KCON 2022 returned in person with its Premiere event in Chicago. Fans usually associate KCON as an event more than a concert. It’s become a meeting place where you can find a community united by a mutual love for K-Pop. KCON Chicago, in conjunction with the live viewing event in Los Angeles, was set up primarily as a concert to build up excitement for the main KCON in Los Angeles in August. Without the usual convention associated with it, groups of fans who didn’t have an event framework for meet-ups and events decided that they should take the reins. There was more than one cupsleeve event, but we visited the one that was dedicated to all the groups that were performing to meet fans, find out who they were there for, where they came from, and to share a bit of their view about the first KCON ever in Chicago.

Fans gathered on both May 20 and 21 at Dave & Buster’s, a stone’s throw away from the concert venue in Chicago. Presented by the fan-led team at KPOPCUPSLEEVEUS, they had posted on Twitter that they would be there and fans could order cupsleeves for the event. “We wanted to do something fun and something for the community and thought it would be fun to do some interactions with the fans.” We met many fans there, some who had traveled considerable distances to be there.  

So who are the faces of KCON Chicago? Let’s meet some of them!

Hyatt: I’m so excited that KCON is even happening in Chicago. I live in Illinois, pretty close to Chicago. I’ve been following BTOB since they came out, so when they said that KCON was happening, I was like, they have to get BTOB. Peniel is from Chicago and when they dropped it I was so excited. And just to have that fan interaction. Other people that are also into K-Pop coming together and meeting new people, like we just met for the first time today and we’re so close already (pointing to Saika next to her). It’s experiences like that that I was really looking forward to.

Saika: Definitely seeing BTOB live. I’m really excited about that. Just hearing their vocals live in front of us…I might cry during it…I'm also really excited to meet new people. I’ve been talking in a group chat hyping this up for awhile, so I’m excited to meet all the people I met virtually in person now. As for bias…I think Minhyuk currently.

Kelly: CRAVITY, because they are amazing. Hyeongjun is my bias and I’m excited. I came from Dallas to see them!

Brittany: STAYC. Isa from STAYC. Their music is my favorite. I genuinely love every song by STAYC. 

Abby: Same - my bias is J, and literally, all their songs, no skip.

Together: Yeah, no skip!

Brittany, interjecting: No skip, no skip! Never skip when STAYC comes on. 

Abby: And their chemistry together is so incredible, they seem genuinely such best friends.

Carinah: I’m from Montgomery, IL. Not too far. I’m most excited to see CRAVITY. My bias is Wonjin. He’s so funny. The first time I watched him on Weekly Idol, the whole group was just vibing with his energy and it was hilarious. I just love Wonjin.

Arielle: I’m really excited to see NMIXX and my bias is Lily because she has such powerful vocals and, like OMG! I’m so, if I see her, idk, I…I’m going to faint or something, I’m going to scream so loud. Ever since I saw their pre-debut stuff of their singing and stuff, OMG, these girls are so talented - SLAY! And I’m totally excited. I’ve never been to KCON, but I’ve been to concerts.

Ninah (proudly wearing a K-Pop Mom shirt): I just follow them (pointing to the girls). Actually my favorite group is Super Junior. Super Junior and BTS are my favorite groups. Siwon is my bias and V and Jungkook are my biases for BTS. She (pointing to her daughter) told me about KCON and I’m like, let’s go, and actually we have a wedding tomorrow. I told them we can go to the wedding tomorrow and go to KCON first. So, I listened to a playlist she made for me and I would just listen to it again and again. I know the songs, I just don’t know their names. But I’m watching the shows on TV now and I see them, and now I know who those people are. So, the earlier ones, Super Junior, INFINITE, those are the groups I know. The new ones, I’m still learning them, but I’m enjoying it. Their music, it’s just addicting. My family would always ask, are you understanding what they’re saying and I say, it’s not even about understanding what they’re saying. You can just feel what they’re saying, even if the words are so different, you can just feel it, is what I tell them. And the choreography is amazing. It’s nothing like what you see here in the U.S. And the way they talk to their fans, they’re so true to themselves and they always watch out for their fans. Every one of them. So I love it!

Whether it’s fans driving in from Canada (like the guys below), flying in, or locals who were excited to have KCON finally in Chicago, it was clear that the opportunity to finally see their groups in person was an opportunity that these fans couldn’t miss and that events like this were able to bring them together. 

The next day, despite overcast and occasional showers, fans met again through KPOPCUPSLEEVEUS and were finally able to carry out their additional fan events as well. It’s clear that in lieu of KCON official events, events like these really give an opportunity to show the spirit of the fans.

Thank you to KPOPCUPSLEEVEUS for allowing us to follow your event and providing the link to the random dance play and for the group photo below. Thanks to all the fans who shared their thoughts and to KCON for returning in person so for events like this to happen.

Edited by Rashelle B.