When fans of K-Pop hear the word "KCON" they immediately think of idols and concerts and a weekend full of fun, which is exactly what KCON 2016 LA presented by Toyota was.
Spanning 3 days, KCON 2016 LA promised to be the biggest and best KCON ever and the convention didn't disappoint. With a never-ending schedule of panels, workshops, artist engagements and events, an expo hall crammed full of vendors and an entire city block dedicated entire to food, the convention itself offered everything a Hallyu-lover could want.
But as epic as the convention itself was, it was really the 2 nights of M Countdown concerts that most attendees most looked forward to; and for good reason. With a 2-day lineup that included SHINee, BTS, Girls' Generation - TTS, Block B, Monsta X, Turbo, Davichi, GFriend, TWICE, Dean, ASTRO, I.O.I., f(x)'s Amber and Eric Nam, it's easy to see why fans were excited.
Saturday night's concerts was the perfect ending to an already amazing day, as Dean, I.O.I, GFriend, Amber, Turbo, Block B and SHINee lit up the Staple Center with performances that will long be remembered.
(Angie Mills For KpopStarz)
To make Saturday night's concert even more memorable, Hallyu star, Lee Min Ho, made an appearance, opening the concert with a warm welcome to fans from near and far. From there I.O.I took the stage with a stellar performance that set the tone for the entire rest of the evening.
(Angie Mills For KpopStarz)
With tens of thousands of fans cheering as he made his appearance, Dean wowed the crowd with his sultry voice and commanding stage presence. Leaving the audience swooning, Dean would return later on in the evening to perform "Pour Up" with Block B's Zico in a moment that sent fans of both into an excited frenzy.
(Angie Mills For KpopStarz)
GFriend was next to take the stage and again, the audience erupted into wild cheers as the group sang and danced their way into everyone's heart. With a performance nothing short of amazing, GFriend undoubtedly went home with a whole new slew of fans.
(Angie Mills For KpopStarz)
Appearing on one of KCON's famous special stages, Zico made a surprise appearance with group-mate, U-Kwon, to perform "Boys and Girls." It was during this stage that Dean showed up to perform the duo's beloved track.
Following up this incredible stage, Amber made her grand KCON appearance on a skateboard. In a way that only Amber can, this beloved star took the crowd through a memorable range of emotions as she had them on their feet, singing and dancing along to "Shake that Brass" and then in tears as she performed her touching track, "Borders."
(Angie Mills For KpopStarz)
With so much emotion in the room, it was easy for the evening's next special stage to take things to a whole new level, which is exactly what ASTRO, GFriend and Turbo did during their collaborative performance. Turning the concert into more of a party, the trio of performers had the crowd on their feet and Turbo kept them there for the duration of their set.
(Angie Mills For KpopStarz)
Keeping the energy high, Block B took the stage by storm with a set that included some of the group's most beloved tracks. Feeding off the energy of the crowd, Block B delivered a performance that will long live in the memory of fans, both old and new.
As the lights dimmed on Block B, the energy in the room exploded, the roar of the crowd deafening as SHINee made their dramatic entrance. Causing the hearts of countless fans to flutter, SHINee closed out the evening's concert with a performance that left many breathless.
(Angie Mills For KpopStarz)
With so many fantastic memories made during Saturday night's concert, it's easy to understand why tens of thousands are willing to make the trip to Los Angeles every year. KCON offers an experience like no other and this year's convention was no different. As fans flooded out of the Staples Center that Saturday night, squeals resounded as moments were re-lived, a thousand times over. It truly was a concert to remember.
