Events Archives - Page 10 of 13

Inside KCON LA 2015 [PHOTOS]

August 5, 2015/in Events /by Tamar Herman

In its fourth year, KCON LA expanded to add an extra day from last year, and headed to a larger venue at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Between July 31 and August 2, fans and purveyors of Korean culture in the United States kept busy with a variety of different activities.

Expo

This year, KCON LA’s booths became a full-on expo. Previously, KCON had featured only a handful of vendors, websites, and fa clubs. But this year, there were many more booths, plus an added business conference on the first day. The expo area was divided into different sections, including CJ Street featuring a variety of CJ E&M booths, the Marketplace where attendees could free up their dollars, the K-ICT Dream Zone featuring technology, and the K-Goods Zone, selling an array of Korean products.

Some of the most prominent booths included Verizon, Asiana, MBC America, Nongshim, and Toyota, sponsors of the event, but Korean beauty and technology brands, like Iope, K3I, The Face Shop, and Kakao, also were spotted throughout the event. People walking around could sing karaoke, try out virtual reality goggles, purchase Korean oriented clothing or ridiculously cute t-shirts, check out booths hosted by Korean channels like Mnet and TvN, buy K-pop posters and albums (and, of course, official KCON souvenirs!), and practically anything Korean wave related. Websites like Soompi and Glow Recipe also hosted their own booths.

Fanclubs played a big role in this year’s expo, with many K-pop fanclubs organizing fans in a variety of special events planned for artists during the concert. One Super Junior fanclub planned a banner event with the members of the group, while another handed out blue headbands that led to the first night of KCON 2015 appearing like a sapphire blue ocean. Fans of the show “Running Man” set up a Running Fan corner of the expo, where KCON-goers could try to reenact their favorite games of the variety show. Red Velvet fans sold jewelry featuring the members, and even fanclubs of artists who weren’t appearing at the show made themselves known. Fanclubs of groups like EXO and MYNAME were also there, gathering in North American fans.

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Along with the expo panels themselves, there was a central stage that featured performances throughout the three-day event, including Roy Kim, Buzzfeed’s The Try Guys (!), performance group Double The Fire, and violinist and dancer Jun Sung Ahn. GOT7 even surprised the convention on the second day by putting on a fashion show in collaboration with the Korean fashion brand Beyond Closet. Designer Ko Tae Young also appeared at the event, and GOT7 wore the clothes for multiple events throughout the day.

Panels

With a whole three days to fill, there were a lot more panels at this year’s KCON, and a lot of interest. Many panels were cram-packed with people who wanted to hear what was going on, with multiple lines wrapping around the corner of the convention center as fans tried to get seats close to their favorite panelists.

Korean drama producers, fashion icons, actors, YouTube stars, writers, and other sort of industry insiders made their rounds, giving their thoughts and opinions on a variety of subjects. Panels addressed the meaning of K-pop, Korean indie music, cultural clashes, behind the scenes of websites and dramas, K-Pop’s LGBT fandom, and a lot lot more.

KCON attendees were also able to learn the dances of their favorite songs, cook food, learn tips about applying Korean beauty products, and a lot more. For more culturally inclined people, KCON-ers could try on traditional Korean clothes, watch a Korean wedding ceremony, and learn about traditional Korean tea.

Several Korean dramas and films also were aired during the convention, including “Twenty,” “Emergency Couple,” and the premiere of “Mr. Baek The Homemade Food Master,” featuring KCON guest So Ho Jun. One event that gained a lot of attention on the Internet post-KCON was an 18+ fan fiction open mic, hosted by KCON’s Hoon Bae.

Fan Engagements

One of the highlights this year for many fans at KCON was the success of the fan engagements. In previous years, there were issues with meet and greets being too limited so that many fans couldn’t attend, poorly timed events, cancelled events, or not enough interaction between fans and their favorite idols. But this time around, KCON LA got everything very right.

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Many of acts who would appear at the M! Countdown concerts, including SHINHWA, AOA, Monsta X, Red Velvet, Got7, and Block B, held fan engagements with their fans. All of the meet and greets featured question and answer sessions, and most featured hi-touch events. After initial confusion on the first day, when two fan meets had to swap their times due to scheduling issues, all of the rest ran orderly and the majority of fans possible were able to enjoy. Morover, attendees also got involved in the KCON meet and greet black market, where you could trade tickets and, maybe, make a bit of cash. It was hard to walk through the convention without hearing “Looking for GOT7 hi-touch tickets!” or “Who wants a Roy Kim audience ticket?”

Food

Let’s talk about the grub. Along with the standard convention center fare of hot dogs, pizza, and coffee, there were free McDonalds samples being given out throughout the majority of the weekend and Korean cooking lessons from brands like Bibigo, where KCON-ers learned how to make bibimbap, a Korean meal in a bowl. There were also food trucks and stands from several Korean-oriented companies, like Tous les Jours and Shin Ramyun.

