Going to a Korean Cosplay Event at Sixty. What I Learned After Visiting—“A World Anyone Can Enjoy”

— What I felt outside the KINTEX venue —

On March 14 and 15, 2026, “Comic World 330 Ilsan” was held at KINTEX in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province.

Comic World is an event centered on the sale and exhibition of doujin works—fan-made manga, games, and character creations by amateur artists—and is known for having a culture similar to Japan’s Comic Market.

It is held not only in Ilsan but also in cities across Korea such as Busan, Daegu, Suwon, Ulsan, and Cheongju, and has become an established place for subculture exchange among younger generations.

There is also a stage set up inside the venue, where dance, singing, and various performances take place, along with popularity voting events.

In fact, I often pass by near the venue. On event days, I have seen cosplayers heading toward the venue many times in the streets.

“What kind of event is this, really?”

Out of that simple curiosity, I decided to bring my camera and visit the venue this time.

You can feel the excitement even outside the venue

When I arrived at KINTEX, many young people had already gathered outside.

Cosplayers, fully transformed into their characters from head to toe, were taking photos freely and recording videos with their smartphones.

Some groups were even practicing choreography, likely making final adjustments before going on stage.

Even just standing outside the venue, the energy of the event was clearly palpable.

To be honest, however, I don’t know much about recent anime or games. There were many times when I couldn’t immediately recognize which character a cosplayer was portraying.

Still, I imagined that if I did know, the scene would be even more fascinating. With that thought, I continued observing the people around me.

Why even beginners can enjoy it

Since I had brought my camera, it felt like a waste to leave without taking any photos. Of course, taking pictures without permission would be a breach of etiquette.

But then again, how would people feel if “just an older man with a camera,” neither a fan nor media, suddenly approached them?

That thought crossed my mind.

In moments like this, it’s better not to overthink. I decided to gather some courage and speak to someone.

I noticed a boy leaning against a pillar, looking at his smartphone, and asked, “May I take your photo?”

He looked surprised for a brief moment, but quickly smiled and kindly agreed.

Once I managed to take the first photo, the psychological barrier dropped significantly. Watching for the right timing, I approached a few more people, and everyone responded warmly.

I felt that there was a gentle and welcoming atmosphere throughout the event.

The joy of photography and a world expanded by AI

When I later tried editing the backgrounds of the photos using AI, I was amazed by the transformation.

The results looked as if the subjects had truly stepped into an anime world.

I was honestly impressed, thinking, “Can creating another world really be this easy?”

At the same time, as a photographer, a new question arose.

“If AI can enhance images this much, isn’t a smartphone camera good enough?”

So I asked about this, and received an interesting answer:

The greatest strength of a high-end camera lies in the “quality of the original data.” AI is good at enhancing images, but it cannot fully create information that does not exist.

A full-frame camera:
・has a larger sensor
・captures more light
・produces RAW data with much more information

In other words, the ‘material’ that AI works with is overwhelmingly better.

That made sense. Thinking about it that way, there was definitely value in bringing a heavier camera.

The appeal of this event

What I felt after actually visiting the venue was that the scale of the event was much larger than I had imagined.

Looking at social media, I could also see cosplayers participating from Japan.

Japanese anime has long been very popular in Korea, and this time as well, I saw many cosplayers from Japanese works such as “Demon Slayer” and “NARUTO.”

Once again, I realized that subcultures like anime and games play a significant role in cultural exchange between Japan and Korea.

To summarize:

You can casually experience a non-everyday world
You feel close to the cosplayers
The atmosphere is welcoming even for beginners
It’s great practice for photography
A unique space where Japanese and Korean cultures blend

That’s how I would describe it.

Conclusion: If you’re unsure, just take one step

To be honest, before going, I thought it was “a world that had nothing to do with me.” But after actually visiting, that impression changed significantly.

If you feel even a little curious, there’s no need to overthink it. Even just watching from outside is perfectly fine.

Even that alone will surely leave you with something meaningful.

As we get older, we tend to hesitate to go to new places. But experiences like this—where you feel “I’m glad I went”—are still out there waiting.