Thousands of K-pop fans descended on Los Angeles State Historic Park on Oct. 17 and 18 for the inaugural 82WORLD: LA festival. Developed by LA-based K-pop entertainment company hello82, the “fan-first” festival blended live concert stages with interactive activities connecting artists and fans.
For Jae Yoon Choi, hello82’s co-founder and CEO, 82WORLD is more than a festival—it’s a state of mind.
“It is our world made for fans and made by fans. It is something that we have been planning from the time I started the company in 2018. We hope that people see this as the biggest thing we have done, because it is, but we also see it as more of the same, just next level,” Choi said.
At the heart of the festival was hello82’s effort to create different ways for artists and fans around the world to connect. Choi continued: “From Day 1, as we started building the hello82 brand on YouTube, to our label and distribution achievements, to a growing number of fan spaces, to live performances, we are always evolving as we look for new access points and new ways to surprise and delight fans. We strive to create memorable moments for fans and artists alike. This festival is the next iteration of that. We have a deep desire to keep growing and challenging ourselves.”
For the inaugural 82WORLD, hello82 brought together established K-pop acts and rising groups. Day 1 was headlined by P1Harmony and featured performances by xikers, AMPERS&ONE, 8TURN, BE:FIRST, cosmosy, and GIRLSET. Day 2 was dedicated to ATEEZ and “Tiny Island,” an all-day fan experience celebrating the group.
Day 1 kicked off with activities at the Play82 stage, where festival goers warmed up with games called “This or That.” Members of P1Harmony, xikers, AMPERS&ONE, and 8TURN interacted with fans and found out who knew them best.
After the games, girl groups fiveALIVE, cosmosy, and GIRLSET took the hello82 Stage for short, 15-minute performances. Each group made an impression in its brief set. cosmosy especially stood out with melodic vocals and energetic dance moves.
The evening continued with 30-minute sets from the boy groups, each bringing something different to the stage. 8TURN kicked things off with a fun medley, followed by AMPERS&ONE, who brought rousing energy. Many groups cover BTS, but AMPERS&ONE impressed with a roaring performance of “Boy In Luv.” The group’s boyish charm won over the crowd, especially during sing-along songs like “Sweet & Sour” and “He + She = We.” Near the end of its set, the group announced that it would release its first full-length album in November.
One of the night’s most talked-about sets came from xikers. Their high-energy performance and explosive choreography were captivating. The crowd was stunned when the group incorporated the back-arch choreography from Adela’s “Ain’t In LA” into its performance of “Breathe.” xikers also covered NCT 127’s explosive hit “2 Baddies.” The 10-member group knew how to leave a lasting impression.
Japanese group BE:FIRST switched things up with a distinctive hip-hop and R&B set that showcased their vocal range as they performed with minimal backtrack. The microphones were on, and every vocal inflection and harmony was heard on songs like “BRUCE WAYNE” and “SCARS.” The group earned huge cheers when it closed with melodic covers of the Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way” and the Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back.”
It’s about time P1Harmony headlined a festival. The group has consistently released stellar songs, and its catalog is full of crowd-pleasers made for a festival setting. P1Harmony brought exciting energy to the stage, with a setlist that offered a little of everything. The group opened by hyping up the crowd with “Triple 7,” then moved straight into hits including “Pretty Boy,” “UNIQUE,” and “DUH!” The members’ ments were full of funny, unfiltered moments that offered an authentic glimpse of their personalities. Leader Keeho was especially engaging with the crowd—articulate, quick-witted, and always ready with a joke. The group then slowed things down with “Back to You” and “Stupid Brain,” performing with just the members and their microphones to showcase their vocal talents.
P1Harmony brought the energy back up with “Heartbeat.” The whole crowd sang along to its fun chorus, and Jongseob’s closing rap added a playful touch. “Follow Me” also highlighted the members’ vocals, balancing soft, whispery melodies with powerful chants in a structure that kept the audience jumping. “Flashy” was just as fun: its repeated “flashy” and “pump it” lines had everyone singing, yelling, and chanting along. The group’s energy was infectious, and the members even teased that new music is coming soon. After filming a TikTok, P1Harmony closed the night with the anthems “Dancing Queen” and “Last Call,” getting everyone on their feet and dancing like no one wanted the show to end. The group seemed reluctant to call it a night, too, returning for an encore performance of “ICE (VVS).”
