KCON by Mnet to Reveal All Aspects of K-Pop: Appearances by 4 Minute and VIXX Confirmed!

K-Pop will make a mark on the West Coast this Fall at KCON where major K-Pop stars will appear to show what K-Pop is all about.

This Fall, Mnet will bring a never-before-seen Hallyu convention to the United States to provide a glimpse of the ever growing K-Pop culture. Mnet America is the only national, English-language lifestyle television network in the U.S. for fans of Asian pop culture.

Ted Kim, the CEO of Mnet stated, "As the Korean wave spreads across the globe and touches down in the United States, it is so important that we provide fans with an interactive experience with their favorite idols. KCON is an event that is long overdue and Mnet is committed to creating a positive experience for the fans by making it affordable and providing unprecedented access to the stars."

KCON is the very first Hallyu convention dedicated solely on K-Pop music, Korean dramas and movies not to mention its record breaking size for an Asian convention. From Korean music, fashion and cinema, the convention will be a large celebration of the Korean wave that is sweeping over the globe. The convention will exemplify every aspect of the Korean entertainment culture, including appearances by YouTube celebrities and a cosplay contest (costume play).

The initial line-up for the convention was announced yesterday with more acts to be revealed in the following few days. It has been announced that 4 Minute and VIXX have officially been confirmed to appear at KCON.

HyunA from the idol group 4 Minute has been gaining an incredible amount of attention worldwide after appearing in Psy's "Gangnam Style" music video, which has received over 65 million hits on YouTube within only a few weeks.

As Ted Kim, the CEO of Mnet, mentioned, K-Pop is becoming one of the hottest topics of the worldwide entertainment market. Three of the major entertainment agencies like JYP, SM and YG have paved the way for K-Pop and Hallyu and gained an incredible amount of power worldwide.

Previously, K-Pop idol group Girls' Generation (SNSD) of SM Entertainment made appearances on "The Late Show with David Letterman" and "Live! With Kelly" and stole countless hearts worldwide with their adorable but sexy image, not to mention their sold-out show at the Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Also, YG Entertainment's 2NE1 made headlines when they recorded their new album with the global star Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas. The Wonder Girls of JYP Entertainment also came into spotlight when they collaborated with the Grammy-nominated star, Akon, in "Just Money."

And last but not least, one of the biggest sign of K-Pop's significance in the international music industry is clearly exemplified through the addition of the weekly publication of the "K-Pop Hot 100" in the Billboard's official website.

Social networking sites like YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook, K-Pop is finally being recognized for all the talent it has in store for the world. YouTube revealed that all the K-Pop content in its database has been viewed nearly 2.3 BILLION times from people in 235 different countries, JUST in 2011 alone. That number was three times that of the number in 2010.

Ted Kim concluded, "Hallyu has fans around the world buzzing and the signs of this craze reaching the U.S. can be seen all around us. From K-pop sensation 2NE1's reality show airing in the U.S. on Mnet to Internet rumors that Paris Hilton will be in Kim Jang Hoon's next video; from PSY's incredible rise to stardom including a recent performance at Dodgers Stadium, and Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre performing at the MAMA music awards in front of two billion worldwide viewers, it is no longer possible to avoid this trend. KCON is the next logical step."

KCON is scheduled to take place on October 13 at the Verizon Amphitheatre in Irvine, California.

Tickets for KCON went on sale last night, August 24. Ticket prices vary and start as low as $40 USD. The VIP package, which will include a ticket for the concert pit, exclusive pre-show access and additional access, costs $100 USD. All tickets include admission to the concert and the entire convention.

For more information visit, www.kconusa.com.

This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:

Correction: August 27, 2012

An article on Saturday misstated that Mnet as the only television network in Korea that features programs in the English language for foreign fans of K-pop. It has been corrected to read Mnet America is the only national, English-language lifestyle television network in the U.S. for fans of Asian pop culture.

Tags
KCON 2012
Mnet
4 minute
VIXX
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