The following year, Kim Sunghee departed the group due to parental pressure, and members Goo Hara and Kang Jiyoung were brought in. After their addition, the group also changed their image and style of music to the "pretty but natural" appeal, releasing their first mini-album entitled Rock U in July 2008. They achieved their first number one song with "Honey" (2009). In July 2009, the group released their second studio album entitled Revolution. The album spawned the hit single "Mister", whose choreography featured the "butt-dance", that helped increase the group's popularity within East Asia. Their follow-up singles including "Lupin" (2010), "Jumping" (2010), "Step" (2011), and "Pandora" (2012) were also successful and helped further establish the group within the Korean music industry.
On 2014, the contracts of members Nicole Jung and Kang Jiyoung with DSP Media expired. Both girls decided not to renew them and left the group in order to pursue their own endeavours.
Kara Seungyeon
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
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
SWEET FACTS:
◊ Once attended the Dream Concert as a G.O.D supporter
◊ Managed to attain a 100 on her TOEFL
◊ Is called “Haem” or “Ham” by Sunghee because she looks like a hamster
◊ She has the face of a ‘Choding’ (which means elementary student)
◊ Loves to make random sounds
◊ Loves anime, and downloads them when she feels stressed
◊ She was given business cards by different producers in the Convenient Store
◊ Her first love was during her teens at the age of 14
◊ She almost had the chance to attend medical school
◊ Prefers buying new gadgets (notebooks, psp, earphones etc) over clothes
◊ Re-took her college entrance examinations because she wasn’t satisfied with her previous marks
◊ Attended the same dance school as Hyori and Hyoyeon (SNSD)
◊ Her parents wanted her to be a doctor but she went against their dream for her own and now they fully support her
Kara Jiyoung
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
SWEET FACTS:
◊ She is a big fan of Daesung from Big Bang
◊ She is the youngest of 3 girls in her family
◊ Approximately 166cm in height
◊ Her audition song was SNSD – Kissing You
◊ Fans say she resembles a turtle, cute turtle
◊ Was at the 2007 Dream Concert as a DBSK fan girl
◊ Wants to do more cooking
◊ Shares a room with Hara and Nicole, sleeps on the top bunk while Hara sleeps on the lower bunk
◊ Introduced to DSP by a relative
◊ She was a last minute replacement when a new member choose to leave.
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
SWEET FACTS:
◊ She is a big fan of Daesung from Big Bang
◊ She is the youngest of 3 girls in her family
◊ Approximately 166cm in height
◊ Her audition song was SNSD – Kissing You
◊ Fans say she resembles a turtle, cute turtle
◊ Was at the 2007 Dream Concert as a DBSK fan girl
◊ Wants to do more cooking
◊ Shares a room with Hara and Nicole, sleeps on the top bunk while Hara sleeps on the lower bunk
◊ Introduced to DSP by a relative
◊ She was a last minute replacement when a new member choose to leave.
Kara Hara
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
WORK HISTORY:
◊ Model for online catalogues
◊ MNET Check it Girl
◊ MC JPOP Wave
◊ MC MBC Every1 Idol Army Show (Season 4)
◊ Model for Shopping Mall
◊ MBC That Man is Coming (Lead Cameo)
◊ KBS Documentary “Unwavered Dreams” (2005)
◊ Group song for “Boys over Flower” OST Vol 2 – Love is Fire
◊ Group song for “Naruto” ending theme – Butterfly
◊ MBC ShimShimTaPa Radio
◊ KBS Invincible Youth
SWEET FACTS:
◊ Auditioned for SME and JYPE
◊ Attended Kwanjoo Academy of Music (with Big Bang’s Seungri and 2NE1′s Minzi)
◊ She is from “Kwangju” the same hometown as Seungri and Sunmi
◊ Has known Sunmi ever since from a young age
◊ She is very competitive
◊ Has postponed schooling to concentrate on Kara
◊ According to members, she eats the most but does not seem to ever gain weight
◊ Fans call her “Koala” because the pronunciation is very similar to her name
◊ Is called “Honey” because her surname is very similar in pronunciation to “Honey” on korean, “Ggul”
◊ Participated in track & field in Elementry school
◊ Top 3 idols she’d like to date: Taecyeon, Junho, & Jokwon.
