My KCON Adventure – KCON Veteran/Returner

So, it’s your fourth time attending KCON on the west coast right!? Just kidding! Whether it’s your second, third, OR fourth time attending, each and every one of you are the true veterans of KCON! *YAY* You’re used to the drill that is KCON: 1. Register for your convention ticket online, 2. Select your “add-ons” like KLUB KCON and Artist Engagement Benefits, 3. Check-In early and don’t forget to eat and stay hydrated!

As a returning KCON-er, you all are used to how many events KCON has to offer, but as every year in the past, we strive to be bigger and better and have some new programs for you all to experience! We’ll release more “adventures” in the coming days to suit those KCON-ers who may have different interests like Dance, Beauty, etc… But, this is a handcrafted, convention adventure for those who think they may know everything there is to know about KCON – but will be thrilled about how many new experiences they will be able to have this year. We couldn’t be happier to welcome you back, thank you for being a loyal fan of KCON! LET’S GO!

GENERAL INFORMATION

KCON Convention Registration

The events and programs we will be recommending below are available at our KCON convention, which means you’re going to need a Convention wristband. If you haven’t gotten one yet, please register for the KCON Convention here. (1) 3-day pass is $30. There are no single passes available this year, but we’ll show you why the convention will be worth it!

The programs we will be recommending in this itinerary can only be accessed at our KCON Convention, which means you will need to register a Convention wristband. If you have one already, you’re ahead of the game! You can skip to the Check-In information.

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If you don’t have a wristband yet, don’t worry! You can still purchase and register a 3-day wristband for $30 (before fees) on here today or on-site during KCON LA. We have to warn you, on-site registration and check-in will take some time, so we highly recommend you and your family register your wristband online.

View the full Convention Schedule.

KCON Check-in

Now that you have your wristband, you’re ready for check-in! Make sure you have your registration confirmation, ID, and all other requirement documents.

You can check-in at Petree Hall, anytime from:

  • 1 PM – 5:00 PM on Thursday, August 9th (EARLY CHECK-IN)
  • 8 AM – 5:00 PM on Friday, August 10th
  • 8 AM – 5:00 PM on Saturday, August 11th, or
  • 9 AM – 5:00 PM on Sunday, August 12th.

However, we highly encourage you to do early check-in on August 9th so you can have more time to explore the Convention.

If you or any of your family or friends have purchased artist engagement vouchers, you will definitely want to check-in on August 9th or the morning of August 10th before the Convention starts so you don’t accidentally miss any of your artist engagements!

KCON Convention Hours

The Convention itself will be open from:

  • 11 AM – 6 PM on Friday, August 10th (or beginning 10 AM for Diamond/Platinum ticket holders)
  • 10 AM – 6 PM on Saturday, August 11th
  • 10 AM – 5 PM on Sunday, August 12th

HYDRATION & MERCHANDISE

Even though our KCON LA convention is located indoors, walking around the big Convention hall will get tiring and you’ll probably want something to drink. This year, to help keep our fans hydrated, we added a water bottle to our merchandise lineup.With this KCON water bottle, you can use our water refill station to stay hydrated even after a ton of dancing!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can purchase your water bottle and other KCON merchandise until August 2nd on Mwave or onsite at KCON 2018 LA.

STAY UPDATED!

Onsite, there will be schedule changes, surprise artist booth appearances, and important reminders. Please make sure to download the KCONUSA app (iOs | Android), and follow us on social media (Instagram | Twitter | Facebook) for realtime updates. It’s well-worth the minor annoyance of push notifications so that you don’t miss your favorite artist appearing by surprise at the convention.

MAPS

The LA Convention Center is huge and with so many different programs happening every hour, you might want to check out our map of the convention center to better navigate your way around later. Hopefully, as you flip through all of the recommended programs below, you’ll be able to orient yourself even before the event starts!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3 main zones you might want to remember are:

  • Petree Hall: Here you’ll be able to register a convention ticket, check-in, and retrieve items you might lost.
  • K-Activity Zone: This is the area where you can experience all of our convention panels and workshops, including our dance workshops. If there’s a panel you’re really excited about, get a seat early.
  • K-Culture Zone: In this zone, you can find our market, sponsors, picnic area, and our stage. A lot of sponsors and vendors have great things to see, purchase, and/or giveaway, so it’s good spot to peruse before it gets busy! Plus, our official KCON Merchandise Booth is here. Get your merch before it’s sold out!