Klub KCON

While there were three days of KCON LA 2015, there were only two nights of concerts, so for the first day KCON introduced something brand new. Klub KCON opened up in the convention center after the expo ended for the day on July 31, giving attendees a place to party. SISTAR and Monsta X performed at the event, surprising KCON-ers in the intimate atmosphere with tastes of what they were going to perform the next night at the Staples Center.

KCON App

One of the most innovative things at KCON LA 2015 was an app that people could download to their phones, which would alert KCON attendees about events going on and schedule changes. People could look up the location and time of events and even make planned out, personal schedules for themselves.

Red Carpet

The Red Carpet was the highlight for many fans, since artists like Super Junior and Kim Soo Hyun had not held fan engagements, meaning this was the event to get close to them before the actual concert. But let’s not bore you and go straight to the pictures from that day of all of Korea’s top celebrities.

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Did you go to KCON or wish you had gone? Share your experience and thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter,Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

5 Things We Want To See At KCON LA – GOT7 Edition

July 29, 2015/in Events, Fans /by Tam Huynh

Coming off of their First Fanmeeting in USA earlier this year, and with a recent overwhelmingly show of support for their recent comeback with “Just Right”, the boys of GOT7 are at the peak of their careers. Known as JYP Entertainment’s international group, with members from Hong Kong, Thailand and America’s very own, California, GOT7 garner’s love from every corner of the globe. Here at KultScene we’ve compiled a list of five things we want to see from GOT7 at KCON LA.

1. Bromancing At It’s Finest

GOT7 is the walking definition of “bromance”, which can be defined as a close, emotionally intense, non-sexual bond between two (or more) men (Wikipedia). Sure, there are other male groups that share mutual bromances with each other, but there’s usually some awkwardness that comes along with it. GOT7 is the polar opposite. A lot of it could be the fact that GOT7 has three foreign members who weren’t raised in a reserved Korean culture, therefore they act differently around guys than others would.

The members of GOT7 show major affection towards one another on and off the stage, even if it involves putting one another in harmless headlocks as they try to peck the other ones cheek or slapping each other’s butts, like they do in the NBA. Although it’s been confirmed that member Jackson, the mood maker and biggest bromancer of them all, will not be attending KCON LA due to his filming schedule for Laws of the Jungle, don’t you iGOT7’s fret. Even though the other half to MarkSon couple (Mark+Jackson) won’t be there, there will still be a lot of aegyo (cuteness) and bromances going on between the members.

2. Mark Tuan Speaking English

With one American member whose hometown is Los Angeles, a lot of KCON goers are hoping to see Mark speak in his native tongue. One would think, “well, of course he’s going to speak in English!” but Mark is rather timid and shy, so he tends to let other members do a lot of the talking, i.e Thai member BamBam spoke a lot of English when GOT7 held their fan meeting in Chicago. Seeing how KCON LA will be their 3^rd US show this year, and the other English speaker Jackson will not be in attendance, hopefully Mark will have had the chance to prep and prepare himself to openly and confidently speak to the crowd in English. Better yet, what if Mark sang/rapped in English? Let that sink in for a bit and tell me that wouldn’t be anything less then awesome!

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3. Girl Group Dances

Throughout the second half of their careers, GOT7 has solidified their right of way into the covering girl group dances hall of fame. “But what male idol group hasn’t done a dance cover to a girl group?” you ask. Of course, it’s only a matter of time before a male group is seen doing girl group dances on a variety show or at a concert, but it’s pure gold when the members in a group are genuinely and eagerly doing so. GOT7 is known to voluntarily break out in girl group dances; there have been times where they’ve even had in-group wars between the other members to see who does the better covers. With their smaller body frame and flexibility, members BamBam and JR are usually the best with girl group covers, although GOT7’s maknae (youngest member) Yugyeom, even with his taller height and lanky arms, is able to do one mean body wave.

4. A Collaboration With A Senior Group

This might be stretching it a bit considering artist collaborations aren’t usually done at American Korean shows, but considering how a lot of the other groups that will be at KCON are indeed GOT7’s seniors i.e. SHINHWA and Super Junior, there is a small possibility looming somewhere. Whether it would a full song done together, maybe an English song since they’re in America, or even if it’s a mere 20 seconds done together somewhere during the day or at the end of one of the shows, it’d definitely be something worth witnessing. Not only will the audience be in for a treat but also GOT7 as a group would probably be over the moon if given this opportunity if it were indeed to happen.

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5. Derpiness On Full Mode

If you didn’t already know, each and every member of GOT7 has a different level of derpiness, ranging anywhere from a “whoops I made a dumb face” to border line “if I keep this up, my face might end up like this.” I’ll wait while you go back and look up their past fan cams and fan taken photos. Not too impressed with them? Well, then have you see their latest music video for “Just Right”? A part of me wants to believe that they were directed to make the derpy faces that were made during the chorus but another part of me knows that even if they were given directions to do so, the members probably took it upon themselves to make the expressions to be extreme as possible. Considering the average age for GOT7 is 19, this is probably just a phase they they’re going through. Or maybe not. Regardless of all that, I hope that they continue to showcase their derpiness because it makes them unique and loveable.

