Latest news with #Kintex
Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Festival celebrating MapleStory to be held in Taipei, LA
Popular game festival set to go global after 2024 debut in Ilsan South Korean gaming company Nexon announced plans to bring its flagship massively multiplayer online role-playing game MapleStory to fans in Taipei and the US with the upcoming global festival, "Maple Con 2025." Marking the game's 20th anniversary, the event aims to foster community engagement through interactive programs that allow players to share memories and emotional connections forged through the game. "Maple Con 2025 Taipei," scheduled for August 2-3 in Taipei, Taiwan, will offer a diverse lineup including an official merchandise store, game-themed installations and photo booths, a merchandise customization experience, a user-driven stage event and a marketplace dedicated to fan-created MapleStory works. Nexon also announced plans to set a new Guinness World Record by assembling 'the largest human orange mushroom' with over 2,000 participants at the event. This follows a 2017 Taipei event where the company set the record for creating the largest human maple leaf, with 1,558 people forming the shape while wearing red hoodies. The festival will continue in the US with "Maple Con Los Angeles 2025" slated for late October, featuring a range of attractions celebrating two decades of MapleStory. Additional details are expected to be announced in the coming months. The inaugural "Maple Con," held in December at Kintex in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province, drew roughly 10,000 attendees over three days, highlighting the enduring enthusiasm for the franchise. With a worldwide user base estimated at 150 million, MapleStory is one of the most popular Korean games. By expanding "Maple Con" internationally, Nexon said it aims to reinforce the brand's presence and further develop the MapleStory IP both domestically and abroad.
Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Nexon's Maple Con goes global for 20th anniversary
Nexon said Tuesday that it will host 'Maple Con 2025,' a global festival celebrating its hit game MapleStory, in Taiwan this August and in the US this October. The event was first held in December 2024 at Kintex in Ilsan, just outside of Seoul, attracting 10,000 visitors over three days. This year, the event will expand overseas to celebrate the 20th anniversary of MapleStory's service in both Taiwan and the US. The game has earned massive global popularity, reaching approximately 150 million registered users outside of Korea. Nexon aims to use the event as a platform to further grow its international fanbase and solidify MapleStory as a leading global intellectual property. Maple Con 2025 Taipei will take place Aug. 2-3, featuring official merchandise stores, Maple Island-themed installations and photo booths, a stage program for fan participation and a marketplace for fan-made works. The event will also attempt to set a Guinness World Record with over 2,000 participants forming the 'world's largest human Orange Mushroom,' a nod to the game's beloved mascot. Maple Con Los Angeles 2025 will be held in late October, offering special attractions and activities to celebrate the game's two-decade legacy in North America.
Korea Herald
26-06-2025
- Korea Herald
Man posts murder threat of children, women
Suspect of online murder threat against 5 girls believed to have posted number of other threats, and allegedly possessed child pornography Seoul police recently handed over to prosecutors the criminal case of a 28-year man, who is accused of posting multiple threats of attacks against elementary school students and women in a number of locations across the country. The suspect in December claimed on an online community that he will go to a Seoul-based elementary school and "murder them all," posting names of the five female students there and a picture of a weapon. They were found to be a girl who the suspect made an unwanted advance to via social media, and her friends. It was reported that the suspect made a demand for videos and photos of the girl to her and her friends, which they declined and told her to stay away. A police investigation revealed other murder and terrorism threats posted by the man, which included those targetting women at locations in Seoul, Busan, and Bucheon of Gyeonggi Province. He also claimed to have planted a bomb at the Kintex convention center in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, and vowed to set the Constitutional Court on fire. It is also believed that he had owned and distributed child pornography. Officials caught the suspect in Siheung, Gyeonggi Province on June 16, and placed him under detention two days later. No evidence has been found as of yet indicating that he took any steps to carry out the attacks. When approached by reporters outside of the Seoul Jungnang Police Station on Monday and asked if he had actually planned to plant the bomb or murder people, he answered "No," and said he was "sorry" for posting the threatening posts. The suspect is currently facing criminal charges including violation of the Child Welfare Act, Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles from Sexual Abuse. He is also being charged with obstructing performance of of official duties by fraudulent means, as his online threats hindered the duties of police officials. Police said that it will continue investigating some of the charges, particularly one related to his alleged possession and distribution of child pornography.