Kara Gyuri
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
SWEET FACTS:
◊ She came up with the group name KARA, which means “sweet melody” in Greek.
◊ She is the daughter of popular dubber/mixer Park Sohyun
◊ She is very close to her mother
◊ She is the only child
◊ Shares a very strong resemblance to her mother
◊ She is allergic to dogs but has two dogs named Nadia and Jang
◊ She is the perfect example of a leader; protects the members and always stands up for them
◊ She sleeps last and wakes up first
◊ Is a huge fan of H.O.T
◊ Can make a good impersonation of Jadu
◊ Is called “Goddess” by fans and her parents
◊ Fans call her “Gagman” (we call her “Gagwoman” though)
◊ She is very witty, outspoken, and hilarious.
◊ Her nickname “Mirror Princess” is because she likes to look in the mirror a lot
◊ She is considered as KARA’s omma because she is the oldest and looks after the members
◊ She likes to tease the maknaes Jiyoung and Nicole
Kara Nicole
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
WORK HISTORY:
◊ MC JPOP Wave
◊ MC MBC Every1 Idol Army Show (Season 4)
◊ KBS Star Golden Bell – Level With Me S2
◊ Group song for “Boys over Flower” OST Vol 2 – Love is Fire
◊ Group song for “Chasing Kangnam Mother” OST – Fighting
◊ Group song for “Naruto” ending theme – Butterfly
◊ Featured on Sunha’s song – String
◊ Duet with Kang Kyun Sang – Happy… And
◊ Featured in Kang Kyun Sang’s Happy… And MV
◊ MC MBC Bonanza
◊ MC MBC Star Ranking
◊ Mnet “Nicole: The Entertainer’s Introduction to Veterinary Science” (Nicole’s own reality show)
◊ Participated in writing the rap portions for KARA’s albums:
- She wrote most of the rap lyrics for KARA’s first album & for “Honey” as well
- She also wrote the Korean rap lyrics (1st time) for the song “Let It Go” from KARA’s Revolution album
- Wrote the raps for Lupin and Tasty Love from their 3rd Mini Album: Lupin
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
WORK HISTORY:
◊ MC JPOP Wave
◊ MC MBC Every1 Idol Army Show (Season 4)
◊ KBS Star Golden Bell – Level With Me S2
◊ Group song for “Boys over Flower” OST Vol 2 – Love is Fire
◊ Group song for “Chasing Kangnam Mother” OST – Fighting
◊ Group song for “Naruto” ending theme – Butterfly
◊ Featured on Sunha’s song – String
◊ Duet with Kang Kyun Sang – Happy… And
◊ Featured in Kang Kyun Sang’s Happy… And MV
◊ MC MBC Bonanza
◊ MC MBC Star Ranking
◊ Mnet “Nicole: The Entertainer’s Introduction to Veterinary Science” (Nicole’s own reality show)
◊ Participated in writing the rap portions for KARA’s albums:
- She wrote most of the rap lyrics for KARA’s first album & for “Honey” as well
- She also wrote the Korean rap lyrics (1st time) for the song “Let It Go” from KARA’s Revolution album
- Wrote the raps for Lupin and Tasty Love from their 3rd Mini Album: Lupin
After finding national success the group eventually began to expand their music to Japan by signing to Universal Music Japan's subsidiary label, Universal Sigma in 2010. The group's debut was a success as they were dubbed as "Japan's No. 1 Rookie Artist of 2010" by Oricon and also receiving the "New Artist of the Year Award (International)" from the Japan Gold Disc Awards. In April 2011, the group achieved their first number one single in Japan with "Jet Coaster Love", making them the first foreign female group since the creation of the Oricon to rank number one in the first week of release and also the first foreign female group in thirty years to do so. Overall, the group managed to sell over one million physical singles within two years, making them one of the fastest-selling South Korean acts in Japan.
KARA Music Video
Source: Wikipedia, Youtube.
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