SEOUL: South Koreans aged under 18 have been banned from attending an upcoming concert by US pop diva Lady Gaga after it was rated unsuitable for younger audiences, according to organisers.

Lady Gaga will begin her third concert tour, "The Born This Way Ball", on April 27 at the Olympic Stadium in Seoul.

The show had an initial age rating of 12 and older but the Korea Media Rating Board, a state watchdog, has adjusted it upwards, said event organiser Hyundai Card.

"Our company will respect the board's decision and refund all ticketholders younger than 18," a Hyundai Card official told AFP, declining to be named.

Some religious groups in South Korea have opposed the concert, saying Lady Gaga has advocated homosexuality and performed in an explicitly sexual manner.

"Our Christian community needs concerted action to stop young people from being infected with homosexuality and pornography," the Korean Association of Church Communication said in a statement.

Lady Gaga is expected to do 110 shows this year following on the success of her smash hit "Born This Way".

The eccentric star, who has a record number of almost 22 million followers on Twitter, will kick off her world tour in Seoul.

From there she will take her pop hits and extravagant costumes to Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, New Zealand and Australia, where she will stage six shows. AGENCIES