The Korea Herald

지나쌤

Lady Gaga criticizes Korean government’s decision

By 조지현

Published : April 28, 2012 - 11:41

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U.S pop star Lady Gaga wowed some 50,000 people in the audience at the Olympic stadium in Seoul with her provocative but creative stage costumes and performances.

Riding on to the the stage on a horseback, clad in a futuristic body suit and metal headpieces designed by Italian fashion power house Giorgio Armani specially for the concert, Lady Gaga made her first official appearance here, saying the past week felt like a month to her.

Lady Gaga stages her Lady Gaga stages her "Born This Way Ball" concert at the Olympic stadium in Seoul on Friday. (Yonhap News)


The 26-year-old artist indirectly criticized the Korean government that banned under 18s to attend her concert.

“I was told that your government decided that my shows should be 18 or over... So, I‘ll make sure it will be!”  Concert organizers checked IDs of the audience and asked them to wear a paper wrist band reading “18 above.”The state-run ratings board imposed the age limit for younger audience claiming her song “Just Dance” is inappropriate for the youth.

And captivate the audience, she did. Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way Ball”concert  mesmerized the Korean audience for over two hours with innovative and breathtaking stage installation and ideas.

Fans rush in to see Lady Gaga's concert in Seoul on Friday. (Yonhap News) Fans rush in to see Lady Gaga's concert in Seoul on Friday. (Yonhap News)


“(It was) imaginative and futuristic,” said Claire Hong, 45, who attended the concert with her girlfriend.

“It was fantastic and out-of-this-world show performance, but nothing like what the authorities and the Christian groups worried about.” 

Japanese fan Shoko Kimura, dressed as US pop diva Lady Gaga, pose as she waits for Gaga's concert in front of the venue in Seoul, South Korea, Friday. (AP) Japanese fan Shoko Kimura, dressed as US pop diva Lady Gaga, pose as she waits for Gaga's concert in front of the venue in Seoul, South Korea, Friday. (AP)


Lady Gaga's concert drew attention not only because the Seoul concert kicks off her world tour, but also because her concert was opposed by some conservative Christian groups here, accusing her of pornography and promoting homosexuality.

However, the singer did not comment on the Christian groups protesting before and during the concert.

Friday night's event was only the second concert by a foreign artist held at the country‘s largest sports and entertainment venue. The late Michael Jackson held a concert at the same arena in 1996.

After Seoul, Lady Gaga will take her pop hits and eccentric costumes to Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, New Zealand and perform six shows around Australia.

The pop artist is expected to hold 110 shows this year, including the initial 11 concerts in Asia.

Lady Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, became famous with the hits songs “Bad Romance” and “Poker Face.”


By Cho Chung-un
(christory@heraldcorp.com)


<한글기사>
 

레이디 가가, 공연서 한국정부 우회적 비판


팝스타 레이디 가가가 지난 27일 (금)에 잠실주경기장에서 열린 콘서트에서 우회적으로 한국정부를 비난했다. 

세계적 팝스타의 월드투어 첫 공연을 보러온 5만여명의 관중들에게 가가는“한국정부가 내 쇼를 18세 이상으로 규정했다고 들었다. 그래서 나는 확실하게 (18세 이상의 쇼를) 보여줄 것이다”라고 말했다.

가가는 미래에서 온듯한 바디슈트와 머리에서 허리까지 이어지는 메탈(metal) 장식을 입은채 말을 타고 한국의 관중들에게 첫모습을 공개했다.

그녀는 콘서트 준비를 위해 지난 20일 한국을 찾았지만, 별다른 이유를 없이 언론과의 접촉을 꺼려왔다.

몇몇 전문가들은 그녀가 곳곳에서 소규모로 벌여지고 있는 보수적 기독교 집단들의 시위를 더 자극하지 않기 위해서 언론의 나서고 있지 않고, 일부러 모습을 드드러내 않는 것 같다고 말했다.

콘서트 당일 대규모 집회를 예고했던 일부 대학생단체와 기독교단체들은 콘서트가 열린 주경기장 밖에서 1인 시위 혹은 20여명의 소규모 기도회 형식으로 시위를 진행했으나, 가가측의 경비가 워낙 삼엄해 거의 모습이 보여지지 않을 정도였다.

한편, 가가는 한국팬들에게 “서울에서의 지난 일주일이 자신에게는 한 달과 같았다”며 콘서트에 대한 기대감이 얼마나 컸는지 그리고 팬들을 얼마나 만나고 싶어했는지 표현하기도했다. 그러나 그는 곳곳에서 벌어지는 기독교 단체들의 시위에 대해서는 아무 말도 하지 않았다.


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