KCON’s Most Colorful Characters and K-Pop Stars

Star ForemanCulture

Korean Olympic mascots Soohorang and Bandabi at KCON 2017Korean Olympic mascots Soohorang and Bandabi at KCON 2017Korean Olympic mascots Soohorang and Bandabi at KCON 2017Korean Olympic mascots Soohorang and Bandabi at KCON 2017Beauty products were everywhere on the convention floor of KCON 2017.Korean Olympic mascots Soohorang and Bandabi at KCON 2017K-pop star twerks for his fans at KCON 2017.Korean Olympic mascots Soohorang and Bandabi at KCON 2017KCON 2017Korean Olympic mascots Soohorang and Bandabi at KCON 2017McDonalds handed out special bags and had an hourlong wait to take a french fry selfie at KCON 2017.Korean Olympic mascots Soohorang and Bandabi at KCON 2017Fans still looking to score seats to the concert waited outside the main hall with handmade signs.Korean Olympic mascots Soohorang and Bandabi at KCON 2017The AT&T dance floor had groups of dancers rotating through all day at KCON 2017.Korean Olympic mascots Soohorang and Bandabi at KCON 2017KCON 2017Korean Olympic mascots Soohorang and Bandabi at KCON 2017Dancing was really a hot ticket at KCON 2017.Korean Olympic mascots Soohorang and Bandabi at KCON 2017Jun Curryahn at KCON 2017Korean Olympic mascots Soohorang and Bandabi at KCON 2017The Flower Boy Cafe at KCON 2017Korean Olympic mascots Soohorang and Bandabi at KCON 2017K-Style booth at KCON 2017Korean Olympic mascots Soohorang and Bandabi at KCON 2017Selfie with fans at KCON 2017Korean Olympic mascots Soohorang and Bandabi at KCON 2017Edward Avila at KCON 2017Korean Olympic mascots Soohorang and Bandabi at KCON 2017KCON 2017Korean Olympic mascots Soohorang and Bandabi at KCON 2017Beauty products were everywhere on the convention floor of KCON 2017.Korean Olympic mascots Soohorang and Bandabi at KCON 2017Winner of a premium concert ticket from the big claw machine at KCON 2017Korean Olympic mascots Soohorang and Bandabi at KCON 2017KCON 2017Korean Olympic mascots Soohorang and Bandabi at KCON 2017Dance Dance Revolution is much harder when the instructions are in Korean at KCON 2017.Korean Olympic mascots Soohorang and Bandabi at KCON 2017The Toyota dance floor was hugely popular all day at KCON 2017.Korean Olympic mascots Soohorang and Bandabi at KCON 2017Beauty products were everywhere on the convention floor of KCON 2017.Korean Olympic mascots Soohorang and Bandabi at KCON 2017KCON 2017Korean Olympic mascots Soohorang and Bandabi at KCON 2017Beauty products were everywhere on the convention floor of KCON 2017.Korean Olympic mascots Soohorang and Bandabi at KCON 2017Dancing was really a hot ticket at KCON 2017.Korean Olympic mascots Soohorang and Bandabi at KCON 2017Security was tight at KCON 2017.Korean Olympic mascots Soohorang and Bandabi at KCON 2017Beauty products were everywhere on the convention floor of KCON 2017.Korean Olympic mascots Soohorang and Bandabi at KCON 2017KCON 2017Korean Olympic mascots Soohorang and Bandabi at KCON 2017KCON 2017Korean Olympic mascots Soohorang and Bandabi at KCON 2017KCON 2017Korean Olympic mascots Soohorang and Bandabi at KCON 2017Beauty products were everywhere on the convention floor of KCON 2017.Korean Olympic mascots Soohorang and Bandabi at KCON 2017KCON 2017Korean Olympic mascots Soohorang and Bandabi at KCON 2017

There is a lot that Anime Expo — which takes place earlier in the summer — could learn from this year’s KCON. While both conventions seek to bring fans closer to their idols, KCON used foresight, technology and lots of paid employees to create an atmosphere that was both fun and informative. Combining K-pop stars and Korean brands in a single setting, KCON used new tech such as scannable wristbands to make it easy for convention goers to travel around the show floor. The convention had everything from hi-touch meet-and-greets to panels on everything from how to cook Korean food to how to dance like a K-pop star. Sponsors Toyota and AT&T held dance contests that were popular with the crowd, and the after-hours concert is the one chance each year many K-fans get to see their favorite Korean pop artists. All in all, KCON was nothing but smiles, dancing and Flower Boys.

All photos by Star Foreman.

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