During the time of crises in neighboring country, Japan, many k-pop stars are offering aid through financial means. One of such cases is the girl group KARA who made a more than successful debut there. The popular act decided to donate the entire profits made from the sales of their latest single.

KARA plans to release their third Japanese single, “Jetcoaster Love” on March 23rd. Reps of the girls shared that KARA members were brainstorming of different ways to help out, and came up with the solution of giving away the full amount earned from “Jetcoaster Love” to help those affected by the natural disasters.

The group’s label, DSP Media stated, “The KARA members are saddened to see the damage caused for their Japanese fans that showed them such love. They all keep glued to the TV news and internet news, hoping that no additional damage is caused and that the country recovers as soon as possible. After considering possible ways to help out in the recovery process, they’ve decided to donate the full profit earned from their new single.”

Source: KBS Global

After the four members of KARA previously announced that they filed to terminate their contracts with DSP Media, representatives of the agency have finally released an official statement on January 19th.

It reads:

“DSP Media will be making an official statement regarding the contract terminations reported by Jung Nicole, Han Seungyeon, Kang Jiyoung, and Goo Hara of KARA. We received a one-sided declaration from their lawyers, Landmark, on January 18th, but Goo Hara has decided not to join the others in terminating her contract.

According to their claims, the 10-month hospitalization of CEO Lee Hoyeon caused the management to become inefficient in planning and promoting the group’s activities, but that is not the truth, as the CEO’s wife ran administration in place of the CEO. KARA’s explosive popularity with the Hallyu wave in Japan testifies to these efforts, further proving that the management did not mishandle their activities.

CEO Lee Hoyeon was not able to run the company himself beginning March of 2010, and KARA’s Japanese achievements were made five months later in August. DSP Media has done all they can in supporting and preparing KARA’s Japanese advancement.

Regarding the income distribution claims made by Nicole’s mother and their lawyers, the information they revealed was distorted and is a complete misunderstanding. Income was distributed in a manner that was most profitable to the KARA members, and unlike what they claimed, every employee was paid at the same time the moment profits were received.

They also claimed that DSP Media used its stature to force unwanted schedules and activities, but this is also a baseless claim. This is a claim that only defames the company employees who have worked their hardest to raise KARA as one of Korea’s top groups and leaders of the Hallyu wave.

And regarding speculations from another report about a competing agency attempting to persuade their parents and lawyers to terminate the girls’ contract with DSP, we ask that they stop such actions immediately. Should such requests be made repeatedly, we will make sure that they are met with legal consequences.

As the company that has poured their sweat and effort into creating who KARA is today, we hope that such issues are no longer exaggerated. Should there be issues between both parties, adjustments and reconciliation should be the appropriate step in continuing to promote themselves as a representative girl group of Korea.”

Regarding news of Hara staying with DSP Media, representatives continued, “Hara has decided not to comply with the terminations.” The possibility of further changes in the remaining three contracts is now at center stage.

Source: Newsen#1 #2via Nate
Trans: AKP

Korean female idols Kara have grabbed another title in Japan with their best album becoming the most downloaded record on iTunes Japan.

On Friday, the girls’ agency DSP Media announced that “KARA BEST 2007-2010″ was the No. 1 downloaded album on iTunes Store Pop.

It was the second best-selling album on the prestigious Oricon daily albums chart on September 29.

The special album features their hit songs such as “Pretty Girl,” “Honey,” “Lupin” and “Mister,” the last song also being the group’s Japanese debut single, starting from when they debuted in 2007.

Kara has led a successful music career in Japan since May this year, becoming the first Asian female group to place in the top 10 on the weekly singles chart with their album “Mister” and their DVD “KARA VACATION” reaching the highest rank for an Asian DVD.

They are currently preparing for their appearance on Asashi TV’s popular live music show “Music Station” on October 15.

The quintet will release their second Japanese single next month.

Source: 10Asia

KARA will work with a well known label company for their Japanese music market advance.

Korean girlgroup KARA is said to have signed up with Universal Music Japan recently and ahead of their official Japanese debut, they will be selling their Korean repackaged album on 28th April.

And coming 7th May, the girls will be heading to Japan for a fan handshake session to be held on 8th May at the Grand Prince Hotel. And on 9th May, they will be hading their official fanclub establishment ceremony with 3000 over fans in Yokohama.

The girls had their first showcase in Japan previously in February. Back then, the ticket for the showcase were sold out in just 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, the girls are set for their official Japanese debut in July-August.

