K-Pop Events Unpacked: Fancons, Fan Meets, and Concerts Explained
K-Pop culture is more than just music. It’s an immersive experience that brings fans closer to their idols in unique and exciting ways.
From incredible high-energy concerts and massive conventions to intimate fan gatherings and showcases, each event offers a different vibe and purpose. But what sets one apart from the other? What makes a concert different from a fan concert or a fan meeting from a fan signing?
This guide breaks down the key differences between these K-Pop events so you’ll know exactly what to expect at each one.
What is a Concert?
Concerts are musical events where an artist or a group performs a part (if not all) of their discography. K-Pop concerts, in particular, are known to last around three hours long with artists preparing a jam-packed setlist of song and dance stages plus ments (speeches) in between. Some artists may also invite other idols for special collaboration stages. Out of all the K-Pop events, concerts are the most performance-heavy and focus more on the artists as musicians.
Most concerts are held indoors like in arenas, stadiums, and concert halls, but can also take place in outdoor venues such as open fields. Concert events also feature exclusive merchandise fans can get their hands on from t-shirts and photocards to posters and official light sticks.
So, what’s the difference between a concert and a music festival? Simple: music festivals feature a large lineup of artists, sometimes across multiple stages and genres. One example is the K-Pop Convention (KCON), the K-Pop fan and artist music festival held in major cities like Los Angeles, Tokyo, Paris, and Abu Dhabi. This annual event features a lineup of South Korean icons and brings them together onto one massive stage!
What is a Fan Meet?
As the name suggests, this K-Pop event is an opportunity for fans to “meet” their K-Pop idols; to get up close and personal with them. Fan Meets usually have a smaller venue with a limited number of attendees compared to concerts and are designed to create a more personal connection with the fans.
A typical K-Pop fan meet is divided into segments that involve games, question-and-answer sessions, and special performances. K-Pop groups are known to put on special stages like boy groups cross-dressing and dancing to girl group choreographies and K-Drama actors showcasing their dancing or singing skills. There are also instances where they invite fans on stage to play games or reenact iconic K-drama moments.
To enhance the experience, Fan Meets offer special fan benefits included in each ticket purchase. These benefits range from signed posters and exclusive photocards to “Hi-Bye” sessions and photo ops where fans can get the chance to shake hands with their idols and take commemorative photos with them.
The distribution of these exclusive benefits depends on the rules set by the promoter or the artists’ management. Each ticket pertains to a certain category and receives varying types or amounts of benefits. In short, the more you pay, the better the benefits. Some concerts offer similar benefits as well, but they are mostly limited to soundcheck sessions and exclusive signed merchandise. In addition to this, Fan Meets often feature brand partnerships with each sponsor providing giveaways and coveted prizes for the games.
It’s also not unusual for artists to hold several Fan Meets in a year both virtually and in person. They can also be single or multi-day events depending on the demand from fans. Fan Meets are also not just for established K-Pop stars, but also rookie groups who wish to connect more with their fans, promote a forthcoming comeback, or celebrate their anniversary.
What is a Fan Concert?
Fan concerts or “Fancons” combine the elements of a K-Pop concert and a fan meet, but one big difference is that it doesn’t have a full setlist compared to concerts. It also usually takes place in a smaller venue, making it more intimate like a fan meeting.
At a fancon, musicians or idol groups perform about seven to ten songs, which is fewer than at a full concert but more than at a fan meeting. While artists have ments in between stages at concerts, fan cons have full-on segments like interactive games, question-and-answer sessions, and special interactions with fans on stage in between performances. Fancons also provide similar benefits found in fan meets with the added extra of personal interactions.
Just take a look at K-Pop group UNIS who held their first Philippine fan con in Manila and Cebu last Oct. 25 and 26, 2024 where they celebrated their anniversary with their Filipino fans with exciting games and raffle draws.
What is a Showcase?
You often hear this word when a K-Pop artist is about to debut or drop a new album. Showcases are promotional events where artists perform new songs from an album. These are often hosted by an MC and are attended by the media and a limited number of fans. Showcases are also often aired on popular K-Pop music programs such as Inkigayo and M Countdown, especially for debuting idol groups.
Apart from electrifying stages, showcases include a question-and-answer session about the album, similar to what one would hear at a press conference. These are also shorter than concerts, and last about an hour or less, and are generally held where the artists are from.
So unlike concerts, fan meets, and fancons, K-Pop showcases aren’t part of a tour and can only be attended in South Korea. (No matter. What are flights for, right?)
What is a Fan Signing?
Fan signings are designed to promote an artist’s new album and are the most intimate and exclusive of all K-Pop events as they allow fans to come up to their idols and interact with them while they sign their albums. Conversations between fans and artists can take about two to five minutes per member if it’s an idol group, or longer for a solo artist. Literally, there will only be a desk between you and your bias. You can’t get any closer than that!
However, getting into a fan signing event is harder than it looks because tickets to these are not sold. To attend a fan sign, one must purchase the album being promoted. Sounds easy enough, right?
There are usually two ways to get selected: a random drawing of purchase receipts or a top spender system. For the latter, the fans who buy the most albums win and get the chance to attend. Hardcore K-Pop fans are known to purchase hundreds of copies to be able to get in, so it’s definitely a challenge!
Some Tips
If there’s one thing these K-Pop events have in common is that they require a great deal of planning as you would be spending hours if not the entire day at these events. For concerts, there are usually long queues involved considering the amount of attendees, so make sure to wear comfortable footwear. Also, expect tickets to be a challenge to acquire. We have a guide on securing them right here.
These events can last for hours, so make sure to stay hydrated and have a good meal beforehand. Also, most of these events are held in the evenings and finish late in the night so it’s best to find a reliable way to get home and have your travel plans sorted out.
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