CJ ENM’s global K-pop convention KCON has received an official honor from the City of Los Angeles. On August 1, 2025 (local time), the LA City Council designated the date as ‘KCON Day’, recognizing the event’s cultural, social, and economic contributions to the city.
This marks the first time in KCON’s 14-year history that it has been formally acknowledged by the city government. Launched in Irvine, California in 2012, KCON has since evolved into the world’s largest K-pop fan and artist festival, playing a pioneering role in spreading Korean culture worldwide through music, lifestyle, food, fashion, and technology.
The designation was jointly proposed by Councilmembers John Lee, Katy Yaroslavsky, Curren Price, and Heather Hutt, who noted that KCON has had a profound influence on LA’s cultural, tourism, and economic sectors for over a decade.
"KCON has been central in elevating global pop culture," said Councilmember John Lee. "It offers Angelenos and visitors a one-of-a-kind opportunity to experience Korean music, food, fashion, and technology."
From its debut with just 10,000 attendees in 2012, KCON has grown into a massive festival that now draws over 100,000 fans annually. In 2024, KCON LA attracted approximately 125,000 in-person attendees over three days. The event was also broadcast nationwide via The CW Network and streamed online to an estimated 5.9 million global viewers.
This year, KCON LA 2025, which began on August 1 (local time), is being live-streamed globally for the first time through a partnership with Amazon Music, reaching fans across North America and Europe via digital platforms and KCON’s official YouTube channel.
In addition to city recognition, California State Assemblymember Mark González also introduced a state-level resolution on July 25, acknowledging KCON as a leading cultural event and a key driver of K-pop’s global growth.
"KCON's legacy is built on the originality and passionate artistry of Korean culture," said González. "What began as a small fan event has become a cultural phenomenon and economic force. It will continue to be a vital stage for new artists, visionary performers, and innovative companies to connect across generations."
A CJ ENM spokesperson commented, “We’re honored that KCON’s continuous efforts have been recognized. We’ll continue striving to showcase the excellence of Korean pop culture and entertainment worldwide.”
Since 2012, KCON has been held in 14 regions, including Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and North America. The 2025 edition runs for three days at Crypto.com Arena and the LA Convention Center, once again cementing its place at the heart of the global entertainment industry.
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