As a KCON attendee, I’m not only grateful for being able to be at the convention and seeing GOT7 again, but it’ll be the icing on the cake if at least one of these five things listed actually happens!

What and who are you looking forward to seeing at KCON LA? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

The PEACEMINUSONE Art Exhibit Is Like Seeing The World Through G-Dragon Tinted Glasses[Photos]

July 21, 2015/in Events /by Tamar Herman

“<PEACEMINUSONE> is an exhibition designed to enhance the public’s interest in the contemporary art while raising the encounters of art and pop culture based on the collaboration of artists of home and abroad with G-Dragon the icon of pop culture beyond the domain of a musician,” reads a black and white poster in both Korean and English at the entrance of the PEACEMINUSONE exhibit at the Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA).

While the grammar is lacking, and a bit confusing, the meaning is clear. The point of PEACEMINUSONE, I believe, was to draw fans of K-pop group BIGBANG to one of Seoul’s museums. And it worked; I wasn’t the only one at the museum that day specifically because I wanted to take a look at what the leader of BIGBANG had curated. G-Dragon (Kwon Jiyong), one of South Korea’s most exemplary musicians and fashion icons, collaborated with foreign and domestic artists to create the exhibit.

PEACEMINUSONE, representing the current state of humanity, was split up into two parts; the first focused on G-Dragon’s career and artistry and was called “Non(fiction) Museum.” Costumes and sets seen in the music videos of BIGBANG and G-Dragon’s solos were displayed artistically alongside other images. A ticking clock in the middle, with G-Dragon’s “Coup D’Etat” altered peace sign logo, stood ominously in the middle of the room. Mirrors of varying sizes distorted reflections, matching the distorted images of G-Dragon and nude bodies that were featured in several different artworks.

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The whole portion of the exhibit, with over a dozen art installations in just one room, dreary and bright all at once, seemed to be a visualization of what it’s like to be inside G-Dragon’s brain. One poster explained that portion of the exhibit as “a museum made of actual and virtual stories of G-Dragon intermingled.”

The second half of the exhibit was less focused on G-Dragon personally, and instead highlighted the individual artists and their perceptions of reality. Many of the artworks used photography, lights, and screens to warp what the viewer is looking at, and several pieces seemed to highlight the controlled view of the world that modern media portrays. While the first half of the museum depicted G-Dragon’s take on reality, the second portion of PEACEMINUSONE seemed like an attack on the media’s perception of the world.

A mise-en-scene sculpture and video piece by one of the artists, Kijong Zin, scaled down BIGBANG’s five members and made an example of seeing just what the camera lens glosses over. One artwork, Michael Scoggin’s “Hello! My Friend G-Dragon” features G-Dragon “existing in the imaginary world which is the image shown through the media.” Several artworks used video sculptures and actual sculptures together to depict altered realities.

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Before the third portion of the exhibit, museum-goers were urged to partake in the interactive “Talk To G-Dragon” activity, where people could write a message to G-Dragon.

The final artwork of the exhibit was entitled “Room No. 8” and was a collaboration between G-Dragon and Silo Lab_Zizizik, the only physical installation credited to G-Dragon. Mixing G-Dragon’s voice and image walking across multiple screens in a darkly room, “Room No. 8” felt purposely ominous to depict what the exhibit called the BIGBANG rapper’s “inner truths.”

As homage to G-Dragon, PEACEMINUSONE isn’t like anything any K-pop artist has ever done before and offers a drearier look into G-Dragon’s on and off-stage persona than is usually depicted in the Korean media.

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What do you think of PEACEMINUSONE? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter,Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

10cm & Okdal Slow Down The Concrete Jungle Of NYC With Korean Indie Concert [PICTURES]

June 10, 2015/in Events /by Katherine

New York City is no stranger to top K-pop acts, but it is pretty rare for Korean indie acts to make the long trip to the east coast of the United States. Despite the distance, popular indie duos Oksangdalbit (Okdal for short) and 10cm shared their music at the concert Hall in the New York Society of Ethical Culture on June 5^th.

Several hundred people ranging in age, but predominantly Korean, gathered at the intimate concert hall, filled the benches, and waited for the show to begin. Kim Yoonju and Park Sejin of Okdal along with a support violinist was first up on stage. After a brief introduction, they began “Enchante.” Sejin skillfully switched between playing a variety of instruments such as the melodeon, xylophone, bells, and triangle, while she perfectly harmonized with Yoonju, who was playing the piano and occasionally the keyboard.

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Their songs have the uncanny ability to transport the listener to scenes from Korean dramas of couples shyly smiling while gently holding hands in a cozy café or while walking through a park on a nice spring day. There was a good mix of mellow songs such as “I Wish I Could Disappear” and upbeat songs like “Strange Times,” where the audience clapped along. Sejin found the audience participation particularly funny, even missing a beat because she burst out laughing.