Source: NEwsen + kbites

Fans who have bought ahead, or those who have placed reservations on the mini-album protested this measure. In response to this, Internet shopping mall ‘A’ announced that it will include sales from February 11, which includes those who have placed advanced orders, till 22 for the chart rankings.

Among KARA fans, there has been talks for a movement for the purchase of the mini-album to be only from Feburary 22, and not on the date the album is released. This is for the purposes of ranking in KBS2’s Music Bank, wherein album sales is given the most importance in its judging. For group KARA to be able to win #1 for the first week of March, the album sales from the 22nd to the 28th will be counted, and thus, there has been agreement amongst fans to purchase the album during this week instead of purchasing it on the week of its release.

The fans allegedly requested Internet shopping mall A to make it reflect that sales made before 22 will just be counted on the 22nd and not on the day it was actually made. To accommodate the request of the fans, Internet shopping mall ‘A’ agreed.

However, fans of another singers protested, saying that ‘They are manipulating the charts. Its okay to be number 1, but they should be fair and honest.’ The fandom of the other singers were the ones who leaked the agreement amongst KARA fans. Because of this, the officers of KARA’s fanclub asked the Internet shopping mall ‘A’ to disregard all the request of the fans.

Because of this Internet shopping mall ‘A’ announced that ‘All album sales will be made to reflect starting on the day that they are delivered from the warehouse, and on the day that they are actually made. This will be reflected in the Hanteo charts.’

Netizens however, were sharp to point out that fans don’t usually ask for this to be done, and that no legitimate seller would give in to such baseless request. They ask ‘Was it really the fans who asked that the sales be counted that way? Or was it a strategy on the part of the Internet shopping mall ‘A’ to do so for them to get more customers?’ Internet shopping mall ‘A’ denied this accusation, saying that they were merely accommodating requests from their customers seeing that they could possibly do so.

It is clear for all concerned that DSP and Mnet Media had nothing to do with the situation and were unaware of such controversy.

Internet shoppping mall ‘A’ has apologized for this happening.

However, KARA fans are not pleased, saying that ‘Because of Internet shopping mall ‘A’, KARA received unnecessary criticisms.’ The fans are getting together, agreeing not to purchase the album from their site. They also expressed their dissatisfaction towards KARA’s company, who decided not to release the album on the 22nd saying that ‘They can’t even plan the promotions properly.’

source: DCNEWS LINK
tip-off: mae@KARAholic
translated by coffeebeanie@KARAholic

Pro baseball team, Dusan Bears invited Kara member, Goo Hara to pitch for their 4th match playoff against the SK Wyverns at Seoul Jamsil baseball park on the 11th.

Recently during a broadcast, with her amazing running skills and being given the nickname ‘Goosain Bolt’ from the netizens, Goo Hara told us, “To be invited to pitch for such an important game makes me very happy and honored” and “While wishing for the success of the Dusan Bear’s, I’ll work hard to prepare and show the athletes and the fans a strong and impressive pitch” she expressed.

Debuting in 2007 with a cute and sweet image and securing many fans, the 5-member girl group Kara have had 2 hit singles from their 2nd album “Revolution” with title track ‘Wanna’ and follow-up ‘Mister’, while gaining the love and interest from male fans with their butt dance.

Meanwhile, members from Kara, Kang Jiyoung and Han Seungyeon have pitched and batted for the Dusan Bears against Kia on September 13 during the pennant race.

source: newsen
trans: thebuddybud @ karaholic

이번 정규앨범의 타이틀 [Revolution]은 음악적인 면과 비쥬얼면에서 많은 변화를 주었다는 의미를 담고 있으며, 앨범 발매에 앞서 공개한 화제의 스틸컷을 통해서도 이들의 변화를 느낄 수 있다.

정규앨범 [Revolution]은 타이틀곡 [Wanna]를 비롯해 총 7곡의 신곡과 보너스트랙까지 10곡이 수록되어 있다. 타이틀곡 [Wanna]는 [Pretty Girl], [Honey] 등을 작업한 한재호,김승수 콤비의 곡으로 삼연속 카라의 히트 넘버에 도전할만한 곡으로, 속도감이 느껴지는 강렬한 비트와 자극적인 신스사운드로 무장된 팝 댄스곡이다. 또한, 화려한 코러스와 긴장감있는 곡 전개가 인상적이며, 성숙함으로 한층 업그레이드 된 멤버들의 보이스가 돋보이는 곡이기도 하다. [미스터] 역시 한재호, 김승수 콤비의 곡으로 강렬한 일렉트로니카 사운드에 기반을 둔 유로 팝 댄스곡이다. 특히나 이 곡은 마지막까지 타이틀 경합을 벌인 곡으로 펑키한 느낌의 그루브가 인상적이며, 자신감 넘치는 카라의 새로운 매력을 보여주고 있다.

