The Hallyu Wave, specifically K-pop and K-dramas, has grown exponentially in popularity ever since its significant boom back in 2009. With popular K-dramas like Boys Over Flowers and popular K-pop groups like Girls’ Generation leading the charge, many Hallyu stars are finding themselves to be household names in many foreign countries outside of South Korea. In the United States, the popularity of the Hallyu Wave resulted into the creation of KCON , an annual K-pop convention that features the best K-pop acts of the year. Some of its featured acts over the years include BTS , 4Minute, f(x), Girls’ Generation, Got7, Sistar, B1A4, IU, Vixx, G-Dragon, and many more.
However, KCON does not just feature popular K-pop acts, but also many popular Korean actors and actresses, especially those mostly seen on the small screen through K-dramas. Kim Soo Hyun, known for his roles in My Love From Another Star and Producer , along with Son Ho Jun and Go Min Gum of Mr. Baek the Homemade Food Master, attended KCON 2015 LA .
Now, another huge Korean actor has been announced to attend KCON 2016 LA. Lee Min Ho, the actor best known for his roles in Boys Over Flowersand The Heirs, will partake in a meet and greet during the popular Hallyu convention and concert.
The announcement of Lee Min Ho attending KCON 2016 LA was made officially on Thursday, July 21, as reported by Soompi . During his meet and greet, Min Ho will partake as a representative for K-dramas and K-movies, which is technically a smart choice given his popularity in both. For starters, Min Ho was part of the stellar cast of probably the most-popular K-drama of 2009 and the K-drama that got most women addicted to K-dramas in the first place, Boys Over Flowers . Starring alongside Ku Hye Sun, Kim Hyun Joong, Kim Bum, and Kim Joon, the K-drama which aired at the beginning of 2009 was the series that foreshadowed the year would be the best for the Hallyu Wave. Summarized, Boys Over Flowers was high school life but primarily Geum Jan Di (Hye Sun), the daughter from a poor family who attends the prestigious Shinhwa High School through a scholarship, and her relationship with the most-popular boys on campus, the F4 which consists of Gu Jun Pyo (Min Ho), Yoo Ji Hoo (Kim Hyun Joong), So Yi Jung (Kim Bum), and Song Woo Bin (Kim Joon).
The appearance at KCON 2016 LAwill surely help Lee Min Ho because he is currently taking a “back seat” to Song Joong Ki, who shot to immediate international fame after playing Captain Yoo Si Jin in Descendants of the Sun.
As for KCON 2016 LA , it will feature the largest lineup of K-pop acts any U.S. Hallyu concert has ever seen. According to details provided by DramaFever (the streaming site that is part of the network that includes KCON ), the event will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center and KLUB KCON . It will be three days of panels, workshops, performances, and booths consisting of over 150 local merchants and businesses participating. Attendees will be submerged in “All Things Hallyu” including Korean music, television, film, fashion, beauty, food, and more. As for K-pop acts, they will include SHINee, I.O.I., Block B, GFriend, Twice, TaeTiSeo, BTS, Astro, Davichi, Turbo, Eric Nam, and Amber.
More information can be found at the official website for KCON USA . There fans of K-pop and K-dramas can find information about the event including ticket information and possible future announcements.
[Photo by Ashley Pon/Getty Images]