Between songs, the girls would interact with the audience, telling funny stories which added to the intimacy of the show. After a little over an hour into, Okdal’s set was finished. They thanked everyone for listening and then left the stage.

Between acts there was a short intermission where the audience was treated to complimentary chips from one of the sponsors. After the break, vocalist Kwon Jung Yeol (who happens to be married to Yoonju) and guitarist Yoon Cheol Jong of 10cm as well as a jembe player made their way to the stage and went straight into “Tonight, I’m Afraid of the Dark.”

Though it was getting late into night, the audience seemed to become energized as 10cm played on. Like Okdal before them, Kwon Jung Yeol would tell stories and make witty comments to the audience between songs to keep the audience’s interest. Kwon Jung Yeol sang favorites like their popular song “Americano” and even sang a Coldplay cover despite the lack of English throughout the whole night, while Yoon Cheol Jong happily played the guitar.

Towards the end of the night, everyone sang along, especially to songs like “Caress (Sseudam Sseudam)” and “Hug Song,” a song that the duo originally sung with Orange Caramel. When Jung Yeol announced that the next song would be their last, he listened to recommendations from the audience and decided to play “Sticky Rice Cake.”

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The show clocked in at just under three hours. Though the show was long, each band brought something different to the small stage. Okdal’s set was relaxing and mellow, while 10cm’s was more energetic and exciting. And even though each band had a different style and sound, they both complemented each other and had that raw, down to earth indie sound that is refreshing to hear.

What’s your favorite song by 10cm or Okdal? What Korean indie acts would you like to see come to your country? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts. Read more

Epik High Lights It Up in Los Angeles

June 2, 2015/in Events /by Alexis Hodoyan-Gastelum

After six long years, the South Korean hip hop trio Epik High finally returned to Los Angeles where they played a sold out show at the legendary venue The Wiltern on May 30^th. The second stop of their 2015 North American Tour, the group brought the house down by taking everyone through memory lane with their old hits and bringing it back home with the latest releases.

Since the early hours of the morning, a line going around The Wiltern was formed by fans hoping to secure a spot in the pit in order to see Epik High within a foot. But most importantly, they aimed to be among the first to enter the meet and greet with Epik High’s Tablo, Mithra, and DJ Tukutz. And while Tumblr was flooded after the show by different fans bragging about what they got autographed, it’s the performance that was truly memorable from that night.

While opening acts are odd for K-pop groups but standard for hip hop shows, Epik High had the L.A. rapper Dumbfoundead warm up the audience prior to their performance. But the rapper didn’t just warm up the crowd, he shut it down. The audience was with him since he dropped his first bar, to his latest release “Mellow Yellow” (which is pure fire), all the way to a song he dedicated to his mom and an ode to Koreatown, for which he brought out his friends the jeweler Ben Baller and Danny from 1TYM.

Being the neighborhood he grew up in, Jonathan Park aka Dumbfoundead repped Koreatown hard. Along with his homie Mike D, he talked about growing up and aspiring to one day play The Wiltern and see his name on the marquee, which is located in that neighborhood, and how thanks to Epik High it was possible. The rapper spent a lot of time talking to the audience in both English and Korean, joking that he was earning mad Korean points with his mom for playing that gig and saying he turned his Korean speech of gratitude into a K-drama real quick.

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For his last performance, Dumbfounded said he would go all out, and all out he went with “Ganghis Kahn” (no, it’s not a typo). His set was a mere 20 minutes long, but in such short time he managed to hype up the crowd for the headliners.

If the attendees went wild when the lights went out and Dumbfoundead came out, that was nothing compared to the hysteria that ensued once DJ Tukutz came out and introduced Epik High, “What’s up L.A It’s been a long time.” The beat dropped and out came Tablo rearranging the lyrics to “Encore” by singing “L.A. goes on,” which made the crowd erupt in even more cheers and screams.

To the sound of 2Pac’s “California Love,” Tablo made a quick introduction, and then went into performing his verse and chorus of G-Dragon’s “Light It Up.” For the formal introduction, a few more songs in, Tablo stated, “They sent us on a mission to spread the Korean language,” which provoked cheers and laughs from the audience. He also appointed himself the translator, even though he said Tukutz was learning English and made him say something in that language.

But since the energy was way up until this point, vTablo said, “We’re going too fast. Is it okay if we slow it down? We’re going to chill out,” making it the perfect transition into “It’s Cold.” Because these songs have mellow choruses, the audience sang along more fervently for songs like “Umbrella.” But on Mithra’s part, Tablo went up to Tukutz’s DJ booth, cut the beat, and said “You mind if we turn it back up? If it’s okay, make some noise.”

Throughout the show, Epik High had the best transitions into songs ever. They always found a fun way to casually talk their way between songs without it seeming gimmicky or relying on a video. The standout moments of the night included Tablo changing the lyrics of “I’m in Love With the Coco” to “I’m in Love with the Tablo” and the trio spending what felt like 10 minutes listing everything they loved about North America, including In-N-Out, Justin Bieber, and Standford University (where Tablo is an alumni of), of course.