MY KCON ADVENTURE: KCON Veteran/Returner! (WOO! It’s so nice to see you again~)

Welcome to another KCON! We are so happy to welcome you back and can’t wait to share how many new things you can experience! Because we love things that are fun, we’ll be including GIF’s from all of the KCON 2018 LA lineup and if you click them, you’ll be taken to that artist’s MV.

August 10 – KCON DAY 1!

7:00 AM – 10:00 AM: Check-in

You all don’t need a reminder! Once you’ve checked in at Petree Hall with your confirmation email and have received your wristband – grab your friends and get ready go explore KCON!

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10:00 – 11:00 : Exploration Time

Convention programs don’t start until 11 AM, so use this hour to get acquainted with the KCON Convention. Below would be our ideal schedule if we were a fan like you so get your typing fingers ready and jot down what you don’t want to miss!

K-Activity Zone: This is the area where you can experience all of our convention panels and workshops, including our dance workshops. If there’s a panel you’re really excited about, get a seat early.

K-Culture Zone: In this zone, you can find our market, sponsors, picnic area, and our stage. A lot of sponsors and vendors have great things to see, purchase, and/or giveaway, so it’s good spot to peruse before it gets busy! Plus, our official KCON Merchandise Booth is here. Get your merch before it’s sold out!

Petree Hall: This is the registration area, but it’s also the location of the info booth where you can find our Lost and Found.

Concourse Hall: All artist engagements, KLUB KCON, and Red Carpet events will take place here.

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11:00 – 5:30: [FAN CLUB MEETING]

What’s amazing about KCON is that it provides a space for attendees to meet people who love the same things as them! Last year, we launched the first ever fan club meeting room at KCON17LA, led by some amazing and dedicated fan bases, and this year it makes it’s return at KCON18LA! Meet a new best friend from your same fandom, trade your photo cards, and win some awesome prizes!

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12:30 – 1:30 PM: [WORKSHOP 518] K-Pop Journal 101 (Moderator: Cllalagram).

We wouldn’t be surprised if some of you (or many of you) are familiar with the term bullet journal! An amazing way of planning out your weeks, the bullet journal has become extremely popular and a cute trend amongst K-Pop fans! K-Pop photos + cute calligraphy? What more could we ask for! Come make your own K-Pop inspired, bullet journal spread!

1:00 – 1:00 PM: [PANEL 502B] K-Pop’s LGBT Fandom: We Love It! (Panelists: Miles Jai, Soju, Kevin, The Producer, Lai Frances. Moderator: CheyenneEwulu).

Three years ago, this beloved panel first made its debut at KCON LA and now it makes its return at KCON LA! This year we witnessed the first openly gay K-Pop idol make his beautiful debut, we’ve seen some of our favorite idols state their support for the LGBT+ community, and more! Come learn about the rising influence of K-Pop in the LGBT community and the experiences of LGBT Hallyu Fans!

4:00 – 5:00 PM: [PANEL 515B] YouTubers Do Truth Or Dare! (Participants – Cortney & Jasmine – 2MinJinkJongKey, HeyItsFeiii, JRE, StillNotDavid, whitneybae. MC – Dezzy).

We’re so excited to have a new program at KCON LA – YouTubers Do Truth or Dare! DUN DUN DUN – Just Kidding! It’s going to be so much fun! If you want to submit a truth or dare (or multiple) for a chance to see some of your favorite YouTubers take on these challenges on the KCON Stage, submit them  here –> http://bit.ly/KCONYouTuberTruthDare

August 11 – DAY 2!

10:00 – 11:00: Exploration Time

After Day 1, you’re already familiar with the space and you must be just a little sad because it feels like the day is over TT.  It’s okay, take a deep breath there’s still about 12 hours left to enjoy the rest of KCON! If you haven’t already, make sure you head to our beautiful “K” statue and take a selfie!

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10:00 – 5:00: [K-CULTURE ZONE] Write your very own Fan Letter, to your favorite idols!