카라만의 새로운 느낌을 보여주는 트랜디한 미디움 댄스발라드 곡 [마법]은 보다 감미롭고 성숙해진 맴버들의 목소리가 감상 포인트. 청순하면서도 맑은 카라만의 느낌은 애틋한 가사, 예쁜 멜로디와 어울려 듣는 이로 하여금 그리움의 카타르시스를 느끼게 할 만하며, 화려한 20인조 스트링 연주 또한 드라마틱한 곡의 완성도를 더하고 있다.

이밖에도 슬픈 노랫말과 밝고 상쾌한 멜로디가 공존하는 [몰래몰래], 사랑스러운 가사와 예쁜 멜로디 라인이 조화를 이루며, 다이나믹하고 화려한 편곡이 인상깊은 [AHA], 이전까지 KARA에게 느낄 수 없었던 강하고 세련된 느낌의 팝스타일 곡인 [Let It Go], 경쾌한 쿨 팝 댄스곡인 [Take a Bow]가 수록되어 있으며, 리듬게임 ‘아이뮤지션’의 주제곡으로 제작되어 주목받고 있는 [똑 같은 맘]과 타이틀곡 [Wanna], [마법]의 instrumental까지 수록되어 있다.

5-member female band KARA will back this summer with the new song ‘Same Heart’.

The song will be released on 4th June, and it is composed by Han Jae Ho (who also brought to us hits like ‘Pretty Girl’ and ‘Honey’), and written Kim Seung Soo. The song is said to be bring out KARA’s special feeling and also the perfect song for the summer season.

The song will also be featured in the game ‘I-Musician’ which the girls will be singing the OST and modelling to.

Already, the first teaser video to the MV of the song was revealed on Mnet and GomTV on 2nd June.

The song will be revealed in full on 4th June.

source: kbites

MTV, in collaboration with Binggrae and Metacone brings you the search for KARA’s ultimate friend.

MTV’s newest project <KARA’s Meta Friends> will be about the search for the KARA members ultimate friend. The concept of the show is to search for people who would want to be friends with celebrities, and will provide a place for them to strike up a genuine friendship.

The first round of applications will be online through (www.metacone.co.kr) or (www.mtv.co.kr). Those interested just have to send in the reasons why they want to be KARA’s friend to the Metacone or MTV website. The online applications are only till Wednesday, April 22, and the 15 people to take part in the program will be announced on Saturday, April 25.

The 15 contestants chosen will meet KARA in a fan-meeting, after which, they be put in a survival type of program together with the KARA members. For this, they will go on a trip with the girls, where they will have to fulfill different missions until only 5 remain.

This program will give the contestants a chance to see how KARA’s schedule works. In addition to this, they will be able to bond with the members on the 2 day, 1 night trip with KARA. Lastly, the lucky 5 will be given a once in a lifetime opportunity as they will be stand on stage together with KARA, and in the opening of the public outdoor concert, they will be introduced as their best friends. This will take place in KARA’s first ever mini-concert.

The show, which will be an avenue for young people to be able to do things together with their idols, will air this May with 6 episodes on MTV.

source: ASIAE NEWS LINK
thanks to mae@KARAholic
translated by coffeebeanie@KARAholic.com

Big Bang DaeSung has picked youngest member Kang Ji Yeong out of the 5 KARA members as the best ‘Pretty Girl’

DaeSung was recently on MBC Cable ‘Idol Show’ which KARA are the MCs to and was asked to pick out the best ‘Pretty Girl’ amongst the members.

In order to become DaeSung’s ‘Pretty Girl’, the KARA members each performed their hidden talents on the show. KARA leader GyuRi then instantly broke into a song showing her vocal powers in front of DaeSung. Kang Ji Yeong who is known to be DaeSung’s fan, also sang a song in front of DaeSung.

And DaeSung picked Kang Ji Yeong in the end. This episode will air on the 9th.

Source: kbites