Tablo’s interruption marked the segue into “Burj Khalifa,” with made it apparent that Epik High was more interested in having a good time with the attendees than delivering heartfelt performances. He also took the time to tell the audience “We’re better than ever because of you. We owe it all to you,” before going into “Rich.”

Epik High –or at least Tablo and Tukutz– delivered many comedic moments throughout the show. Maybe as fan service, but most likely because they’re huge derps. Most notably, Tukutz had his very own dance solo, where he replicated BIGBANG’s “Fantastic Baby” moves, some Rain ones, and some of “his own.”

But not everything was laughs, with Tablo talking about it being hard for them being away from home for three weeks with the tour, bringing up how he missed Haru, his daughter. “There’s only one good reason to be away from home, and it’s to be with you guys,” Tablo said before performing “Up,” which the audience fervently sang along to the “oh-oh’s.”

And since Tablo has also released solo material, the other two members left the stage so he could perform “Air Bag,” only to have Tukutz come out with a mic on his hand and pretend he was singing Brown Eyed Soul Naul’s part as he made his way to his booth. At some point in the song, Tablo went up to him, stopped the song, and told him he couldn’t steal the spotlight with such serious song. After a comical exchange, they went right into a rendition of Taeyang’s “Eyes, Nose, Lips,” which more than a few in attendance had a moment with.

Once the solos ended, Mithra came back out and a late ‘90s techno rave ensued with “Kill This Love,” “High Technology,” and “New Beautiful.” As mentioned before, Epik High went through a sizable amount of their discography and performed songs like “Love, Love, Love,” “Fan,” “Map The Soul,” “Happen Ending,” and many more.

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But every concert has an end. They also have that thing where they tell the audience goodbye and then come back for the encore. Epik High is no exception. Their encore songs were “Born Hater,” where they threw autographed Koreatown T-Shirts to the audience and DJ Tukutz lip-synced B.I’s part, and “Don’t Hate Me,” where they let out any steam and derpness left. And, of course, following tradition, the picture with the audience marked the end of the show. Mithra, Tukutz, and Tablo said their goodbyes and disappeared in the darkness of the side stage.

Even if fans had to wait six years since their last L.A. visit, an agency change, military enlistments, and a major scandal, Epik High’s show made it all worth the while. Fans left that night with the best of attitudes and holding onto Tablo’s promise that they would come back soon.

Check out our pictures from the show here:

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All pictures by Yasamine Entesari

What’s your favorite Epik High song? Share your picks and thoughts of the show in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.
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5 Reasons You Should Be Excited for Shinhwa’s Appearance at KCON LA [UPDATED]

June 1, 2015/in Events, Fans /by Tam Huynh

On May 28^th, Shinhwa Changjos (fans of the group) across the U.S. were jumping in joy and shedding happy tears with the unexpected announcement that Shinhwa, Korea’s longest running idol group, was added to the lineup for this summer’s KCON LA. Read more

What to Expect at GOT7’s First Fanmeeting in USA 2015 [EVENT INFO]

April 23, 2015/in Events /by Alexis Hodoyan-Gastelum

A few months after its first anniversary, JYP Entertainment’s newest boy group GOT7 is finally gracing North American fans by coming to three U.S. cities, thanks to Jazzy Group. JB, Jr., Mark, Jackson, Youngjae, Bam Bam, and Yugyeom are heading to San Francisco, Dallas, and Chicago for the first time since debuting to meet their fans, IGOT7, and treat them to an afternoon of laughs, singing, aegyo, and dancing.

Since this is the first time the boys are in the U.S. as a group, expectations are running high. And since GOT7 are a bunch of charismatic, talented, cute guys we can imagine what will probably happen at these events. That’s why we came up with a few things fans can expect at GOT7’s First Fanmeeting in USA.

Official Merchandise

Have your expectations ever been shot down hard at K-pop concerts when you realized the group didn’t bring any merchandise to sell? Well, for GOT7’s fan meets, that won’t be the case! You can score an official light stick, postcard set or slogan towel for under $25 if you pre-order them. And since these will be picked up at the events, you can be sure these are legit. So come and get them while they last!

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Curtesy of Jazzy Group

Jackson Acting a Fool

Don’t get me wrong, Jackson seems to have a very nice personality in real life, but that didn’t get him onto so many variety shows– it was him acting a fool. Jackson’s energy and personality is always jacked up to 100%. Add that he’s in the U.S. with English speaking fans and you know this will quickly turn into the Jackson show. Jackson’s a ball of fun and seems very caring and attentive to fans, meaning we can expect lots of fanservice and memorable moments from him.