Every year so many of our attendees inquire if they are able to give their favorite idols gifts and shower them with love. Unfortunately, due to security and safety issues, we were not able to allow attendees to do this, BUT this year, you can write your very own Fan Letter!

You can purchase your KCON official fan letter pens and paper at the KCON Merchandise booth in the K-Culture zone. Once you purchase your pack, head over to Star Square (K-Activity Zone) where you can write your letter and add it to your favorite group or idols’ “mailbox” (you’ll know what we’re talking about when you get on site). They will receive all your fan letters on the red carpet and yours just might be read, out loud! *EXCITING*

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1:0 PM – 2:00 PM: [PANEL 515B] Meet & Greet: ShibSibs!

You saw them on the big screen during PyeongChang 2018 and now you can meet the American Ice Dancers and Olympians, Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani, at KCON! Just like K-Pop stars, these two really know how to work as a team to accomplish something incredible!

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3:00 – 4:00 PM: [PANEL 502A] K-Pop + Mental Health Image result for aqua heart emoji

Although last year was an extremely difficult one – not only for Shawols, but for all K-Pop fans around the world, we wanted to make sure that a space was provided for everyone to come together during KCON! This session, both informative and open forum, was designed to bring the K-Pop community closer. This panel will be moderated by amazing mental health professionals as well as Cortney from 2Minjinkjongkey! Please take this opportunity to spend time and connect with your fellow KCON-ers and Shawols, celebrate life, and pay tribute to those who we have lost.

August 12 – KCON DAY 3!

Ready for the finale!? We’re sure as veterans you have a good handle on all things KCON but just to show how much we appreciate you coming to our event we’d like to show you around!

11:30 PM – 12:30 PM: [PANEL 511BC] The K-Beauty Craze: Why Everyone’s Talking About K-Beauty

K-beauty is loved by Beauty influencers and Beauty lovers across the globe, and is influencing how many of us perform our skincare routines. In this panel moderated by Stevie Chong of Glow Recipe, featuring panelists Devon Abelman, Joan Kim, Caro Malis, and Sarah Han, you’ll get an insiders opinion of why K-Beauty has been exploding this year (not that it hasn’t already exploded these past couple of years!). And, stick around to hear how they got their careers started in the K-Beauty industry.

12:30 – 1:30 PM: [PANEL 515B] Behind the Scenes with H1GHR Music (Panelists – Cha Cha Malone, Thurxday, WOOGIE. MC – Danny Lim)

At KCON we’ve had a ton of industry related panels such as meeting the producers of your favorite bops, how to get into the K-Pop journalism world, and now we bring to you some amazing musicians, producers, song writers, and more! We know you love their music! Come meet some of the talented producers from H1ghr Music as they share some behind the scenes stories on their creative process, what it’s like to produce, and more! Come hear that iconic “WOOGIE ON AND ON” and “I NEED A CHA CHA BEAT BOY” ™

3:30 – 4:30 PM: [PANEL 502B] GIRL POWER: GIRL GROUPS CHANGING THE 2018 K-POP SCENE

At KCON we’ve had a ton of industry related panels such as meeting the producers of your favorite bops, how to get into the K-Pop journalism world, and now we bring to you some amazing musicians, producers, song writers, and more! We know you love their music! Come meet some of the talented producers from H1ghr Music as they share some behind the scenes stories on their creative process, what it’s like to produce, and more! Come hear that iconic “WOOGIE ON AND ON” and “I NEED A CHA CHA BEAT BOY” ™

LOOKING FOR MORE? 

Check out our other all day programs at the convention below!

Dance Workshop

You all already know the dances to your favorite jams, but have you gotten the chance to learn them from some of your favorite dance cover artists? What about official choreographers? We think not! 1 Million, Ellen & Brian, MVP ELITE, the list goes on!

Convention Stage

We’ve got some star studded upgrades to our convention stage this year with our STAR Live Talk! Aside from the amazing performers you’ll be able to cheer on, you’ll get to spend some time hearing from some of our lineup artists during this special “talk show.” This means that your convention wristband will get you closer to K-Pop’s biggest artists than ever before.

Stay tuned for our next KCON Adventure article and see the schedule here!

See you very soon! “Let’s KCON!”