South Korea

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. more >>

The death of Kim Jong-il has many wondering about the future of Christianity in North Korea, and the implications it could have on the underground church there.

Colorado-based mission organization Seoul USA isn’t very hopeful that persecution for Christians will decrease. Chief Operations Officer Matt Dubois told The Christian Post that he doesn’t expect to see any big changes, and that there will be continued persecution. It might even get worse as Kim Jong-un, the late dictator’s son, consolidates his new power.

Regardless, Seoul USA hopes to continue its work no matter what changes do come. North Korea still remains one of the most closed-off countries in the world to the Gospel. more >>

Seven members of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), the largest global evangelical body, including the organization's CEO, the Rev. Dr. Geoff Tunnicliffe, held a joint Thanksgiving service with the Christian Council of Korea (CCK) in Seoul, Monday.

The theme of this special sermon concerned the forthcoming 2014 WEA General Assembly, which is to take place at the Asem Hall Coex Convention Center in Seoul starting on Oct. 27, 2014.

"Three years from now, thousands of WEA leaders from around the world will gather to receive a fresh vision on how as followers of Christ, through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit we can see the world impacted through God's transforming power," Tunnicliffe said Monday. "As we pray and work together in preparation for this General Assembly, we are trusting that it will be the most historic event drawing thousands of leaders from almost every nation on earth." more >>

The sudden death of a South Korean missionary in China is rousing suspicions over possible North Korean involvement as the deceased man worked closely with refugees from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

The 46-year-old missionary, only identified as Kim by the Korea JoongAng Daily, died after collapsing on the street while waiting for a taxi in Dandong city, which lies on the border of China and North Korea.

Though the Chinese police found no traces of poison in their initial autopsy, diplomats from Seoul’s foreign ministry, taking all necessary precautions, asked Chinese authorities to protect South Koreans near the North’s border. more >>

South Korea soldiers have accidently opened fire at a civilian airplane after mistakenly thinking it was from North Korea, a military official from South Korea explained Saturday.

The soldiers were located on Gyodong Island, just off of South Korea's west coast near the border with North Korea, when they saw an aircraft approaching overhead. Two soldiers fired off 99 K-2 rifle rounds at the Asiana Airlines flight, which luckily was out of range and later landed completely undamaged.

The airplane had 119 civilian passengers on board, and was descending at the time to a scheduled landing at Seoul's Incheon International Airport. more >>

The South Korean government has reportedly expressed its anger towards the National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK) for violating legal restrictions in place to govern exchanges between North and South Korea.

According to ENInews the South Korean government may sue the NCCK as it claims the Church Council did not receive government permission before sending $87,000-worth of aid support to a North Korean Christian group.

The current escalation of events comes following rising tensions between Christian groups wishing to send food and medicines north across the border, and the South Korean government, which has maintained a resolute policy of overseeing all exchanges with its neighbor. more >>