Kara (카라, often stylized as KARA) is a popular girl group from South Korea signed with Daesung Entertainment (DSP). The band name Kara comes from the Greek Word "chara" (χαρά, lit. "joy"), which the group interpreted to mean "sweet melody".[1]
Kara started as a four-member group and debuted with their first album The First Blooming in 2007. In 2008, Kim Sunghee departed the group due to parental pressure, and two members were brought in; as such, the group consists of five members: Park Gyuri, Han Seung-yeon, Goo Hara, Nicole and Kang Jiyoung. The five-member band achieved their first number one song with "Honey".[2] Other successful singles include "Pretty Girl", "Wanna", "Mister", and "Lupin." continue
INFOS
*Company (Korea): DSP Media same as SS501; Universal Music Japan (Universal Sigma - Japan)
*Official Fanclub name: KAMILIA (KARA+ Familia)
*Official Fanclub color: PEARL PEACH Kamilia (Pearl Peach) Cheering @Dream Concert 2011
*Official KARA Light Stick: ★
*Official Websites: KOREA; JAPAN; KARAYA - Online Store; KARA UNIVERSAL MUSIC JAPAN HOME PAGE; KARA GOM TV PAGE; KARA ORICON PAGE
*Official fancafes: Daum;Naver
INTERNATIONAL FAN FORUM: KARAHOLIC.COM
- visit karaholic for their youtube channels (english subs)
KARA OFFICIAL YOUTUBE CHANNEL: DSPKARA
KARA CF YT channel:KARAnumber1
Other International Sites:
KARA international Sites
WithKARA Thailand; KARAChina; KARAPhilippines; KARA Malaysia;
KARA Indonesia; KARA Singapore, KARAHongKong;KARA Vietnam;KARA World, KARA Multiply, k a r a � m e l, KARA Facebook: 1,2;
KARAmelpop
AWARDS
--- Rookie's Album of the Month - May 2007 (Ministry of Culture & Tourism Award)
--- Rookie of the Month - August 2007 (Cyworld Digital Award for July '07)
--- March 05, 2009 - # 1 "Honey" on Mnet Mcountdown
--- March 08, 2009 - # 1 "Honey" on SBS Inkigayo (Mutizen Award)
--- March 12, 2009 - # 1 "Honey" on Mnet Mcountdown
--- March 26, 2009 - # 1 "Honey" on Mnet Mcountdown (Triple Crown)
--- August 30, 2009 - # 1 "Wanna" on SBS Inkigayo (Mutizen Award)
--- November 21, 2009 - Best Dance Award (Mnet Asian Music Awards)
--- 2009 - Melon Top Ten Award
--- January 3, 2010 - Female Artist Award (16th Korean Entertainment Arts Award)
--- February 3, 201019th - Seoul Music Awards : Bonsang Award
--- March 4, 2010 #1 "Lupin" on Mnet M!Countdown
--- March 11, 2010 #1 "Lupin" on Mnet M!Countdown
--- March 12, 2010 #1 "Lupin" on KBS Music Bank
--- March 14, 2010 #1 "Lupin" on SBS Inkigayo (Mutizen Award)
--- March 19, 2010 #1 "Lupin" on KBS Music Bank
--- March 26, 2010 #1 "Lupin" on KBS Music Bank
--- 52nd Japan Record Awards: Best Project Award
--- December 10, 2010 #1 "Jumping" on KBS Music Bank
--- December 12, 2010 #1 "Jumping" on SBS Inkigayo
--- December 25, 2010 KBS’s “2010 Entertainment Awards - Show/Variety’ category (Goo Hara)
--- 25th Japan Gold Disc Awards: The Best 3 New Artists (International)
--- 25th Japan Gold Disc Awards: New Artist of the Year(International)
--- January 13, 2011, Ministry of Culture: Hallyu Honorary Award (Music Category)
Other Achievements/Records broken (Japanese Market)
"MISTER"
-First FOREIGN girl group (in 29 years and 8 months) to enter ORICON's Daily & Weekly Top 10 Chart with debut album/single (Rank 5, August 2010)
-Received "Gold" (100,000 units sold) certification from RIAJ (digital & physical sales) (September 2010)
-First Korean Girl Group to receive "Platinum" (sold 250,000) in Downloads certified by RIAJ (November 2010)
-First Korean Girl Group to receive "Double Platinum" (sold 500,000) in Downloads certified by RIAJ (December 2010)
-"Best rookie artist" by Oricon in 2010 (source: http://news.nate.com...20101220n12440)
-First Korean Girl Group to receive "Triple Platinum" (sold 750,000) in Downloads cetrtified by RIAJ (April 2011)
"JUMPING"
-Received "Gold" Certification from RIAJ (digital and physical sales) (December 2010)
-Received "Double Platinum" from RIAJ ringtone downloads - Double platinum (500,000+) (March 2011)
-Received RIAJ full-length cellphone downloads - Platinum certificate (250,000+)
-Received RIAJ PC downloads - Platinum certificate (250,000+)
"Girl's Talk"
