[HanCinema's Event Coverage] Top 8 Things to Do at KCON, 2017 Edition + Second Beauty Bag Giveaway

Head to KCON and there you will always find something to do, taste, see, smell, and hear. This year saw the biggest KCON to date and part of that was due to the flurry of activity. My photographer Sara and I never experienced a moment of boredom. To help you do the same in the coming years, here is a list of the top 8 things to do at KCON!

 

1. Make Friends

KCON is nothing if not a place where Hallyu lovers can find others of like mind and heart. There is no one here to mock the love of an idol or fangirling or fanboying over a show. Rather, you will find someone who does the same things as you. Cooking while listening to their favorite SEVENTEEN jam or watching the latest episode of "Oh My Ghostess" to relax before bed. Meet someone who stans the same group as you and you have an instant friend. People come together and leave the world behind.

 

2. Join the fun

Not only can you watch your favorite idols shake their groove thang and croon like the old time greats, but you can strut your stuff as well. Idol contests, dance offs, and performances by people like you and me are happening everywhere. Live your dreams a little as you work the dance you spent months learning. Sing on a stage in front of a cheering crowd. Submit your best fan art. Drink some tea with the flower boys at the Flower Boy Cafe. On the other side, get your make up and nails done by experts in the K-Beauty Block in between shopipng. Which brings me to...

3. Shop

...well, shopping! There is so much swag to get your hands. Shirts, dolls, albums, skincare, makeup, language books, accessories. There aren't quite as many dramas as I'd love to see, but the beauty section is well-represented with all the top brands to choose from. And I walked away with a couple posters of my favorite idol groups and Korean dramas.

4. Beauty

One of the biggest Korean exports is their beauty found at KCON's Beauty Block. The industry is booming with innovation and the desire to make skin youthful, and healthy. The Face Shop, Beauty People, Glow Recipe, and more were represented as well as many up-and-coming brands looking to make an impression. I walked away with ten facemasks for $5, CC cream for $10, and tons of free samples to give away to you guys so you can enjoy the latest formulas, which are really about giving skin a healthy glow.

 

 

5. Panels

I participated on two panels this year: "So Much Drama" and "The Return of the Secret Life of K-pop Fans Over 30". Both panels were well attended and were just two of the many. "So Much Drama" was an intro to drama basics, which I doubt many of you readers need, but at the same time, it was wonderful to chat about the basic components that go into the dramas we love. The other panel talked about older fans, not just of K-pop, but of Hallyu, a scene that skews towards younger people, but also that has many, many, many older fans. Do any of you fall into that category like me?

Other panels included well-known beauty bloggers like Edward Avila and Joan Kim, talks with LDN Noise, Meet and Greets with Sam Okyere and Kevin Woo. Panels ran the gamut of topics and there was something for everyone. This is one of my favorite parts of KCON, to hear from the industry professionals who can bring first hand experience to the fans.

 

6. Food

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KCON Food Street had tons of vendors, tons of hungry Hallyu fans, and tons of adorable take home items. It's a place to indulge your wild food hankerings and explore new flavors. Just be sure to find some shade because summers in LA can be doozies.

Courtesy of CJ E&M

Courtesy of CJ E&M

 

7. Fan Engagement

Our favorite artists only come once very few years, if we're lucky. So to have our biases come and interact with us is a dream come true. KCON fulfills that dream with hi-touches, fan meetings, panels, and the Saturday and Sunday night concerts. There are so many ways to interact with our idols who are normally across the world. And that makes KCON special. It brings the stars to us.

Courtesy of CJ E&M

Courtesy of CJ E&M

Courtesy of CJ E&M

8. Concerts

KCON was founded on the concerts and the rest of the convention proper has grown around them. This year's concerts were the best I've seen and the performers were (as they always are) surprised and warmed by the enthusiastic reception of the North American audience. Transitions were smoother this year, making the audience wait through fewer gaps in performance and giving them many more interactive concert experiences than before. Artists were clearly stoked to be on stage and the talent was undeniable.This is a key draw of KCON and know you can experience that magic every year.

What were you favorite experiences at KCON if you went? What would you want to do if you had the chance to go? Let us know in the comments below. And don't forgot to enter our beauty bag giveaway below!

Korean Beauty Bag #2

Written by: Lisa Espinosa AKA Raine from 'Raine's Dichotomy'