LA’s K-pop X EDM scene epands across the U.S.

A wave of K-pop X EDM is sweeping across Southern California, with ‘Electrik Seoul’ at the forefront of the movement.

Since last year, the event series has been drawing packed crowds, blending the energy of K-pop with the pulse of Electronic Dance Music.

Now, SM Entertainment’s EDM label ‘ScreaM’ is capitalizing on that momentum, launching a North American tour to gauge the genre’s global potential.

Featuring artists J.E.B, 2Spade, IMLAY, and yunji, ‘ScreaM’ kicked off its tour in Toronto on Jan. 20 before making stops in New York, Washington, D.C., and Seattle. With attendance ranging from 100 to 200 people per show, the tour reaffirmed the growing demand for K-pop X EDM beyond LA.

“In Korea, fans usually come to see us specifically,” J.E.B said. “But in North America, people are drawn to the genre itself. We were unsure how the crowd would respond, but when we saw packed venues with fans jumping and singing along, all of our concerns disappeared.”

For the artists, the diversity of the audience—spanning different ethnicities and age groups—offered a new perspective. “During the show, people were asking for photos and handing us gifts,” yunji said. “It really felt like being a K-pop idol. Seeing American fans sing along to the K-pop tracks I grew up with made all the hard work leading up to this tour feel worth it.”

The tour also served as a strategic test for broader expansion. Zakky PD, who oversaw its promotion, described it as a market assessment ahead of a full-scale global push. “We plan to launch a nationwide U.S. tour in the fourth quarter of this year,” he said. “From there, we aim to expand into Japan, China, Australia, and Europe.”

Back in Korea, the convergence of K-pop X EDM is becoming increasingly mainstream. Since its launch in 2016, ‘ScreaM’ has been at the forefront of the dance music scene, helping to shape the evolving sound of K-pop.

“K-pop tracks are incorporating more dance music elements, making the crossover with EDM feel natural,” 2Spade said. “Beyond remixes, I want to release original tracks rooted in trap and bass music to give fans more ways to experience dance music.” IMLAY added that the energy from the tour would directly influence his upcoming projects.

The tour also saw ‘ScreaM’ collaborate with ‘Electrik Seoul’ on two Southern California events—one in Los Angeles on Jan. 23 and another in San Diego on Jan. 26. As K-pop X EDM continues to gain traction in Los Angeles, the partnership underscored a growing fanbase eager for more.

That momentum will continue in March when ‘Electrik Seoul’ makes its debut at ‘Beyond Wonderland’, one of Southern California’s largest EDM festivals. The event will mark another milestone in the genre’s evolution, offering a glimpse into what the future holds for the K-pop X EDM on a global scale.

BY YOONJAE JUNG [jung.yoonjae@koreadaily.com]