Son Heung-min Joins LA FC, j-hope’s Concerts—K-pop and K-sports Capture Los Angeles

As Korean content generates the second-highest revenue among non-English-language originals in the global streaming market after Japanese content, the influence of K-pop and Korean culture continues to spread throughout American society. On August 7 in Los Angeles, a historic moment unfolded where K-pop and K-sports received simultaneous attention. Son Heung-min, the legendary player from the English Premier League’s Tottenham, officially joined the U.S. Major League Soccer team LA FC. His transfer fee was reported to be the highest in league history at 26.6 million dollars, approximately 36.8 billion won. BMO Stadium, LA FC’s home field, was filled with Korean-language welcome messages, and Son Heung-min’s jersey numbered 7 sold out within two days despite being priced at 194.99 dollars, about 270,000 won. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass hailed Son Heung-min’s signing as a “historic day,” while a city council member from Koreatown expressed hope that he would help the U.S. win the CONCACAF World Cup next June. The Dodgers and various basketball and football teams in the LA area also issued joint welcome messages. The 320,000 Korean Americans in LA responded even more enthusiastically. Four months earlier, at the same BMO Stadium, another K-pop milestone was achieved. j-hope of BTS sold out both shows of his “HOPE ON THE STAGE-LA” concert in April, attracting over 28,000 attendees. Performing at BMO Stadium after completing his military service during a world tour, j-hope became the first K-pop solo artist to perform there, stating that “my first solo stadium concert holds great significance and is truly historic for me.” BMO Stadium, with its capacity of 22,000 seats, serves as a key hub for K-pop. Artists such as BLACKPINK, TWICE, and STRAYKIZ have performed there, and this year ATEEZ (in August), ENHYPEN (in August), TOMORROW X TOGETHER (in September), and SEVENTEEN (in October) will also take the stage. According to global analytics firm Parrot Analytics, Korean content contributed the second-highest global revenue among non-English-language originals in the fourth quarter of 2024, after Japanese content. This represents measurable financial returns beyond mere popularity. Netflix’s commitment to investing 2.5 billion dollars in Korean content over four years is based on this strategic assessment. The core of Hallyu lies in its expansion across generations. Data from Parrot Analytics shows that among the top five most sought-after global music artists in the first half of 2025, three are Koreans, and approximately 60% of their fans belong to Generation Z. This indicates that K-pop’s fan base, which was previously centered around teenagers and women, is expanding to include older adults, men, and various other generations and genders. The Washington Post analyzed this success by stating that “as the K-pop industry grows, Hallyu has flourished, further highlighting and amplifying the appeal of K-pop.” The fact that both Son Heung-min and K-pop are entering the heart of mainstream American culture through Los Angeles symbolizes that Hallyu has evolved from a mere trend into a structural global cultural force.