KARA

Kara (Hangul: 카라, Japanese: カラ, often stylized as KARA) is a South Korean girl group signed with DSP Media (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 a "strong female" image through R&B style for their first album The First Blooming in 2007. In 2008, Kim Sunghee departed the group due to parental pressure, and two new members were brought in; as such, the group currently consists of five members: Park Gyuri, Han Seung-yeon, Nicole Jung, Goo Hara,[2]and Kang Jiyoung. The addition of the two new members also faced a change in the group's original image to a "pretty but natural" appeal. The five-member band went on to achieve their first number one song with "Honey".[3]

The group eventually made their debut in Japan in 2010. By the end of that year, Kara was dubbed as Japan's #1 Rookie Artist of 2010 by Oricon and also received the New Artist Of The Year Award (International) from the Japan Gold Disc Awards. The group also released their first Japanese album, Girl's Talk which was eventually certified as Platinum by the RIAJ. In February 2011, Kara's "Jumping" and "Mister" singles received Platinum and double Platinum certificates, respectively, from RIAJ. In March, Kara became the first foreign female artist to top Oricon’s Composite DVD Chart [3] and the first foreign artist to top this chart for 2 consecutive weeks.[3] In April 2011 with their 3rd single "Jet Coaster Love", Kara became the first foreign female group since the creation of the Oricon (43 years ago) to rank #1 in the 1st week of release and the first foreign female group in 30 years to rank #1 in the charts all together. They also hold the title as the first Korean girl group to top the Oricon Weekly Single Chart.[4] Their official fanclub is Kamilia, derived from a combination of the words "KARA" with the Latin word for family, "familia." Kara's official balloon color is pearl peach.