Lady Gaga's Korea Monster Tour Protested by Christian Group
South Koreans Hold Prayer Rally Over 'Born This Way Ball' at Seoul's Olympic Stadium
Lady Gaga is set to kick off her "Born This Way Ball" at Seoul's Olympic Stadium in South Korea on Friday, but the popular performer is facing a wave of protests from a South Korean Christian group claiming the singer's lyrics are "lewd" and that she promotes an "unhealthy" attitude toward sex.
The group, called Alliance for Sound Culture, held a Sunday prayer rally against the singer, praying that Lady Gaga's concert would not be realized so that "pornography will not spread around the country," according to Agence France-Presse.
The Alliance for Sound Culture also put up posters across the city last week arguing that Lady Gaga spreads "unhealthy sexual culture" through "lewd lyrics and performances." The posters were taken down by city officials.
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The group plans to hold protests outside the headquarters of the concert organizers, Hyundai Card, as a preamble to the concert.
South Korea's Media Rating Board has already banned children under the age of 18 from attending the show, deeming it inappropriate for young audiences.
Lady Gaga is set to preform across Asia as part of her "Born This Way Ball" concert series before heading to Europe for her second leg of the tour, but South Korea is not the only Asian nation where controversy arose over the singer's future show.
Just last month, Indonesian Muslim leaders expressed their discontent over the American singer's scheduled performance in the country.
Members of Indonesia's Council of Ulema (MUI) argued that that American pop superstar is a threat to the moral fabric of their society and pushed for her upcoming concert, scheduled to take place in Indonesia's capital of Jakarta, to be canceled. The leaders maintained that the concert is "haram," or forbidden, and called on Muslims in the country to not attend the concert.
"(The concert is) intended to destroy the nation's morality," MUI chairman Cholil Ridwan said.
"My opinion is based solely on religious tradition," he said. "(She) is too sexy on stage, this could induce a carnal desire among people of different sexes."
"She is from the West, and she shows her private parts while performing," he added.
