On August 1-3, 2025, KCON LA 2025 made history by being livestreamed globally for the first time via Amazon Prime Video and Twitch, thanks to an innovative partnership with Amazon Music. This landmark event brought K-pop’s vibrant energy and culture directly into homes worldwide, expanding the festival’s reach beyond the record-breaking 125,000 in-person attendees at the Los Angeles Convention Center and Crypto.com Arena. The global livestream featured top K-pop stars including aespa, SEVENTEEN (through their special unit HxW), NCT 127, MONSTA X, HWASA, IVE, and many more, showcasing the best and brightest of contemporary Korean pop music to millions of virtual fans.
KCON LA, inaugurated in 2012, has evolved into the world’s premier K-pop and Korean culture festival, growing from a modest 10,000 attendees in Anaheim to over 125,000 in 2025. The 2025 edition was the largest yet, featuring 37 acts, 107 companies, and 358 booths presenting Korean beauty, fashion, food, and technology. The inclusion of a global livestream via Prime Video marked a new chapter, allowing fans from North America, Latin America, and Europe to experience KCON’s electrifying performances and fan interactions live, while fans in Asia accessed separate streaming rights through CJ ENM.
Harry H.K. Shin, Head of Music Entertainment at CJ ENM, expressed deep appreciation for the milestone, stating, “Having KCON officially designated as ‘KCON Day’ in Los Angeles — the birthplace of our global journey — gives us an even greater sense of purpose. We’re deeply grateful for the support of the city, the artists, and most of all, the fans who make this event possible year after year”. The City of Los Angeles underscored the festival’s cultural and economic significance by declaring August 1 as “KCON Day,” highlighting KCON’s impact on tourism and the city’s global profile.
Aside from the star-studded main stage performances, KCON LA 2025 included special experiences such as the DREAM STAGE, where fans had the rare chance to perform alongside idols, and the X STAGE, spotlighting up-and-coming acts as well as fan meet-ups with stars like Yim Siwan, a celebrated K-pop idol and actor. The festival also featured the K-COLLECTION exhibition area, showcasing cutting-edge Korean brands spread across beauty, food, fashion, and technology sectors, offering attendees immersive cultural experiences beyond the music.
From a streaming perspective, the partnership with Amazon Prime Video and Twitch allowed for premium access to live concerts at an affordable cost compared to attending in person. Amazon Music also created curated K-pop playlists, helping fans prepare by learning the songs and fan chants ahead of the event, bridging the gap between in-person and virtual fan engagement.
Experts note KCON LA’s livestream on Amazon Prime Video is a reflection of changing entertainment consumption habits, especially among K-pop’s youthful, global audience. The accessibility of the livestream has enabled wider, more diverse participation and reinforced KCON’s status as a central platform in the global Korean wave (Hallyu) phenomenon.
In summary, KCON LA 2025’s debut on Amazon Prime Video signals a significant advancement in how cultural festivals can leverage digital platforms to reach international audiences. As K-pop’s influence continues to surge worldwide, this hybrid model of live and virtual engagement sets a precedent for future events. Fans can expect future KCON editions to blend immersive on-site shows with online access, broadening the scope of global fandom and cultural exchange.
For those who missed the live event, Amazon Music and Prime Video offer archives and curated K-pop content year-round, ensuring that the dynamic world of Korean pop culture remains accessible to a worldwide audience until the next KCON festival.