-First album by a non-Japanese Asian girl group (in 6 years and 9 months) to sell more than 100,000 copies in its first week (November 2010)
-Received "Gold" Certification for physical sales from RIAJ (November 2010)
-First Korean Girl Group to receive "Platinum"(sold 250,000) for an album (January 2011)
-First Foreign Female Group to sell 300,000 copies for an album since Destiny's Child (February 2011)
-Girl's Talk is KARA's first #1 album in Oricon Daily when it ranked #1, 12 weeks after its release (February 2011)
"KARA BEST"
-First Korean girl group to enter Top 10 of ORICON Weekly ALBUM Chart (November 2010)
-First Korean group since the '90s to release an all-Korean album that is able break the 100k copies barrier in Japan (November 2010)
"BEST CLIPS"
-First FOREIGN female artist to get #1 in the composite DVD ranking chart since its inception in 1999 (February 2011)
-Received Gold status from RIAJ (February 2011)
-Most amount sold for a "music video collection" for a female artist; not including live performance DVDs in its first week (February 2011)
-First ever FOREIGN ARTIST to be #1 for TWO consecutive weeks in Oricon DVD composite Ranking Chart since the charts implementation in 1999.(February 2011)
-Only 6 foreign artists have made it to #1 on the Oricon Weekly DVD Composite Ranking: Kara, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Tohoshinki (TVXQ), Junsu/Jejung/Yuchun (JYJ) and Michael Jackson
"Jet Coaster Love"
-First Foreign Female Group to rank #1 in it’s FIRST WEEK of release since the creation of the Oricon Single Ranking back in January 1968, it has been 43 years and 4 months. (April 2011)
-First Foreign Female Group in 30 years to rank #1 in the Oricon charts all together (April 2011)
-First Korean Girl Group to top the Oricon Weekly Single Chart (April 2011)
-Received "Gold" certification from RIAJ (April 2011)
April 2011, KARA has sold 1 MILLION units of their releases.
Sources: KARA wikipedia, RIAJ, Allkpop, Karaholic
MEMBER PROFILES
NAME: PARK GYURI - 박규리
NICKNAME: Gyul, Gyul Omma, Goddess , Mirror Princess, LeGYulas, Shikshin, Carrot
D.O.B: May 21, 1988
Position: Vocals
Role in KARA: Leader
Blood Type: AB
Height: 162cm
Favorite Color: Purple
Favorite Season: Spring and autumn
Favourite Korean gasoo: H.O.T
Motto: Whatever the situation, let's think positively
FAVORITE WESTERN DISH: Pizza
MOST ATTRACTIVE PART OF HERSELF: Collar bone ◊Eyes
SKILLS / TALENT: Singing, Acting, Impersonations, "Goddess Concept" on T.V.
HOBBIES / INTEREST: Food, Reading, Watching Movies
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND: Currently attending Dongduk Women's University - major in Broadcasting Communications
Twitter: ♥
NAME: HAN SEUNGYEON - 한승연
NICKNAME: Ham, Choding, Big-smile-no-eyes
D.O.B: July 24, 1988
Position: Vocals
Role in KARA: Second-eldest/small sister
Blood Type: A
Height: 160cm
Favorite Color: Pink
Shoe Size: US Woman's size 6 (Korean size: 235mm)
Motto: Go with what you believe in
Favorite Food: BuDae Soup/Steam pot
Treasured Object: Anything with music
FAVORITE KOREAN ARTIST: G.O.D
MOST ATTRACTIVE PART OF HERSELF: Inside eyelids
SKILLS / TALENT:Singing, Dancing, Impersonating Gollum (Lord of the Rings)
HOBBIES / INTEREST: Reading, Listening to music, Watching Anime, Making random cute sounds, Hugging her mongshil Nicole, Teaching Nicole wrong Korean words just for fun
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND: Graduated from Tenafly High School (New Jersey), Currently attending Kyunghee University - Majoring in Film Arts and Theatre
NAME: JUNG NICOLE - 정니콜
NICKNAME: Yongjoo, Tweety, Cole, Nikori
D.O.B: October 7, 1991
Position: Vocals, Rapper
Blood Type: A
Height: 164cm
Favorite Color: Orange
Favorite Korean gasoo: Shinhwa
Location: California, USA
SKILLS / TALENT: Dancing, Singing, Rapping, Can speak English fluently and some Spanish, Cooking, TV Personality
HOBBIES / INTEREST: Listening to music, Violin, Food, Watching movies, Eating, Reading, Cooking, Practicing
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND: Attended Global Christian School, Attended Laurel Springs School, finished 11th grade, hopes to finish school but is too busy with KARA and solo activities at the moment
