Kara (South Korean group)

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Kara (Korean: 카라; Japanese: カラ; often stylized in all caps) is a South Korean girl group formed by DSP Media in 2007. The group's current lineup is Gyuri, Seungyeon, Nicole, Jiyoung, and Youngji. Kara made their debut in March 2007 with their first studio album, The First Bloooooming. Originally a quartet composed of Gyuri, Seungyeon, Nicole, and Kim Sunghee, Kara showcased a strong female image and a mature R&B sound. However, their debut was a commercial failure. The following year, Sunghee left the group due to educational issues, and members Goo Hara and Kang Ji-young were added. Kara's image changed to a "pretty but natural" concept with the release of their first mini-album, Rock U, in July 2008. They saw an increase in recognition in 2009, where they received significant attention for the "butt dance" choreography in "Mister". In 2010, Kara began to promote their music in Japan by signing to Universal Music Japan's subsidiary label, Universal Sigma. Their Japanese debut was a commercial success, where they became the first foreign female group to top the Oricon Singles Chart in 30 years. Kara's second Japanese album, Super Girl (2011), sold over 740,000 copies by the end of 2012. They recorded sales of over one million physical singles in Japan within two years, making them one of the fastest-selling South Korean acts in the country. In 2014, Nicole and Jiyoung decided not to renew their contracts with DSP Media and left the group. Following their departures, a reality TV show titled Kara Project aired to select a new member to join the group. Seven trainees from DSP Media took part in the program, and the winner, Hur Youngji, became the last member to join Kara. On January 15, 2016, DSP Media announced Gyuri, Seungyeon, and Hara's contracts expired and left the company. For Kara's fifteenth anniversary in 2022, members Gyuri, Seungyeon, Nicole, Jiyoung, and Youngji reunited and released Move Again. They embarked on their fifth and sixth Karasia tours in 2024 and 2025, respectively.