-고 attached to verbs
Sometimes I will see 고 on a verb and its not to express 'and' or to express a present progressive (고 있다) . It's just there.
ex)
background context; they were taking a photo and person 2 was holding a belt in the photo.

person 1 : 여기 벨트 들고 있어.
person 2 : 벨트 안 들고 한 번 더!

I see this all the time, and I never know the meaning behind it. Is the -고 just reiterating the present progressive from person 1's sentence?

Question

-고 attached to verbs
Sometimes I will see 고 on a verb and its not to express 'and' or to express a present progressive (고 있다) . It's just there.
ex) 
background context; they were taking a photo and person 2 was holding a belt in the photo.

person 1 : 여기 벨트 들고 있어.
person 2 : 벨트 안 들고 한 번 더!

I see this all the time, and I never know the meaning behind it. Is the -고 just reiterating the present progressive from person 1's sentence?

Answer

When you say -고 as present progressive meaning, almost all there will be '있다' right after. 
울고 있다. 쓰고 있다. 맞고 있다 
먹고 있다. 안고 있다. 앉고 있다.
자고 있다.

Answer

In your sentences, 고 is "a connective ending used when the preceding statement and the following statement happen in order".(and then). It is similar to -고서
여기 벨트 들고 있어. = 여기 벨트 들고 서 있어.(In here, stay with holding the belt/hold the belt and then stand still)
벨트 안 들고 한 번 더! = 벨트 안 들고 한 번 더 서 있어!(Once more, stay without holing the belt/ don't hold the belt and stand still)

Answers · 3

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