[Features-reporter] Here's how K-pop fans in Japan are living the dream at KCON JAPAN 2025

Over this past weekend over in neighboring Japan a major K-culture festival opened doors to fans and our culture correspondent Song Yoo-jin was there to experience the event up close. Let's take a look.

The Makuhari Messe, Japan's second-largest convention center, has been transformed into a K-pop arena.

Fans scream, sing along, and wave neon-colored lightsticks as their favorite artists take to the stage.

The lineup features rising and top-tier acts, like KiiiKiii, QWER, ZEROBASEONE, and HIGHLIGHT.

This is KCON JAPAN 2025.

"Where I am right now, KCON JAPAN, is one of the world's largest K-culture festivals.

Here, you can experience almost everything you need to know about Korean culture."

Launched in Los Angeles in 2012, KCON has toured over 10 countries, growing from just 10-thousand attendees to now more than 1-hundred-thousand per event.

KCON JAPAN, the festival's first Asian edition, has been held annually since 2015.

"Japan isn't just a major music market. It's the biggest overseas consumer of K-content.

We're seeing more top-tier artists like G-Dragon, SEVENTEEN, and Stray Kids performing here, which shows K-pop is no longer just a foreign genre.

It's now part of Japan's mainstream culture."

Beyond the music, KCON offers hands-on experiences related to the broader Korean Wave.

Dozens of booths introduce the latest in K-beauty, K-food, dramas, and merchandise.

But what truly sets KCON apart is how close fans can get to their favorite stars.

"It was amazing. Everything I'd hoped for. The fan service was incredible. They even blew hand kisses. It felt like we were close, like friends."

"What really stood out was getting to see the artists up close when they visited the artist booths. Also, at the meet-and-greet, you could see them from a very close distance, something you don't normally get to experience."

Having wrapped up its three-day run in Japan, KCON now prepares for its next stop, Los Angeles, this August.

Song Yoo-jin, Arirang News, Chiba.

So this was not just about a K-pop concert but so many elements of the Korean wave can be experienced at KCON.

I spotted some popular beauty brands and food brands there as well it's like a "jonghap seonmul set" how you would say in Korean, the full hallyu gift set.

And as Yoo-jin mentioned, KCON will be in LA in August. That'll actually be August first to third.

And the K-pop lineup is being unveiled in separate announcements. What do we know so far?

Fans in LA can look forward to a wonderful lineup, that includes aespa, NCT 127, RIIZE, MEOVV and MONSTA X.

Speaking of MONSTA X, that's most likely going to include a specific member we'll talk about now.