It Reportedly Cost Kpop Artists Around A 100 Million Won To Appear On KCON LA Stage, KCON LA Responds To The Shocking Report

A recent report about the inner workings of KCON LA has gone viral!

From August 1 to 3 (local time), KCON LA 2025 was held at the Crypto.com Arena and LA Convention Center in Los Angeles, USA.

A total of 34 artists took the stage, offering diverse performances. Among them, the “X Stage” was dedicated to showcasing rookie artists. CJ ENM heavily promoted the segment, saying it was “planned to introduce new talents and skilled artists across various genres.” However, behind the scenes, the opportunity came with a hefty price tag.

Agencies had to cover all expenses for their teams [airfare, accommodation, car rentals, and even meals]. For a team of about 20 people, including members and staff, it cost close to 100 million won (about $71,900) just to appear at KCON. Adding to the outrage, meals were reportedly not provided. CJ ENM claimed that “meals were available at the venue,” but for idols with free time in their schedule, that meant they had to return to the performance site just to eat.

One insider told MyDaily, “We knew we’d have to pay for flights and lodging before we left, but when we arrived, we were surprised to find out we also had to cover meal costs and car rental fees.”

Despite this, media outlets allege that idols performing on the main stage (linked to M Countdown) had their airfare and accommodation covered by CJ ENM.And some of these acts reportedly received only about 1 million won ($730) in appearance fees — despite the fact that the main stage had paying audiences. And while travel and lodging were provided, all hair, makeup, and styling costs for staff still came out of the agencies’ pockets. Since “H-M-S” (hair-makeup-styling) fees have risen, many agencies ended up losing tens of millions of won.

A CJ ENM KCON representative responded, saying:

“We provide not only a free performance opportunity, but also the chance to connect with local music industry officials, along with mingling and promotional events. Stage content is distributed digitally through global syndication on platforms like YouTube and Mnet Plus, and artists get to engage closely with fans on-site. Participation is based on the agency’s voluntary decision, considering these benefits.”

Overseas K-pop showcase events have become more common recently. While the appearance fees are often minimal, organizers usually at least cover airfare, accommodation, and meals. In contrast, critics argue KCON has been disguising exploitation under the name of “opportunity.”

However, others counter with: “Wasn’t it their choice to go?” Since KCON didn’t force participation, agencies could have declined, and those that paid to attend did so willingly. Another industry source noted, “There are plenty of teams that couldn’t go because of the high costs. Even the chance to be there wasn’t available to everyone.”

What do you think of this?

Source: (A)