▲ This photo, provided by CJ ENM, shows Japanese Hallyu fans waiting to enter the K-Culture Festival "KCON 2022 Premier in Tokyo" held at Makuhari Messe, an exhibition hall near Tokyo, on May 14, 2022. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

 

Tokyo, May 14 (Yonhap) -- KCON, a K-culture festival hosted by CJ ENM, opened in Japan for the first time in three years. 

 

"KCON 2022 Premier in Tokyo" will be held at the exhibition hall Makuhari Messe (based in Chiba Prefecture) near Tokyo for two days from the 14th. According to CJ ENM, tickets for the 10,000-seat concert hall per day have been sold out. 

 

It is the first time in three years that a KCON event has been held in Japan since May 2019. 

 

An official from CJ ENM said, "Starting from Tokyo, we plan to hold KCON in LA in August and Tokyo again in October," adding, "We will join more audiences through a form of hybrid festival that combines offline and online in the post-COVID-19 era." 

 

In the Tokyo KCON concert this May, only Japanese artists will perform on stage due to COVID-19 prevention, but Korean artists will also participate in the concert scheduled to be held in October.

 

In this event, K-pop style Japanese boy groups INI and JO1 will hold a "KCON Concert" for two days starting from 7 p.m. 

 

▲ This photo, provided by CJ ENM, shows Japanese Korean wave fans who participated in the fan meeting corner of the K-Culture Festival "KCON 2022 Premier in Tokyo" held at Makuhari Messe (in Chiba Prefecture), an exhibition hall near Tokyo, on May 14, 2022. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) 

 

A large number fans of Korean wave in Japan also gathered at the "KCON Convention," an event to experience K-culture ahead of the performance. 

 

Yui Iyamoto (22), who lives in Saitama Prefecture near Tokyo, visited the K-CON convention with two friends of the same age. 

 

She said, "I often enjoy listening to Korean music. My favorite K-pop stars are Stray Kids and ENHYPEN, adding "This is my first visit to KCON, and I'm very excited."

 

▲ This photo, provided by CJ ENM, shows Japanese Korean wave fans who took sticker photos at the K-Culture Festival "KCON 2022 Premier in Tokyo" held at Makuhari Messe (in Chiba Prefecture), an exhibition hall near Tokyo, on May 14, 2022. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

Nakanishi Manami (50), from Mie Prefecture, visited the KCON convention with her 22-year-old daughter. 

 

She said, "I became interested in K-contents after falling in love at K-pop boy group 'Big Bang,' as my daughter did," adding, "I love watching Korean dramas and listening to K-pop." 

 

(END)

[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]