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Also on KultScene: Artist Spotlight: 10cm [NYC Concert Update]

Jr. and Bam Bam Aegyo Exuberance

Another thing that we surely won’t miss is GOT7’s aegyo, or cuteness, kings, Jr. and Bam Bam, busting out the cute stuff. These two boys love causing fans to swoon and making their fellow members cringe. Fan meets are just an aegyo fest for these two, so get your cameras and phones ready to capture all the endearing moments.

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Yugyeom and Youngjae Forced to Do Aegyo

Despite both members being very cute, they don’t necessarily show cuteness as easily as Jr. and Bam Bam. But since this is their first visit to the U.S. and meeting their fans on this side of the pond, rest assured, everyone will bust out the aegyo, but it’s Yugyeom and Youngjae who will need some persuasion.

Youngjae Forced to Speak English

As seen on their various web shows, Youngjae is often bullied into speaking a little English for the camera. Can you imagine having a whole venue of English speakers present? Of course the hyungs, or older members, will make him say a few words, and he, bashfully, will do so very cutely.

Mark Being Talkative

Well, more like we hope Mark is more talkative at the fan meets since fans will be able to fully understand him in his native language. Because, as seen on his multiple appearances on After School Club, Mark has been easing into talking more when it’s in English. And we know the rest of the boys will need help with translation and we can’t solely rely on Jackson. So Mark better step it up!

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Yugyeom Keeping the Hyungs in Check

Any IGOT7 will tell you, affectionately, that GOT7 is a group of dumbasses, especially around fans. The boys are extremely down with fan service, so you can expect them all to be doing lots of aegyo and showing off. That’s why you know the maknae will, at some point, rebel against his hyungs and keep them in check. So expect lots of sass from him, but at the same time, you know JB won’t take it lightly.

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Markson in the Flesh

The Mark-Jackson ship is a real thing, and all GOT7 fans know that. We get to see it anytime there’s a camera in front of these two, so expect to see it live at the fan meets. You will have a hard time deciding whether you prefer Mark or Jackson hugging you, or hugging each other.

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JB’s Beautiful Eye Smile

In K-pop, the eye smile is a thing, and one we love at that. GOT7’s leader has one of the most heart melting eye smiles in the industry, so you know it will definitely make more than one appearance meeting fans in the U.S. Ladies and gentlemen (hey, we’re inclusive), prepare to swoon for days!

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Stellar Vocals and Performances of their Singles

Since the events are essentially fan meets, we can’t really expect a full-on concert. However, rest assured, they at least have to perform one or two of their lead singles, A, Girls, Girls, Girls, and Stop, Stop, It. What’s more, audiences will get to witness Youngjae and JB’s angelic voices, Mark’s stunts, and Yugyeom’s powerful dancing. GOT7 is a group of well-rounded performers who put on a great show, so without a doubt, there will be no dull moment during this event.

Jazzy Group is holding the GOT7’s First Fanmeeting in USA 2015 in San Francisco, Dallas, and Chicago on May 6, 8, and 10, respectively. Tickets range from $55 to $200, with the VVIP tickets including the coveted hi-touch passes and exclusive freebies. To purchase these, go to Etix for the Chicago show and AXS for Dallas and San Francisco. For more information and the latest updates, stay tuned to Jazzy Group’s website and social media site.

: Curtesy of Jazzy Group

: Curtesy of Jazzy Group

: Curtesy of Jazzy Group

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Who’s your favorite GOT7 member and why? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

10 Epik High Songs to Get You Ready for Their North American Tour [UPDATED]

April 11, 2015/in Events /by Alexis Hodoyan-Gastelum

After slaying SXSW last month, Epik High will come back to this side of the pond with their North American tour. And while a lot of K-pop acts only come to one or two cities in the U.S., the YG Entertainment group will embark on a real mini tour hitting cities such as Vancouver and Dallas.

And since we’re all very excited for the tour, we figured we would put together a list of their top songs to get you ready and excited.

1. Don’t Hate Me

If anyone can put on a show, it’s Epik High, made evident at the 2012 MAMA Awards when they performed Don’t Hate Me with one of the most memorable acts of the night. Decked out as iconic Batman villains, the group turned up the whole venue with their hate brushing-off anthem. You can expect lots of jumping around, by the members and the audience, during this song.

2. Wannabee

Is this Daft Punk? No, it’s Epik High! Even though the song’s sound is very dated now, it won’t stop fans from jamming out to this high energy, epic (pun intended) song. Once again, jumping around is a must during Wannabee.

3. One

Another jam in their extensive repertoire that, despite the Euro-pop beats, still sounds relative today. Or maybe it’s nostalgia? Either way, One’s comforting message will hit you right in the feels and you’re probably going to have a moment there…

4. Love, Love, Love

Epik High are the best at taking their emotional songs and performing them with such great energy that they seem like party tracks. And how cute is it when they sing the featured artists parts like in Love, Love, Love and even do a little dance (I see you Tablo!).

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5. Umbrella

The good part about Epik High’s tracks with other artists singing their choruses is that at concerts, it’s the audience who will most likely get to sing it. Umbrella is another heart-wrenching song that will demand a moment from you; it tugs at your feelings even if you don’t exactly know what they’re rapping about.

