U.S. pop diva Lady Gaga has decided to kick off her 2012-13 world tour at Olympic Stadium in Seoul because she wants to interact with enthusiastic Korean fans, a tour promoter in Seoul said.
The world star unveiled the schedule of her tour via her Twitter on Wednesday, surprising her fans in Seoul with the announcement that it will kick off here on April 27.
An official of Live Nation Korea told The Korea Herald that Gaga will hold her Seoul concert at the Olympic Stadium, one of the biggest sports venues in Korea.
Live Nation is one of the largest entertainment companies in the world and is the international tour promoter for Lady Gaga’s worldwide concerts.
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File photo-Lady Gaga poses for photographers at a press conference to promote her debut album 'The Fame' in Seoul. (Yonhap News) |
When asked why she chose Seoul as the first city of her upcoming world tour in Asia Pacific instead of Japan, Asia’s largest music market, the official said, “Lady Gaga said she just loves Korea.“
“She is looking forward to meeting her Korean fans who showed enormous passion and enthusiasm during her last showcase in Seoul (in 2009),” said the official who asked not to be identified.
The pop star believes that the Korean audience will interact with her shocking performance better than any others, he added.
The singer reportedly will visit Seoul a month prior to the concert to rehearse and hold the first press conference here. Live Nation Korea, however, said both plans are “not confirmed yet.”
Live Nation expects to draw at least 35,000 people to the April concert.
World pop star Michael Jackson performed for 65,000 Koreans at the venue in 1996.
Starting in Seoul, Gaga will then take her pop hits and eccentric costumes to Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, New Zealand and perform six shows around Australia.
The 25-year-old pop artist is expected to hold 110 shows this year including the initial 11 concerts in Asia.
“Just saw first photos of the stage being built. Just peed all the way down to my Chanel shoes!!” Gaga wrote on Twitter last month.
All the stage settings are being built in the United States and will be transported here, Live Nation Korea said.
The pop superstar has already revealed the concept of her stage setting, a medieval castle, to her massive fanbase on Twitter ― just under 19 million followers.
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)
