2026 K-EXPO USA at LA LIVE in Los Angeles, on Saturday, May 23 to Sunday, May 24
MCST
K-EXPO USA, one of the largest K-culture and business events in North America, is coming to downtown Los Angeles this coming weekend, May 23-24, at LA LIVE.
Hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST), led by Minister Choi Hwi-young, and organized by the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), led by acting President Hyunseok Yoo, the expo centers on South Korea’s biggest export to the world on lifestyle, culture, and industry. All of your favorite Korean products – food, beauty, fashion, technology, and entertainment – in one place. The event is also co-organized by the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT), Korea Institute for Cosmetic Industry, Korea SMEs and Startups Agency (KOSME), and Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles.
The expo is expected to bring 126 companies across a wide range of industries and over 40,000 visitors. Beyond the traditional expo, the event also “aims to serve to connect industry professionals, brands, and consumers through various cultural and business programs (in collaboration with local organizations and the City of Los Angeles).” Major participating companies and organizations include Netflix Korea, Nongshim, NAVER WEBTOON, CJ ENM, LINE FRIENDS, along with over 100 Korean companies, startups, and government-related organizations.
In this photo taken on October 7, 2021, a large digital screen on a building displays the logo of Netflix, producers of the South Korean hit series “Squid Game”, beyond a South Korean flag hoisted above a pavement in Seoul. – A dystopian vision of a polarised society, Netflix smash hit Squid Game blends a tight plot, social allegory and uncompromising violence to create the latest South Korean cultural phenomenon to go global. – TO GO WITH AFP STORY SKOREA-US-TELEVISION-SOCIAL-SQUID GAME,FOCUS BY CLAIRE LEE (Photo by Anthony WALLACE / AFP) / TO GO WITH AFP STORY SKOREA-US-TELEVISION-SOCIAL-SQUID GAME,FOCUS BY CLAIRE LEE (Photo by ANTHONY WALLACE/AFP via Getty Images)
AFP via Getty Images
With Los Angeles being one of the biggest hubs for Korean and Korean Americans, as well as the home of the entertainment capital of the world, Hollywood, the Exposition being there made sense. On May 8, the City of LA, MCST, and KOCCA hosted the official proclamation ceremony for the 2026 K-EXPO USA at Los Angeles City Hall to showcase the mutual support for the event. The City presented an official proclamation that recognized “K-Content as an important contributor to LA’s cultural and economic landscape.”
In addition to the Expo, a K-pop concert will be held at Peacock Theater on May 24, featuring Korean American hip-hop artist and music mogul Jay Park, his rookie group LNGSHOT, and rising K-pop group P1Harmony. The concert will also include a special opening performance by a Taekwondo demonstration team and K-Pop Cover Dance Festival USA Champions.
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA – DECEMBER 20, 2025: Lngshot members O-Yul, Kim Ryul, Woojin and Louis, along with Jay Park(the third), attend the red carpet event of the Melon Music Awards 2025 (MMA2025) at Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro-gu, Seoul. (Photo by The Chosunilbo JNS/Imazins via Getty Images)
ImaZins via Getty Images
On May 23, opening day, there will be K-content industry seminars and a Netflix Press Conference. Netflix Korea will have its own presentation, unveiling exclusive behind-the-scenes content from popular Korean productions. Korean actor Ryu Soo-young will discuss the current landscape and future of Korean content and entertainment in the U.S.
In addition to the expo, from Tuesday, May 26, to Wednesday, May 27, the Business-to-Business (B2B) program at JW Marriott Los Angeles will host 1:1 business meetings between Korean companies and more than 150 buyers from North and Latin America, and is expected to help foster new partnerships for the global content industry.
What exactly is this K-EXPO?
On May 23-24 at LA LIVE in downtown Los Angeles, the K-EXPO offers fans of Korean content a chance to see, enjoy, and experience it firsthand while fostering interaction between audiences and businesses. With the growing popularity of Korean culture (beauty, food, entertainment, sports, tourism, etc.), the expo creates cultural connections between Korea and the U.S., supported by the Korean government and organizations.
“2026 K-EXPO USA is a comprehensive event that showcases the full spectrum of Korean lifestyle culture, from content and entertainment to food and beauty,” Yoo said in a press release. “We will focus all our efforts on creating a space where global audiences can fully experience K-culture while also generating meaningful export and business outcomes for participating companies.”
What will it have exactly?
2026 K-EXPO USA at LA LIVE in Los Angeles, on Saturday, May 23 to Sunday, May 24
MCST
The expo will cover a wide range of industries, including food, beauty, AI, technology, gaming, entertainment (TV, film, variety, music), and webtoons. There will be several zones: K-Content Zone, K-Beauty Zone, K-Pop Zone, K-Food Zone, Hangang Ramen Station, K-Star Zone, K-Lifestyle Zone, K-Cheering Zone, and NETFLIX with Korea.
Several of the biggest brands and companies will be there, including NAVER WEBTOON, CJ ENM, LINE FRIENDS, Netflix Korea, Nongshim, and more industry folks will be present. Netflix will be doing several presentations, going behind the scenes with your favorite K-dramas.
Nongshim, the producers of the popular Shin Ramyun, will operate the “K-Spicy Food Zone” and the “Hangang Ramyun Zone,” offering free tasting experiences using instant noodle cooking stations. The exhibition will “provide local visitors with an immersive experience of Korea’s everyday food culture.”
For those who love K-beauty,t the Korea Cosmetic Industry Institute will offer personal color analysis and customized makeup demonstrations for visitors. Led by Korean professional makeup artists, visitors will have access to the latest K-beauty trends and products.
There will also be several performances, cooking shows, and demonstrations throughout the event: K-POP Cover Dance Festival in USA, K-LIVE: DJ Performance, K-FOOD Cooking Show, and K-BEAUTY Makeup Show.
Where and when is this K-EXPO happening? Is this going to cost me?
From Saturday, May 23 – Sunday, May 24, 10 am – 6 pm at the Event Deck at LA LIVE.
The K-EXPO is absolutely free.
What about this K-Pop concert?
With the purchase of a ticket, the K-pop concert will take place on Sunday, May 24, at 6 pm at the Peacock Theater.
The concert experience will include traditional Korean martial arts performances, K-pop cover dance stages, and live performances by popular K-pop artists such as Jay Park, P1Harmony, and LNGSHOT.
The opening performance will be by the Kukkiwon Taekwondo Demonstration Team. Following their recent spotlight on America’s Got Talent, where they received the Golden Buzzer, the team will present the martial art in a dynamic, high-impact performance piece that showcases their aerial stunts and powerful choreography.
The special stage will be for the winning team in the K-pop Cover Dance Festival in the USA, which went through a rigorous three-stage process (online video submission, live final performances, and evaluation of judges’ scores and audience voting). With approximately 700 teams across the U.S., only one will be performing at that concert. They will then have the opportunity to advance to the World Final (all expenses paid) in Korea.
The main concert will feature performances by leading K-pop artists, including Jay Park, P1Harmony, and LNGSHOT.
P1Harmony [MOST WANTED] World Tour
Michael H. KimWhat is this Business Matching Event?
From May 26 to May 27, at the JW Marriott Diamond Ballroom at LA LIVE, there will be one-on-one meetings to match your business with K-content professionals in animation, broadcasting, character, cartoon/webtoon, food, business solutions, fashion, game, music/entertainment, tech-converged content, beauty, and travel & leisure.
Buyers must register for this event.
For more information on the 2026 K-EXPO USA, click here.