6. Fan

While Fan is seemingly sweet, it’s actually about obsession, but with that mid-tempo beat and the soft vocals at the chorus, all you’ll be doing is grinding a bit to the track. The song is a tad… well… old, but it still sounds very relevant.

7. Over

In order to have a great show it doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to keep the audience jumping and dancing. Sometimes in order to really connect with fans you need to go deeper. Epik High does so with songs like Over, which with its English lyrics, it would be perfect for North American attendees to sing along. Besides, with it’s very relatable lyrics, it just might be the perfect pick.

8. Run

Run is one of those songs that takes you back to the times pre-YG when Epik High was more experimental with their sound than traditional hip hop. The empowering track will surely have everyone in attendance jumping with their hands in the air.

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9. Fly

Watching DJ Tukuz spin is a spectacle of its own, but with such good punchlines, you can expect the group to turn the audience up with Fly. Not to mention they engage with the audience a lot, so their shows always feel very dynamic.

10. Born Hater

One of the most awesome things about Born Hater is the roster of rappers Epik High called upon to collaborate with them. Sadly, it’s impossible to have them all in every show. However, that does not detract from the awesomeness at the least. The group is all about the anthems, and this jam is no different. Born Hater is one of their songs with the most prominent hip hop feel, so you know the energy will be at one hundred.

Thanks to Siva Group, Epik High will hold shows in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Dallas, New York, and Toronto on May 28, 29, 31, June 5, 12, and 14, respectively. Tickets will go on sale on April 15^th at noon (each city’s respective time zone) on Siva’s site. However, you must hurry in order to score VIP tickets and Meet-and-Greet packages! For more information, visit the same site or follow them on Twitter.

More shows added:

June 1 – Vancouver, B.C. – Vogue Theatre *encore show added*

June 2 – Seattle, WA – Showbox SODO *venue changed*

June 4 – Chicago, IL – House of Blues

June 7 – Atlanta, GA – Center Stage

June 13 featuring guest Masta Wu – New York, NY – Best Buy Theater *encore show added*

The May 31^st, June 2^nd, 12^th, and 14^th are sold out.

Are you going to one of Epik High’s shows? What’s your favorite song by them? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

Amoeba Culture Tour 2015 With Dynamic Duo, Zion. T, Crush, Primary, & DJ Friz Turn Up New York City

March 31, 2015/in Events /by Katherine

Traveling overseas is hard enough for an artist, but how about a whole record label? Well, that’s exactly what Amoeba Culture, a South Korean record label, did with several of their more prominent artists for the Amoeba Culture Tour 2015. Dynamic Duo, Zion. T, Crush, Primary, and DJ Friz, brought to the East Coast of the United States by Music Enkor for two shows. On February 28^th, after a stop in Atlanta the night before, the crew made their way over to New York City where a practically sold out show greeted them enthusiastically. Hip hop and R&B fans were going to be in for a treat with this multi-artist show. Every artist was expected to bring a slightly different style, and they did not disappoint.

After an exciting and brief countdown, DJ Friz took the stage behind a raised DJ set-up and went straight into mixing a beat to get the crowd riled up. Not too long after, Crush joined the stage and began A Little Bit. Crush talked a bit to the audience, which was always echoed by screams. He then continued his set with I Fancy You. With his fluid moves across the stage and equally smooth vocals, it was easy for everyone to get excited.

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Zion. T eventually joined Crush on stage for Two Melodies. A clear crowd favorite was Just, where the audience sung along the whole way through. Afterwards, Zion. T continued his solo stage with popular songs such as Yanghwa BRDG and Babay. Primary jumped in the DJ booth after, followed by Choiza who joined Zion. T on stage for Question Mark. Not to be outdone by Zion. T, Dynamic Duo exploded onto the stage with See Through. After Zion. T left the stage, Dynamic Duo greeted the audience and went into Lee Dae Ho and Three Dopeboyz. The veteran group knew how to master the stage and work the audience up into a frenzy. The crowd showed no sign of fatigue as they were all screaming and dancing along to Gaeko and Choiza’s set.

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The festival-like atmosphere continued with all of the artists on stage while performing their closing song, Friday Night. As confetti and streamers shot into the air, the show came to a close and all of the artists gathered together for a final bow. The concert was exciting and each artist brought something unique and special to the stage. With all of the artists performing together, a spectacular blend of excitement and music created a highly enjoyable evening.

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10 Things Seen On The 2015 DramaFever Awards Red Carpet

February 8, 2015/in Events, Television /by Tamar Herman

The 2015 DramaFever Awards were held in New York City on February 5, and stars aplenty showed up on the pre-event red carpet. KultScene was there, and we had a chance to speak to some of the presenters of the evening.

