May 18, 1999 - U.S. pop star Michael Jackson will stage a concert in Seoul on June 25 to raise funds for needy children around the world, a concert organizer said Tuesday. U.S. Musicians Kenny G, Lionel Richie, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder and Boyz II Men will join the concert. Marcel Avram, head of Germany's Mama Concerts and Rau, told a news conference the concert -- ''Michael Jackson and Friends: What More Can I Give'' -- will also be brought to Munich, Germany. on June 27. Mama Concerts and Rau will co-organize the concert with Jackson's MJ Company. The concert is sponsored by the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Red Cross International and the Nelson Mandela Children's Funds. Jackson said, in a video-taped statement shown at the news conference, he had wanted to help the suffering children ''for a very, very long time.'' ''To help these children is not charity. It's our duty,'' he said. Funds raised in the concerts will be spent on children in North Korea, Kosovo and Africa. The four-hour Seoul concert will be held at the Olympic Stadium from 7 p.m., according to the organizer. In April 1998, Jackson had announced he would hold the concert last October inside the demilitarized zone bisecting the Korean Peninsula into North and South Korea. But plans were canceled due to negative public opinion about holding the concert when the countries were undergoing economic difficulties.

Jackson also held concerts in Seoul in October 1996. [aol]

May 18, 1999 - Update:^ American pop superstar Michael Jackson and a group of international artists will hold a benefit concert for world's needy children in Seoul and Munich next month. At a press conference at the Hotel Shilla in Seoul yesterday, Marcel Avram, president of Mama Concerts and Rau, a German promotion company announced that the four-hour concert "Michael Jackson and Friends. What More Can I Give" will be held at the Olympic stadiums of Seoul and

Munich June 25 and 27, respectively. "I can guarantee you this event will happen. It will be the biggest fund raising concert in Asia," said Avram. After a couple of delays, the concert, which was originally planned to help starving North Korean children, will be expanded to help the suffering children around the world.

Designating Korea and Germany as the site of the concert has meanings. Korea is the last divided nation in the world and June 25, the set date of the concert, was the day the Korean War started 49 years ago. Meanwhile, for Germany, it is the tenth year anniversary of the falling of the Berlin Wall, which spearheaded the country's reunification. "But it is more than politics and even music. It is to wake the people to donate for the needy children of the world," Avram said. The Mama Concerts & Rau and MJ Company will organize the concerts and Cheil Communications Inc. will be the promoter in Seoul. Other guests beside Jackson include Gloria Estefan, Boyz II Men, Kenny G, Lionel Richie, Diana Ross, Luther Vandross, Stevie Wonder, Roxette, Scorpions, Alla Pugatchova, Philip Kirkorow, Vanessa Mae and Modern Talking. Asian singers, Coco Lee of Taiwan and Andy Lau of Hong Kong,

China of will also sing. A number of Korean artists will make appearance in both concerts but it is not decided who will, according to Avram. Actress Elizabeth Taylor and Slash, the guitarist of the group Guns N'Roses, will appear as guests.

The stars will move to Munich after the Seoul concert. Proceeds from the concert will be dispersed throughout the world by the International Red Cross, South African President Nelson Mandela's Children's Fund and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). In a video statement, Jackson said "To help these children is not charity. It is our duty. "I've wanted to help the suffering children for a very, very long time. These children are in such pain because of the greed and political disagreements of us, adults." Tickets will cost 80,000 120,000, 220,000 and 300,000 won and will be on sale beginning May 27 at all branches of Hanvit Bank.For ticket information, call (02) 3780-3150, 3151 and on the concert, call (02)3780-2872, 2873 or the surf the Internet at www.cheil.co.kr.