LeMonde
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- LeMonde
In South Korea, fans celebrate end of military service for K-pop's BTS
When the blue lights went out, the crowd fell silent. On the outskirts of Seoul, thousands of fans from around the world gathered to celebrate the end of military service for BTS, the most famous K-pop group, and turned toward two giant screens. For several minutes, smartphones and light sticks in hand, they watched clips of performances by the seven-member group, the most popular South Korean group in the world. Every hour, this ritual set the pace for the BTS Festa 2025, a marketing event at Kintex, South Korea's largest exhibition center, in Goyang, northwest of Seoul, on June 13 and 14. The event also marked the group's 12 th anniversary and followed the successive discharges of four members on June 10 and 11, while the last member was released on June 21. Two others had already completed their service in 2024. To mark their return, a multitude of interactive booths featuring the boy band awaited fans: augmented reality photo ops, pre-recorded voice messages from the members, spaces dedicated to each idol's personal items and even a wall mural to color. In the evening, the luckiest were able to attend a concert by J-Hope, the group's iconic dancer, marking the end of his first world solo tour.
Korea Herald
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Fans waited four hours to enter, but ‘2025 BTS Festa' delivered like never before
The world tunes in as two-day offline event welcomes fans around the world The highly anticipated '2025 BTS Festa' kicked off Friday at Kintex in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, drawing BTS fans from around the world to celebrate the group's debut on June 13, 2013. The two-day event runs through Saturday as part of the annual 'BTS Festa,' which this year marks the band's 11th anniversary. "2025 BTS Festa" opened its doors at 10 a.m. in Halls 9 and 10 of Kintex Exhibition Center II. From the start, crowds stretched nearly a kilometer outside the venue, with the line showing no signs of shrinking -- even as the 7 p.m. closing time neared. Most BTS fans, known as Army, waited anywhere from two to five hours just to get in. Shaina, a Canadian fan who traveled from Canada, said she waited more than four hours to enter. 'It was tough to get in and rough standing in line. But the Festa itself is great. I'm a BTS fan and came a long way — I'm really enjoying it,' she said. Over the years, the event has evolved into a global tradition for both BTS and Army, with fans traveling to South Korea each June to take part in the festivities. This year's offline event opened to the public from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. without any need for reservations. To support international attendees, staff fluent in English, Japanese and Chinese were stationed throughout the venue. Event materials, including the official website and printed guides, were made available in four languages. 'I've been Army since 2017 and I'm a fan of RM. Of course I love BTS and all their festivals — that's why I'm here,' said Jennie, a fan from Indonesia. 'It's my first time attending BTS Festa. This event is so cool,' added Rini, another Indonesian fan. 'I've been a BTS fan for two years. It feels amazing that my favorite member, Jimin, got discharged.' To help thousands of fans navigate the venue more comfortably, real-time crowd density updates for each exhibition zone are posted every 30 minutes on the official website. A paid shuttle bus service also operates between Kintex GTX Station and Goyang Sports Complex, where J-Hope's solo encore concert 'J-Hope Tour 'Hope on The Stage' Final' is being held Friday. The venue featured a wide range of interactive installations and photo spots, including the Army Bomb Photo Spot and Whale Photo Spot. Starting at noon, a coordinated light show using fans' 'Army Bomb' light sticks lit up the hall every hour on the hour, creating a striking visual spectacle. Fans also explored exhibition spaces such as the "Voice Zone," where they could hear BTS members' recorded messages, and the "Spotify Playlist Zone" offering member-recommended tracks via NFC. The 'BTS Locker' display offered a glimpse into each member's unique style and preferences. Hands-on sections such as the 'DIY Zone,' 'Game Zone' and 'Coloring Wall' added interactive fun to the experience, while the 'Trophy Zone' showcased BTS' major awards, allowing fans to reflect on the group's accomplishments and shared journey with Army. 'My favorite spot was the capsule. But I also liked the Coloring Wall,' said Malani, a fan visiting from Boston. Kyla, who came from New York, agreed: 'I loved the Coloring Wall where we could draw and write messages to BTS. I also liked the AI thing — it was super cool.'