Twitter: ♥
NAME: GOO HARA - 구하라
NICKNAME: Koala, Honey, Gura
D.O.B: January 13, 1991
Position: Vocals
Height: 164cm
Weight: 43kg
Favorite Korean gasoo: Fin.K.L
Hobbies/Interests: Dancing
Skills: Dancing and Modeling
Educational Background:
- Attended Kwangjoo Academy of Music (same school with Big Bang's Seungri - they are good friends)
- Currently attending Dongmyeong Woman's High School of Industry and Information
Twitter: ♥
NAME: KANG JIYOUNG - 강지영
NICKNAME: Jing, Kang Jara (turtle), Kang Ah Ji (puppy), Rice-Cake (because of her fair skin tone)
D.O.B: January 18 1994
PLACE OF BIRTH: Gyeonggi-do, Paju
FAVORITE KOREAN ARTIST: Big Bang
SKILLS / TALENT: Singing, Aegyo, Eye smiling
HOBBIES / INTEREST: Reading, Listening to music, Dolls, Letters, Dogs
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND: Graduated from Kwanghee Middle School, Currently attending Muhak Women's High School
Twitter:♥
NAME: KIM SUNGHEE - 김성희
NICKNAME: Sungja, Sungbok
D.O.B: May 17, 1989
FAVORITE COLOR: Green
FAVORITE FLOWER: Rose
FAVORITE KOREAN ARTIST: Park Hyo Shin
SKILLS / TALENT: Singing, Impersonating Jeon Ji Hyun, Singing Korean classical music while impersonating Gummy
HOBBIES / INTEREST: Dancing, Listening to music, Making random sounds
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND: Graduated from Goojung High School (2007), Attending Han Yang Girls' University for Vocal Music
► What does KARA stand for? How did they come up with the name?
--- KARA means "sweet melody" in Greek. When the group got together, they were discussing names. The leader, Park Gyuri, suggested Kara. The members took a strong liking to it, and decided to keep it thereafter.
► What is Park Gyuri's background ethnicity?
--- Gyuri's facial features certainly stand out. There has been no confirmation whether she is full-blooded korean or not.
► Was Jung Nicole born in the states?
--- It is said that Jung Nicole was born in Korea, but moved to the America while she was still a baby. She did not live in California all her life. She was currently residing in California before she went back to Korea to train.
► Did Han Seungyeon live in the US?
--- Yes. In some of her teen years she attended a school in Tenafly, New Jersey.
► I thought Park Gyuri was the one that lived in the US!
--- There has not been any confirmed accounts whether she has or hasn't been in the U.S. It is unlikely that she lived in the America, regardless.
► How long were they trained?
--- Sunghee was trained in 3 years, then other 3 members joined the company & they were trained together in 1 year, and finally debuted under the name "KARA" in March 2007. No official information is revealed but Hara and Jiyoung are believed to have the trainee time of less than half a year.
► Did Sunghee have any activity as a soloist before becoming a KARA member?
--- She has never officially debuted as a soloist. However, Sunghee participated in the OST of the drama "Three leaf clover" (2004) and sang the title song "Then it's done".
► Do they live together?
--- Yes, they share a dorm. Gyuri & Seungyeon are room mates while Nicole, Hara & Jiyoung share another room. Watch their YTN Interview, Selfcam or Zoo Zoo Club series to have a look at their place <3
--- KARA just recently (2010) moved to a new dorm with 4 bedrooms, so 3 members would have a solo room while the other 2 (Hara and Jiyoung) would be sharing.
DISCOGRAPHY
Title: The First Bloooooming
Type: Album
Language: Korean
Label: DSP Entertainment
Release Date: March 29, 2007
Version: CD
Buy Album: Click Here
01. 못 지킨 말 [Broken Promise]
02. Break It [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wr8JVRETmRs" target="_blank">MV</a>]
03. 맘에 들면 [If U Wanna] [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSMcpvLVBlg" target="_blank">MV</a>]
04. Secret World
05. Don't Be Shy
06. 우리 둘 [The Two Of Us]
07. I'll Be There
08. 눈물 지우개 [Tear Eraser]
09. Break It (Instrumental)
10. 못 지킨 말 [Broken Promise] (Instrumental)
Title: Rock You
Type:Mini Album
Language:Korean
Release Date: July 25, 2008
Versions: CD
Buy Album: Click Here
01. Rock U MV
02. Baby Boy
03. 이게뭐야 [What's this?]
