2020 KCON will be held nonstop for a week online

KCON:TACT [CJ ENM]

CJ ENM will be holding this year’s KCON online nonstop for a week in June, for K-pop fans stuck at home around the world, the entertainment company said on Thursday.

According to CJ ENM, this year’s KCON will be broadcast on YouTube at the end of June under the title “KCON:TACT 2020 Summer,” providing K-culture content 24 hours a day for seven days.

"KCON:TACT" will use the finest interactive digital technology such as virtual reality and augmented reality to showcase a variety of performances by some 30 K-pop acts, spanning from live concert streaming to other lifestyle programs related to K-culture.

Different acts will perform live everyday, as well as hold talks with the fans online and give backstage tours.

DIA TV’s YouTube creators will also host features on K-beauty, K-food and K-lifestyle tips in collaboration with K-pop stars.

There will be fees for some of the content, and this revenue will be donated to Unesco’s “Learning Never Stops” campaign to help students all around the world who have been deprived of education opportunities during the coronavirus pandemic.

KCON began in 2012, and has since seen the participation of over a million K-culture fans across the United States, France, Australia, Mexico and Japan over the course of 24 events. This year’s event is aimed at providing an opportunity for everyone around the world to enjoy Korean culture regardless of time and space.

“This event will give fans who have not been able to enjoy K-culture a chance to experience the joy of diverse contents, as well as give artists who have not had the chance to go abroad a place to meet fans overseas,” CJ ENM said.

“We plan to make this a new Hallyu event that uses the best of online platforms and transcends geographical borders.”

BY YOON SO-YEON [yoon.soyeon@joongang.co.kr]