1. George Hu and Arden Cho Got Ready To Host

Korean-American actress Cho (Teen Wolf) and Taiwanese-American Hu (Lan Ling Wang) were clearly ready to host the night, each saying that they were honored to host the third annual DramaFever Awards. The two looked glamorous as they strolled down the red carpet, posing together but giving individual interviews. Cho hosted the event in 2014, and promised that the 2015 Awards would be an even more memorable night.

2. Cho Was A Goddess Among A Crowd Of Men

The 2015 DramaFever Awards had a lot of eye candy, but only one woman graced the Red Carpet prior to the event. Cho’s Sherri Hill white and orange dress was reminiscent of the grandeur of early Hollywood starlets and the co-host pulled it off beautifully. Cho discussed her favorite dramas, Secret Garden and Boys Over Flowers, especially the Japanese version, and how she felt representing the Korean-American community on a popular MTV show.

3. Hu Reminisced About New York Being His Home

Although he’s a star now in Taiwan, George Hu is a New Yorker born and bred, and he admitted that he still calls New York “home.” “My parents are from Taiwan, so I can’t say I’m not from Taiwan, but I was born here. I’m from both sides. Both are home for me.” He said that the trip to host DramaFever isn’t his only one; Hu comes to New York twice a year so that his parents don’t have to worry so much.

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4. Acting-Idol Group 5urprise Got Hungry

5urprise performed later in the evening, but on the red carpet the five members showed off their excitement at being in New York City. When asked what they wanted to see and do in New York City, members rattled off a simple list: Empire State Building, Times Square, Shake Shack, and Umami Burger.

5. And Member Seo Kang Joon Wowed With His Grasp Of English

Translators were nowhere in sight when it came to the red carpet, but 5urprises’s members had no problem communicating with the English speaking press. Rising actor Seo Kang Joon (Cunning Single Lady) surprised everyone with his English language use, after exhibiting less than perfect skills on the variety show Roommate. In charge of responding for the group, Seo’s answers were clear and precise. The other members didn’t keep quiet either, and their excitement at performing at the 2015 DramaFever Awards was clear.

6. Running Man’s Kim Jong Kook Made The Crowd Riot

One of the cast members of Korea’s extremely popular variety show Running Man showed up as the last person to walk the red carpet, but Kim Jong Kook’s arrival while last was certainly not least. The screams from the fans waiting outside the venue erupted minutes before Kim made his way down the red carpet, where he posed for pictures while people shouted his tagline, “Sparta!”

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7. Fresh Off The Boat’s Hudson Yang Gave a Surprise Appearance

Yang is one of the breakout stars of one of the year’s most talked about sitcoms, and even though Fresh Off The Boat premiered only a few days before the DramaFever Awards, Hudson was all laughs on the red carpet. Have things changed for him since Fresh Off The Boat aired to huge acclaim? “I mean nothing’s really changed, I’ve always been kind of popular.” As for Valentine’s Day Plans? A resounding “no! It’s not that I’m not allowed, it’s that I don’t want to yet. I’m staying free.”

8. Yuki Furukawa Revealed His Flawless English

The star of Mischievous Kiss: Love In Tokyo its sequel is another drama star who spent time living in North America. Furukawa lived in Vancouver and New York, and he stopped to talk about appearing at the Awards and being one of Japan’s up-and-coming drama stars.

9. The Suit Came In Many Different Styles- Including George Hu’s Bedazzled Collar

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While Arden Cho’s dress was bright and elegant, a variety of different styles of suits made it to the 2015 DramaFever awards. Some stars, like Yuki Furukawa, kept to simple black and white suits, but George Hu’s sparkling collar, made specifically for him by his stylist, kept drawing the flash of the cameras. Furukawa was the most formally dressed, with a classic black-and-white suit with a bowtie, while 5urprises’s member’s mixed and matched classic suits with leather, casual shirts, and sweaters. And Yang, as the youngest star on the red carpet, posed comfortably in a casual gray suit sans tie.

10. 2015 DramaFever Awards Were Handed Out

So this wasn’t precisely on the red carpet, but the award show itself was definitely the highlight of the 2015 DramaFever Awards.
Best Bromance
– Seo Kang Joon & Joo Sang Wook (Cunning Single Lady)
Rising Star
– Lee Jung Shin (Temptation)
Fan Favorite
– Jo In Sung (It’s Okay, That’s Love)
Best Kiss
– Jo In Sung & Gong Hyo Jin (It’s Okay, That’s Love)
Best Movie
– Secretly, Greatly
Best Chinese Language Drama
– Fall in Love with Me
Best Japanese Drama
– Mischievous Kiss 2: Love in Tokyo
Camry Boldest Moment
– Emergency Couple
Best Couple
– Yuki Furukawa & Miki Honoka (Mischievous Kiss 2)
Best Actor
– Jo In Sung (It’s Okay, That’s Love)
Best Actress
– Song Ji Hyo (Emergency Couple)
Best Variety Show
– Running Man
Best Korean Drama
– Emergency Couple

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All photos courtesy of Aliza Chasan

How did your favorite star look at the 2015 DramaFever Awards? Did your favorite drama win? Let us know in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.