Attendees Accuse KCON USA Of False Advertisement, Among Other Issues

KCON USA is currently being accused of false advertisement by festival attendees.

Since the initial artist announcement, fans have been waiting in anticipation for KCON USA 2023. The three-day celebration of “all things Hallyu” boasts a line-up including ATEEZ, NCT‘s Taeyong, IVE, and Stray Kids.

Besides the concerts, the convention is another significant part of the KCON experience.  Attendees can experience many things, including meet-ups with other fans and informative panels.

[#KCONLA2023] ???????????????????? & ????????????????????????????????

A special session only at KCON LA CONVENTION!

Meet ???????????????????????????????????? consisting of artists, influencers and experts from various fields, in ???????????????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????? and learn more about K-POP and K-Culture pic.twitter.com/vd1EJsBhQS

— KCON official (@KCON_official) August 11, 2023

However, there have already been some issues with KCON USA as its first day begins.

KCON USA first triggered worries from fans the day before the festivities were set to begin with a Tweet of the event’s timetable. While this was nothing out of the ordinary, a message mentioning that admission to the convention could be restricted based on capacity caught attention.

considering I had no choice but to pay for the convention ticket with my show ticket, this asterisk disclaimer is wild; maybe don't oversell tickets! https://t.co/9DZozsuStI

— Eli Mudd (@SHCH_1127) August 17, 2023

To access the convention center where the convention takes place, one must go through the typical line experience. Unfortunately, as day one progressed, several attendees reported that the line was so long that they would potentially miss events inside the center.

Many groups performing during the concert, and several that are not, are scheduled to have special events during the convention.

i'm actually so goddamn pissed about kcon & i'm not even there yet lmao. the line goes around BLOCKS 2 whole hours after convention start bc of no early check-in, & no multi day passes like usual so this line will happen every day. it's hi wave again even though they advertised-

— Miranda (@mirandarenee3) August 18, 2023

Is Kcon LA 2023 worth it? I’ll let you know but I’m still in line to get in after over 2 hours in line. pic.twitter.com/52Bgfsu3In

— KPOPDAD (@KpopDAD1) August 18, 2023

An unannounced detail of the meet & greet events also angered fans. As initially advertised by KCON, each meet & greet “A” package was to include a hi-touch, or hi-five, with the corresponding artist.

During IVE’s meet & greet event, fans were surprised to see plexiglass shields placed on stage, with the artists standing behind them.  Last year, the meet & greets occurred similarly but were advertised as hi-waves rather than hi-touch events.

Meet & greet events at KCON Thailand and KCON Japan did not include plexiglass separators, leading fans to believe KCON USA would not either.

@7dec01

My first time hi touch with ateez. I miss them already #atiny #ateez #kcon2023thailand

♬ THAT BIH MY EX FOR A REASONNNN. SAINTHAVOC –

behind glass ???? but finally got to see ive in person~ #KCONLA2023#IVE pic.twitter.com/LVFPiHMUCj

— bloop (@minju) August 18, 2023

Fans have begun calling out KCON, saying that this sudden addition to the “hi-touch” event is “false advertisement.”

False advertising @kconusa @KCON_official so this is hi touch at least last year you told us it would be hi wave.

Warning for all those buying hi touch for ateez/zb1 we got the plexiglass again. pic.twitter.com/Py86czgnFu

— your emo aunty, Em (@AhreAlos) August 18, 2023

this is such a scam. kcon SPECIFIED last year itd be hiwave bc of covid and this year they said HITOUCH so we all assumed itd go back to how it was the previous years? people paid insane resale prices just for the plexiglass again .. https://t.co/BznDfG6dfs

— gio (@taekeoff) August 18, 2023

See while I totally understand the need for plexiglass and I’m personally not against it at all, I also think it’s incredibly deceitful to charge people $100 per artist for the hi-touch experience but then not give any notice that the artist may be behind plexiglass https://t.co/qhKg04dka5 pic.twitter.com/rmRdd30UBC

— pao (@yugsmingi) August 18, 2023

so kcon la said hi touch. not hi wave, not walk by. they said hi TOUCH. and that’s what they said when selling tickets.

so how is it with no notice what so ever the artists are behind plexiglass pic.twitter.com/UmHi8YcjRU

— anne at kcon ✿ (@shbmatthew) August 18, 2023

What do you think?