KCON 2016 Presented by Toyota continues to grow its Los Angeles artist lineup with longtime K-pop favorites SHINee along with I.O.I, the trendy new girl group on the scene.
Alongside a few still-to-be-revealed acts coming to the West coast date, the world’s biggest Korean-culture festival adds two unique acts acts that will take the stage at LA’s famed Staples Center. In March, KCON revealed that it would once again bring three days of panels, workshops, food trucks, artist meet-and-greets and convention fun along with two days of concerts to its original LA location, and grow to two days of convention and concerts in New York.
K-pop fans know SHINee as the multitalented boy band who have consistently put out top-notch releases, albums, choreography and solo material for the past eight years. Most recently, the group dropped their latest full-length album Odd, featuring their excellent single “View” which ushered in a tropical-house sound to K-pop, and followed up with “Married to the Music.” Since then, SHINee has seen members Taemin and Jonghyun drop fantastic solo releases in “Press Your Number” and “She Is.”
Meanwhile, I.O.I will be a special treat for fans as this group only exists for one year. The act was created on competition show Produce 101 that took 101 K-pop hopefuls (or “trainees”) that had signed at various record labels who competed for a spot in a super, 11-member girl group. The ladies will spend one year promoting as I.O.I before dissolving back into their respective companies and connecting with fans at KCON will be a major bonus in helping their future careers.
KCON also announced that Korean drama actors Yim Si Wan (featured in K-dramas like Moon Embracing the Sun and Man From the Equator) and Korean movie/television actress Park Bo Young (featured in the movie A Werewolf Boy and TV drama Oh My Ghostess) will be special guests at the New York date.
KCON will continue announcing more artists for the 2016 Los Angeles lineup during its weekly #KCONLiveChat at 8/7c on Thursdays.
Source: Fuse TV