04. Good Day
05. Wait
Title: Good Day Season 2
Type: Digital Single
Language: Korean
Release Date: Octorber 14, 2008
01. Good Day Season 2 MV
02. Good Day Season 2 (Instrumental)
Title: Pretty Girl
Type: Mini Album
Language: Korean
Release Date: December 4, 2008
Versions: CD
Buy Album: Click Here
01 . 하니 [Honey]
02 . Pretty Girl MV
03 . 요를레이 [Yoreullae]
04 . My Darling
05 . 나는..(Ing) (I am.. Ing)
Title: Honey (Special Edition)
Type: Mini Album
Language: Korean
Release Date: February 14, 2009
Versions: CD
Buy Album: Click Here
01 . 하니 [Honey] MV
02 . 이게 뭐야 [Yoreullae] (Plastic Ver.)
03 . Pretty Girl (Bani Ver.)
04 . 굿데이 [Good Day] 시즌 (Season) 2
05 . Pretty Girl (School Rock Ver.) � Bonus Track
Title: Same Heart
Type: i-Musician Digital Single
Language: Korean
Release Date: June 4, 2009
Title: Second Album - Revolution
Format: CD
Release Date: July 30, 2009
Language: Korean
Record Label: Daesung Entertainment
Buy Album: Click Here
01. 미스터 ("Mister")
02. Wanna MV
03. 마법 ("Magic")
04. 몰래몰래 ("Secretly")
05. Let It Go
06. Take A Bow
07. AHA
08. 똑 같은 맘 ("Same Heart")
09. Wanna (Instrumental)
10. 마법 (Instrumental)
Title: 3rd Mini Album - Lupin
Format: CD
Release Date: February 17, 2010
Language: Korean
Record Label: Daesung Entertainment
Buy Album: Click Here
01. Tasty Love
02. Lupin MV
03. Umbrella
04. Rollin'
05. Lonely
Title: We're With You
Format: Single
Release Date: May 3, 2010
Language: Korean
Record Label: Daesung Entertainment
01. We`re With You - Kara (카라)
02. We`re With You (Remix) - Kara (카라)
03. We`re With You (Inst)
04. We`re With You (Remix) (Inst)
Title: 2ME (We Online Part.2)
Format: Digital Single
Released: 2010.08.31
Language: Korean
Record Label: DSP Media
Tracklist
1.2Me
2.2Me (MV Ver.)
3.2Me (Inst.)
