Though the coronavirus has taken in-person live music off the table for now, K-pop artists and companies are coming through with continued experiential alternatives. KCON:TACT 2020 is the latest event to provide exclusive performances to fans, and while it wasn’t the usual days-long convention packed with industry panels and Korean food vendors, the virtual KCON treated fans to seven days’ worth of live and pre-recorded content from 30 artists.
The online convention, which ran from June 20 through June 26, included live online concerts, behind the scenes footage, and meet and greets with idols. There was even an option called “24hr Idol” that allowed fans to virtually follow one group for an entire day. Viewers were also able to pay to see performances from some of the biggest names in the K-pop world right now: Monsta X, ATEEZ, LOONA, Stray Kids, ITZY, TXT, Mamamoo, EVERGLOW, THE BOYZ, and CRAVITY.
Whether you missed the shows or want to relive all the action, here are the nine best moments from KCON:TACT 2020.
1. Eric Nam Becoming Our New Favorite Presenter
Singer and TV host Eric Nam was the presenter for the seven-day streaming event, and he was a pleasure to watch. Eric has a gift for making even the shyest idols feel comfortable and engaged. It was also fun to watch him be reunited with his “wife,” Solar from Mamamoo. (The two had pretended to be a couple on the reality series We Got Married back in 2016.) The only thing that would make his involvement sweeter is if he’d given his own stage so we could all hear the song “Congratulations.”
2. Fans Singing “Stand Up” to Monsta X
During Monsta X’s day 1 performance, the screen went black and the music cut off while the group was in the middle of “Stand Up.” For a moment, Monsta X looked positively bewildered, only to find that it wasn’t a technical difficulty but instead a surprise from fans. Monbebes from around the world greeted Monsta X in Korean, English, and Spanish and assured the group that they would always stand with them. The viewers then broke into the chorus and sang “Stand Up” while the guys swayed and danced along.
3. ITZY Member Ryujin Shoulder-Shimmying Her Heart Out
K-pop quintet ITZY first established their status as soon-to-be juggernauts when they became the fastest girl group to win a music show nine days after their debut in 2019. At KCON:TACT 2020, fans were thrilled to hear “Dalla Dalla” and be graced with a first time performance of “Nobody Like You.” Though there was much to love about their set, Ryujin’s iconic shoulder shimmy in “Wannabe” was a true highlight. Her shoulder to hand choreography has become a fancam favorite of 2020 for a reason, after all. Who hasn’t attempted to do her opening dance in their bedroom?
4. TXT Absolutely Embodying Their Song Choreography
One of the most enjoyable things about watching TXT perform is that Big Hit Entertainment’s juniors do not waste a second of choreography. For example, take the dance routine for “PUMA,” which was fascinating because the quintet almost seems possessed by the spirit of the wild cat in the song’s name. It was also oddly satisfying to watch Yeonjun jump upon the backs of his members with elegance, grace, and a fixed stare. Honestly, the PUMA choreography should come with a “do not try this at home” warning.
5. EVERGLOW Covering TWICE
The ladies of EVERGLOW continued to remind fans that they are as enthralled by TWICE as the rest of us. The group surprised KCON:TACT viewers by covering TWICE’s “Feel Special.” This isn’t the first time EVERGLOW has paid homage to TWICE either — they did a rendition of “Fancy” at KCON in Thailand in 2019. Talent recognizes talent.
6. Mamamoo Being the Queens of Duality They Are
Despite being one member down (Hwasa was experiencing back pain), Mamamoo’s remaining members Solar, Moonbyul, and Wheein gave their all at KCON:TACT. The vocal powerhouses showed their masterful duality of being both sensual and bad]*ss in their performances of chart hits “Hip,” “Egotistic,” “Starry Night” and “Um Oh Ah Yeah.” They then turned on their chaotic, adorable energy during a meet and greet, where Wheein proved why she is the queen of aegyo and Solar started randomly kick-boxing all over the studio.
7. ASTRO Owning Their Special Stages
On fay 6 of KCON:TACT, idol group ASTRO blew fans away with their special stages, which ranged from the high intensity rap “Mad Max” and to “Have a Good Day” by JinJin and Rocky. Meanwhile, MJ brought charisma and energy to the party as he performed “Don’t Do It” while sporting two large flower necklaces; however, the stage that stole the show was a surprise dance collaboration from ASTRO’s Rocky and SF9’s Chani.
8. N.Flying Bringing Rock ‘n Roll to the Party
On the sixth day of festivities, N.Flying came to remind KCON viewers that pop, rap, and R&B are not the only genres where popular Korean artists are thriving. The now five-man group (Seo Dong Sung joined in January 2020) performed “Autumn Dream” and “Flower Fantasy,” and continued to make fans’ hearts melt during their meet and greet when they sang a ballad rendition of their song “Oh Really.”
9. ATEEZ Giving the Best Opening Performance on the Last Day
Who better to open the final day’s festivities than the group that won an MTV EMA for Best Korean Act in 2019, just one year after debut? ATEEZ took the stage with a special dance performance, where the backing track sampled their own song “Hala Hala.” The moment was extra special, as it marked the second year in a row that ATEEZ has opened up a day of KCON. Keep your eyes on what ATEEZ does next — they’re ones to watch closely.
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