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South Koreans v. Lady Gaga: Conservative Christians Pray Singer's Concert Doesn't Happen

PHOTOS: South Korean Christian Group Prays Lady Gaga Goes Away
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Senior Editor for Mobile and Innovations, The Huffington Post

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If you thought "Just Dance" wasn't that great, you're not alone. The Associated Press has released photos it says depict a South Korean Christian group praying that Lady Gaga's April 27th concert in Seoul be canceled, on the grounds that "Just Dance" is not appropriate for public consumption.

South Koreans under the age of 18 have already banned from attending the concert, the AFP reports. Initially, the show was deemed suitable for anyone over the age of 12, but the Korean Media Rating Board upped the age of entry.

The photos, which are available for viewing in the gallery below, show members of a church group holding defaced signs of the pop singer and passionately praying.

One of the prayer rally's organizers told the AFP that he hopes to cancel the show so that "homosexuality and pornography will not spread around the country." Likewise, the Korean Association of Church Communication pledged to stop Korean youth from being "infected with homosexuality and pornography."

Earlier in April, Lady Gaga tweeted hopes that the government would change its mind about the 18+ age restriction on her show. The New York Times reported that Marilyn Manson, Jay-Z and 50 Cent have had similar restrictions put on their concerts. None of the popstar's other Asian dates have an age restriction on them.

Of course, concerts in the United States are frequently restricted to those over the ages of 18 or 21, though the availability of alcohol -- not the spectre of teens becoming "infected" with homosexuality -- is usually the given reason.

Gaga is launching her Born This Way Global Tour in Seoul and will then go on to perform in select other Asian cities before commencing 21-show European run. The singer arrived in the country on Friday and was spotted in a surprisingly glamorous dress with a seriously plunging neckline.