Title: 4th Mini Album - Lupin
Format: CD
Release Date: November 15, 2010
Language: Korean
Record Label: Daesung Entertainment
Buy Album: Click Here
Tracklist
1. Love Is
2. Jumping
3. Burn
4. Binks
5. With
6. Jumping (Inst)
JAPANESE RELEASES
Title: MISTER
Format: Single
Release Date: August 11, 2010
Language: Japanese
Record Label: Universal Music Japan
01. Mister (Japanese)
02. Umbrella (Japanese)
03. Mister (Inst)
04. Mister (Korean - Bonus Track)
more info and versions: LINK
Title: KARA BEST 2007-2010
Format: Full Album
Release date: 2010.09.29
Language: Korean
Recored Label: Universal Music Sigma
01. Mr.
02. LUPIN
03. Honey
04. Pretty Girl
05. Wanna
06. Rock U
07. Umbrella
08. Watashi wa... (ing) (私は…)
09. Tasty Love
10. AHA
11. Break It
12. Good Day
more info and versions: here
Title: Jumping (ジャンピン)
Release Date: 2010.11.10
Language: Japanese
Label: Universal Music Japan
CD Tracklist
01. Jumping (ジャンピン)
02. Burn (バーン)
03. Jumping (Instrumental) (ジャンピン)
94. Jumping (Original Version) (ジャンピン (オリジナル・ヴァージョン)) (CD Only First Press Bonus Track)
more info and versions: here
Title: Girl's Talk
Format: Full Album
Release date: 2010.11.24
Language: Japanese
Recored Label: Universal Music Sigma
1. Jumping (ジャンピン)
2. Mister (ミスター)
3. Baby I Need You (ベイビー・アイ・ニード・ユー)
4. Sweet Days (スウィートデイズ)
5. SOS
6. Love Is (ラブ・イズ)
7. Binks (ビンクス)
8. Umbrella (アンブレラ)
9. Burn (バーン)
10. Lupin (ルパン)
11. Sweet Days (Original Korean Version) (スウィートデイズ(オリジナル・韓国語バージョン)) (CD Only First Press Bonus Track)
12. Love Is (Original Korean Version) (ラブ・イズ(オリジナル・韓国語バージョン)) (CD Only First Press Bonus Track)
13. Binks (Original Korean Version) (ビンクス(オリジナル・韓国語バージョン)) (CD Only First Press Bonus Track)
12. Good Day
more info and versions: here
Title: Jet Coaster Love (ジェットコースターラブ)
Release Date:
2011.03.16 (Digital Single)
2011.04.06 (Physical Version)
Language: Japanese
Label: Universal Music Japan
CD Tracklist
01. Jet Coaster Love (ジェットコースターラブ)
02. Ima, Okuritai "Arigatou" (今、贈りたい「ありがとう」)
03. Jet Coaster Love (Instrumental) (ジェットコースターラブ)
04. Ima, Okuritai "Arigatou" (Instrumental) (今、贈りたい「ありがとう」)
05. SOS (Army Slick’s 2011 bavtronic mix) (CD Only First Press Bonus Track)
DVD Tracklist
01. Jet Coaster Love (Music Clip) (ジェットコースターラブ)
more info and versions: here
OST PARTICIPATION
Title: "Three-leaf clover" OST (SBS TV Drama)
Release Date: 2005
--- Then Its Done - Kim Sunghee
Title: "Chasing Kangnam Mother" OST (SBS TV Drama)
Type: OST Album
Language: Korean
Release Date: July 25, 2007
Versions: CD
<b>Buy Album: Click Here
--- Fighting - KARA
Title: Butterfly
Language: Korean
Release Date: September 29, 2008
Title: "Boys Over Flower" 2nd Soundtrack (KBS TV Drama)
Type: OST Album
Language: Korean
Release Date: March 25, 2009
Versions: CD
Buy Album: Click Here
--- Love is Fire - KARA
Title:"Miracle" in "Why Did You Come To Our Home" OST
Type: OST Album
Language:Korean
Release Date: April 2, 2009
Versions: CD
--- 기적 (Miracle) - Han Seungyeon (KARA)
Title: "Pick the Stars" in ""별을 따다줘" (Stars Falling From the Sky)" OST
Type: OST Album
Language: Korean
Release Date: January 2010
Versions: CD
Title: Super Star (SeungYeon Solo) in Mary Stayed Out All Night (KBS2 Tv Drama)
Type : OST
Langauge : Korean
Release Date : November 9 2010
Buy Album : YesAsia
Title: My Love ny Gyuri & Jiyoung(Daemul OST)
Type: OST Album
Language: Korean
Release Date: December 15, 2010
Versions: CD
FEATURING
Artist: Sunha
Title: Fahrenheit
Type: Single
Language: Korean
Release Date: January 25, 2008
Versions: CD
Buy Album: Click Here
--- 끈 [String] (feat. Nicole KARA)
Artist: Nassun
Title: Happy Face
Type: Single
Language: Korean
Release Date: February 26, 2009
Versions: CD
Buy Album: Click Here
--- Come to Play (feat. Han Seungyeon KARA)
Artist: Jumper
Title: Dazzling Eyes
Type: Single
Language: Korean
Release Date: April 2, 2009
Versions: CD
--- Dazzling Eyes (feat. Kang Jiyoung KARA)
Artist: Kang Kyun Sung
Title: Happy... And
Type: Digital Single
Language: Korean
Release Date: May 5, 2009
--- Happy... And (feat. Nicole KARA)
Artist: Hong Kyung Min
Title: Day After
Type:CD
Language: Korean
Release Date: February 12, 2010
--- Day After (feat. Gyuri KARA)
Artist: Park Myungsoo (Feat. Nicole)
Title: Whale
Type: Single
Language: Korean
Release Date: 2010
Artist: Jiyoung & Sungje
Title: Merry Love
Type: Digital Single
Language: Korean
Release Date: 2010.12.14
01. Merry Love
02. Merry Love (Inst)
Compiled by Pim; updated by: SoompiNice@soompi.com
Credits: KARA-ONLINE.org, KARAHOLIC.com, inspire.me*, swtdrms_society, coffeebeanie, anne&top, Li68910, Blooming Team @ YAN, Youtube, Yesasia, Naver, Daum
*** Last Updated on June 2010
Posted 29 March 2007 - 09:59 AM
