Los Angeles Times

This year's KCON saw K-Pop fans grappling with big questions

LOS ANGELES - In the Los Angeles Convention Center on Saturday afternoon, tens of thousands of K-Pop fans mobbed their favorite artists in meet-and-greets, danced like crazy in choreography workshops and bonded over a music scene that's largely been built on the joys of fandom. KCON, a yearly celebration of South Korean pop culture, was expected to draw nearly 130,000 people to downtown venues this past weekend.

But in one convention center conference room, others were fully acknowledging that there is a darker, often less discussed side of the K-Pop lifestyle.

Last year, the singer Jonghyun of the

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Times1 min read
Chargers Trade Up In Round 2 To Get Georgia Receiver They Coveted
LOS ANGELES — The Chargers started Day 2 of the NFL draft Friday by getting receiving help, selecting Georgia’s Ladd McConkey with the second pick of the second round, the 34th selection overall. The Chargers made a deal with New England to swap thei
Los Angeles Times3 min read
Tyler Glasnow Dominates Before Making Quick Exit In Dodgers' Sixth Consecutive Win
TORONTO — For the first time in his debut Dodgers season, there seemed to be a brief injury scare for starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow on Saturday. After six stellar, suffocating, scoreless innings in a 4-2 Dodgers win over the Toronto Blue Jays at Rog
Los Angeles Times2 min read
Lakers Avoid Elimination By Holding Off Nuggets In Game 4
LOS ANGELES — LeBron James, in the Lakers’ white uniform, stood at the scorer’s table, filled his hands with chalk and tossed it into the evening air — the same as always. Yet Saturday, even if it was like the previous 11 meetings with the Denver Nug

Related Books & Audiobooks