This is a scene from this year's KCON LA on Aug. 18 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

By Kim Hyelin
Photos = CJ ENM

KCON LA, the largest K-pop festival in the U.S., attracted a record-high 140,000 people from Aug. 18-20 in Los Angeles.

The event's organizer CJ ENM on Aug. 21 said, "In the U.S., the birthplace of KCON, KCON LA proved its potential as the world's largest Korean culture festival with an 11-year history."

KCON LA was held at the Los Angeles Convention Center and Crypto.com Arena. Online, an estimated 5.9 million people including paid viewers from 176 countries and regions saw the event.

The three days of main concerts at Crypto.com Arena drew enthusiastic responses from K-pop fans, featuring 21 K-pop acts including IVE, ZEROBASEONE, ITZY, ATEEZ, CRAVITY, NMIXX, Shownu and Hyungwon from MONSTA X, STRAY KIDS and Taemin of SHINEE.

The 21 K-pop acts who performed at this year's KCON LA on Aug. 19 pose for a group photo at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

CJ ENM said an average of 45,000 people each concert per day. This year's edition attracted 50,000 spectators more than the 90,000 who attended the two-day concert last year and broke the previous record of 123,000 set in May at KCON Japan.

Launched in Los Angeles in 2012, KCON is a K-pop-centric cultural festival that offers Korea's diverse appeal including cultural content, technology and food. The latest event had 278 convention booths with 153 companies and brands participating.

Fifty companies promoted their brands through the project "K-Collection," which supports the overseas advance of Korean businesses.

Booths that filled the convention center offered visitors firsthand experience with Korean beauty, content and mobile devices.

kimhyelin211@korea.kr