K-pop has expanded globally, with the United States becoming one of its largest markets. According to The Korea Times, K-pop album exports to the U.S. reached $74.12 million in the first half of 2026, surpassing Japan and China.
However, the United States being recognized as a major market is not enough. Across tours and events, fans will find that California, home to 29% of the U.S. Korean population according to Pew Research, is often one of the main stops.
But when does the K-pop audience get tired of the expenses that come with seeing their favorite artists?
Major experiences like KCON LA continue to draw fans toward the West Coast. From flights and hotels to tickets, traveling often to see K-pop artists is not feasible for many fans on the East Coast. For fans outside of California, major stops often mean looking toward cities like Chicago or New York.
Once the numbers pile up, you begin to wonder, what if I made my own convention? And that is exactly what two sisters from Washington, D.C. did.
From Fans to Founders
Their introduction to K-pop started with BTS, opening the door for them to dive deeper into the world of K-pop. What started as two fans experiencing the community firsthand eventually turned into them helping put their own region on the K-pop map.
One random day, Ashlee knocked on Glow’s bedroom door and asked, “Do you want to start a convention?”
Glow replied, “Sure.”
From there, that random idea turned into something much greater. KaptureCon.
It was not something they immediately knew how to do. “There’s no guide,” Ashlee shared when discussing everything that comes with running a convention. A lot of the process was self-taught, with Ashlee keeping notes that were essentially, “learn this, learn that,” as new responsibilities arrived.
Despite the hurdles of navigating something new, they credited much of their success to the complementary skills each sister brought, helping bring the event to life.
So Why D.C.?
Beyond the costs and long travel that often come with seeing K-pop artists outside of the DMV (D.C., Maryland, and Virginia), they both saw something growing in the region.
In 2026 alone, K-pop acts such as BTS, MONSTA X, TEN, ONE PACT, and 82MAJOR have all made their way through the region. The area was even included in ATEEZ’s offline activation campaign for GOLDEN HOUR : Part.4, with a clue placed in Virginia.
For Glow and Ashlee, that growth only solidified their stance on keeping KaptureCon rooted in the DMV. A big reason for that is that it was built for the DMV community.
KaptureCon’s First Year
Between a few hours of sleep, stress, learning experiences, and wondering how they would make it happen, it all became worth it when KaptureCon came to life in 2025, bringing a dedicated K-pop convention experience to the D.C. metro area.
The event sold out, featuring performances from AMPERS&ONE, BLACKSWAN, and HOHYUN.
The experience felt surreal to both of them, even in the days leading up to the event. One of the moments that made it hit differently was seeing AMPERS&ONE mention KaptureCon and eventually make their way to an event Glow and Ashlee had created themselves.
“Dance is a big part of KaptureCon,” Ashlee shared.
The event hosted exclusive dance workshops led by Audrey Lane (@audreylane), Michael Le (@justmaiko), and Analisse (@analisseworld), along with a dance competition that gave East Coast talent a space to showcase their skills.
That love for dance also extended beyond the competition through random dance plays, where anyone who knows the choreography can jump in and dance along when a song comes on.
KaptureCon brought fans a full day of programming, from interactive activities, fansigns, and meet-and-greets to workshops, panels, booths, cultural experiences, and eventually a live concert.
But even after the event came to an end, the work didn’t. They got right back to gathering feedback, learning from their first year, and figuring out how they could make the second one even better.
Community Is the Goal
What better way to cater to fans than by being fans yourselves? That is something Glow and Ashlee understand well. If there is one thing that makes K-pop special, it’s the community that comes with it.
With that perspective, they created KaptureCon as a space where fans, artists, dancers, and others within the industry can share what they love and feel like they are part of something bigger.
When asked what they wanted people to say about KaptureCon, they both took a moment to really think about it. Their answer came back to being able to tell a story afterward. They want someone to be able to say things like, “this happened,” “I met this person,” or “so-and-so walked right in front of me.”
And many attendees did just that, taking to social media afterward to share their experiences.
For Glow and Ashlee, that sense of community was never meant to stop once KaptureCon ended. Throughout the year, they continue creating opportunities for fans to come together, from cupsleeve events to sleepovers, extending that experience beyond the convention.
Treat People How You Want to Be Treated
It’s not just the event itself that speaks volumes about who Glow and Ashlee are and what KaptureCon represents. Their philosophy is simple. Treat people how you want to be treated.
They want artists, dancers, staff, and everyone involved to feel respected and comfortable. And although that may seem like the bare minimum, it can sometimes be overlooked in the rush of working behind the scenes.
Glow and Ashlee wanted the artists and their staff who had traveled hours to be part of KaptureCon to feel like their time in the DMV was about more than simply arriving for the event and leaving afterward. Before KaptureCon, they took them out to Dave & Buster’s, giving everyone the chance to relax and enjoy some time before the event.
That same level of care extended to the dancers, who they view with the same respect as artists, recognizing dance as its own form of artistry.
Just the Beginning
“Just know this is the beginning,” Glow said when asked about the future of KaptureCon. “When you see it, you’ll know,” she added, hinting at what is still to come in 2027.
“We dream big,” Ashlee added.
That bigger vision is already taking shape. The upcoming convention is expected to welcome more than 1,000 fans, artists, and industry professionals throughout the day, while expanding its scale and programming beyond its first year.
Event Details
Date: Saturday, May 29, 2027
Convention venue: National Union Building
Convention hours: 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Concert venue: Warner Theatre
Concert doors: 5:30 p.m. | Show: 6:30 p.m.
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