LeftField Media Launches KPEX Korean Pop Culture Expo in NYC

Anime NYC organizers will debut KPEX over Memorial Day Weekend in 2027. LeftField Media

LeftField Media,a division ofClarion Events, is launching KPEX: Korean Pop Culture Expo, a three-day event focused on Korean entertainment and culture scheduled for May 29-31, 2027, at the Javits Center in New York City.

KPEX follows LeftField Media’s Anime NYC (pictured), which drew 172,000 attendees in 2026 at Javits Center. Photo: LeftField Media

The event will feature programming across K-Pop, K-Dramas, K-Comics, K-Games, K-Food and K-Beauty, according to the company. Daily programming will include panel discussions, premiere screenings, workshops, autograph sessions and an expo floor. Evening concerts will feature artists from Seoul.

KPEX is led by event industry veterans Greg Topalian, co-creator of New York Comic Con; Robert Khoo, co-creator of PAX; and Peter Tatara, co-creator of Anime NYC. LeftField Media’s portfolio includes Anime NYC, Anime Frontier, Awesome Con and Rose City Comic Con.

Launch partners include the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), a governmental agency focused on expanding Korean content worldwide, and Ize Press, the U.S. publisher of Korean comics and novels including Solo Leveling and Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint.

“From Oscar wins and K-Pop stars performing during the World Cup, to record-breaking streaming success, Korean entertainment has become a beloved fixture in American pop culture with over 25 million fans all across the country,” said Peter Tatara, co-founder of KPEX. “We hope we can now give its fans, creators, and the companies at the heart of K-Culture a place to call home in the center of New York City.”

KPEX: The logo reveal for the Korean Pop Culture Expo, a three-day event focused on Korean entertainment and culture scheduled for May 29-31, 2027, at the Javits Center in New York City. Photo: LeftField Media

The event will include a B2B component for industry professionals alongside fan programming, offering companies and creators opportunities for product debuts, media exposure and business connections.

KPEX follows LeftField Media’s Anime NYC, which drew 172,000 attendees in 2026 at the same venue. Kelly Comboni, CEO of LeftField Media and Clarion Connect, said the company is working with Infinitize and IW Group, agencies with experience in Korean culture and entertainment, to develop the event.

Tickets go on sale September 18 at 12 p.m. Eastern Time. The organizers plan to announce special guests and programming throughout the fall.