PHOTOS: South Koreans Try to Pray Away Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga Protested
(01 of18)
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Filipino Christian youths flash the thumbs-down signs as they chant "Stop the Lady Gaga concerts" during a rally, calling for the cancellation of the singer's May 21-22 concerts, outside the Pasay City Hall in Pasay, south of Manila, Philippines, Friday, May 18, 2012. The youths said they are offended by Lady Gaga's music and videos, in particular her song "Judas" which they say mocks Jesus Christ. Lady Gaga's concert was marked also by protest from evangelical groups in South Korea and the singer scrapped an Indonesia concert following protests from conservative Muslims. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) (credit:AP)
(02 of18)
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Filipino Christian youths chant "Stop the Lady Gaga concerts" during a rally, calling for the cancellation of the singer's May 21-22 concerts, outside the Pasay City Hall in Pasay, south of Manila, Philippines, Friday, May 18, 2012. The youths said they are offended by Lady Gaga's music and videos, in particular her song "Judas" which they say mocks Jesus Christ. Lady Gaga's concert was marked also by protest from evangelical groups in South Korea and the singer scrapped an Indonesia concert following protests from conservative Muslims. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) (credit:AP)
Lady Gaga(03 of18)
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FILE - Internationally famed performer Lady Gaga arrives at the Sungshan airport in Taipei, Taiwan, in this May 16, 2012. About 70 Christian youths in the Philippines have chanted "Stop the Lady Gaga concerts" at a rally calling for the singer's shows in Manila next week to be canceled. (AP Photo/Wally Santana, File) (credit:AP)
Lady Gaga(04 of18)
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Internationally famed performer Lady Gaga arrives at the Sungshan airport in Taipei, Taiwan, Wednesday, May 16, 2012. Gaga will be performing two shows from her "Born This Way Ball" Asia tour May 17 and 18. (AP Photo/Wally Santana) (credit:AP)
(05 of18)
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Filipino Christian youths chant "Stop the Lady Gaga concerts" during a rally, calling for the cancellation of the singer's May 21-22 concerts, outside the Pasay City Hall in Pasay, south of Manila, Philippines, Friday, May 18, 2012. The youths said they are offended by Lady Gaga's music and videos, in particular her song "Judas" which they say mocks Jesus Christ. Lady Gaga's concert was marked also by protest from evangelical groups in South Korea and the singer scrapped an Indonesia concert following protests from conservative Muslims. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) (credit:AP)
(06 of18)
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Filipino Christian youths display placards during a rally, calling for the cancellation of Lady Gaga's May 21-22 concerts, outside the Pasay City Hall in Pasay, south of Manila, Philippines, Friday, May 18, 2012. The youths said they are offended by Lady Gaga's music and videos, in particular her song "Judas" which they say mocks Jesus Christ. Lady Gaga's concert was marked also by protest from evangelical groups in South Korea and the singer scrapped an Indonesia concert following protests from conservative Muslims. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) (credit:AP)
(07 of18)
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(credit:AP)
(08 of18)
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Filipino Christian youths chant "Stop the Lady Gaga concerts" during a rally, calling for the cancellation of the singer's May 21-22 concerts, outside the Pasay City Hall in Pasay, south of Manila, Philippines, Friday, May 18, 2012. The youths said they are offended by Lady Gaga's music and videos, in particular her song "Judas" which they say mocks Jesus Christ. Lady Gaga's concert was marked also by protest from evangelical groups in South Korea and the singer scrapped an Indonesia concert following protests from conservative Muslims. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) (credit:AP)
(09 of18)
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A civic group member hangs a banner showing a defaced picture of U.S. pop star Lady Gaga on a wall to call for the cancellation of her concert, in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, April 23, 2012. Lady Gaga's April 27 concert in Seoul is being banned to minors under the age of 18 by the Korea Media Rating Board, as the Gender Equality Ministry considers one of her songs to be performed at the show as "inappropriate" for minors. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (credit:AP)
(10 of18)
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A Christian holds a demonstration showing pictures of U.S. pop star Lady Gaga to call for the cancellation of her concert, in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, April 23, 2012. Lady Gaga's April 27 concert in Seoul is being banned to minors under the age of 18 by the Korea Media Rating Board, as the Gender Equality Ministry considers one of her songs to be performed at the show as "inappropriate" for minors. The letters read" Cancellation of a concert." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (credit:AP)
(11 of18)
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Members of a civic group hang a banner of defaced U.S. pop star Lady Gaga on the wall to call for the cancellation of her planned concert, in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, April 23, 2012. Lady Gaga's April 27 concert in Seoul was banned to over-18s by the Korea Media Rating Board as Gender Equality Ministry considers one of her songs to be performed at the show as "inappropriate" for minors. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (credit:AP)
(12 of18)
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A South Korean man takes pictures of a picket showing U.S. pop star Lady Gaga as a Christian stages a protest to call for the cancellation of her concert, in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, April 23, 2012. Lady Gaga's April 27 concert in Seoul was banned to over-18s by the Korea Media Rating Board as Gender Equality Ministry considers one of her songs to be performed at the show as "inappropriate" for minors. The letters read " Cancellation of a concert." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (credit:AP)
(13 of18)
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A civic group member prepares a huge banner of defaced U.S. pop star Lady Gaga to call for the cancellation of her concert, in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, April 22, 2012. Lady Gaga's April 27 concert in Seoul was banned to over-18s by the Korea Media Rating Board as Gender Equality Ministry considers one of her songs to be performed at the show as "inappropriate" for minors. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) (credit:AP)
(14 of18)
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A South Korean Christian prays during a service as they call for the cancellation of a concert of U.S. pop star Lady Gaga at a church in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, April 22, 2012. Lady Gaga's April 27 concert in Seoul was banned to over-18s by the Korea Media Rating Board as Gender Equality Ministry considers one of her songs to be performed at the show as "inappropriate" for minors. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) (credit:AP)
(15 of18)
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South Korean Christians pray during a service as they call for the cancellation of a concert of U.S. pop star Lady Gaga at a church in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, April 22, 2012. Lady Gaga's April 27 concert in Seoul was banned to over-18s by the Korea Media Rating Board as Gender Equality Ministry considers one of her songs to be performed at the show as "inappropriate" for minors. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) (credit:AP)
(16 of18)
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South Korean Christians pray during a service as they call for the cancellation of a concert of U.S. pop star Lady Gaga at a church in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, April 22, 2012. Lady Gaga's April 27 concert in Seoul was banned to over-18s by the Korea Media Rating Board as Gender Equality Ministry considers one of her songs to be performed at the show as "inappropriate" for minors. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) (credit:AP)
Lady Gaga(17 of18)
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U.S. pop diva Lady Gaga waves upon her arrival at Gimpo International airport in Seoul, South Korea, late Friday, April 20, 2012. Lady Gaga arrived here one week before kicking off her third world tour with a Seoul concert. (AP Photo/Ilgan Sports, Yang Kang-sam) KOREA OUT (credit:AP)
Lady Gaga(18 of18)
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U.S. pop diva Lady Gaga arrives at Gimpo International airport in Seoul, South Korea, late Friday, April 20, 2012. Lady Gaga arrived here one week before kicking off her third world tour with a Seoul concert. (AP Photo/Ilgan Sports, Yang Kang-sam) KOREA OUT (credit:AP)

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