs”, GOT7’s official light sticks Β©KCON Global
Headliner GOT7 pretty much made KCON an extra half-date of their Eyes On You Tour, and itβs not just because the group rehashed their sub-unit performance. Beside their own fan meeting-style segment, the septet inspired an arena-wide ocean of chartreuse green and chills-inducing fan chants to βLullabyβ, βNever Everβ, βLookβ and βHard Carryβ. Itβs things like this that remind you that, with all the emulation and application to concerts by western powerhouses, the collaborative experience between the audience and their K-pop idols remains unequalled.
If some fans thought the music lineup was a bit of a dry spell despite the force that was JYPβs golden boys, that the show wrapped up 30 minutes ahead of its scheduled time only underscored this. Nevertheless, it was an impressive first venture here for KCON and I can only picture bigger editions in the years to come. Take it from a self-proclaimed ex-K-pop fan who has this event, among other things, to credit for her coming out of retirement.
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KCON will be back in Thailand in 2019! Β©KCON Global