
Kara
(Sweet Melody)
카라
(from left to right: Youngji, Seungyeon, Gyuri, Hara)
Debut Date: March 29, 2007
Debut Song: "Break It"
Label: DSP Media, Universal Sigma (Japan)
Fanclub: Kamilia
Official Color: Pearl Peach
Original Lineup: Gyuri, Seungyeon, Sunghee, Nicole
Final Lineup: Gyuri, Seungyeon, Hara, Youngji
Disband Date: January 15, 2016
(from left to right: Hara, Seungyeon, Gyuri, Nicole, Jiyoung)
Former Members:
Gyuri
Jiyoung
Seungyeon
Hara
Nicole
Youngji
Seunghee
(from left to right: Youngji, Seungyeon, Gyuri, Hara)
Timeline
March 29, 2007: Kara has their debut with their first album The First Bloooooming and title track "Break It" and MV
March 2007: Kara also releases "If U Wanna" single and MV
July 25, 2007: Kara releases "Fighting" for the drama Chasing a Mother From Gangnam drama OST
August 2007: Kara releases their own reality show Kara Self Camera
March 2008: Sunghee leaves the group due to pressure from her parents to do well in school
May 2008: Hara and Jiyoung are added to the group through an audition process
July 24, 2008: The group has a comeback with "Rock U" mini album and title track MV
August 18, 2008: The second season of Kara Self Camera premiers
September 29, 2008: Kara releases "Butterfly" for the Naruto OST
December 2, 2008: Kara releases "Pretty Girl" with MV
December 4, 2008: The mini-album "Pretty Girl" is released
The girls perform on Music Bank, and Hara gets attention for slipping on confetti. She isn't hurt and fans are quick to offer the girl comfort.
December 19, 2008: The group is taken to a local hospital to receive treatment for cold and flu symptoms, as well as exhaustion due to their busy schedule.
2009: Kara appears on Come to Play variety show with Girls' Generation
February 16, 2009: Kara releases the music video for "Honey"
February 19, 2009: Kara releases a repackaged version of mini-album "Pretty Girl" called "Honey"
March 2009: Kara is chosen to appear on Idol Show
March 17, 2009: Kara releases "Love is Fire" for the drama Boys Over Flowers OST
May 2009: Kara hosts a show called MTV Kara's Meta Friends, and holds their first concert to go along with it
June 2009: Kara releases "The Same Heart" for the mobile game "i-Musician"
July 28-29, 2009: Kara releases album Revolution with title track "Wanna" MV
November 25, 2009: Kara releases a reality show called Kara Bakery
January 2010: Kara sings the main OST for Catch Me A Star drama
February 2010: The Music Travel LaLaLa OST includes "Road" by g.o.d. and "Round and Round" by NoBrain covered by Kara
February 17, 2010: Kara releases mini-album "Lupin"
February 22, 2010: Kara releases the MV for title track "Lupin"
April 2010: Kara records "We're With You" for the FIFA World Cup
May 2010: Kara participates in the 8th Annual Korean Music Festival in L.A., CA, USA
Following the festival, the group becomes active in Japan
May 8-9, 2010: Kara holds fan meetings with Japanese fans
August 2010: Kara records "2ME" for online game "We Online"
August 11, 2010: Kara releases their Japanese debut mini-album "Mister" with title track MV
September 29, 2010: A compilation album of Kara's best songs is released, titled "Kara Best 2007-2010"
October 23, 2010: Kara performs at the 7th Annual Asia Song Festival
November 10, 2010: Kara releases their second Japanese mini-album, "Jumping" with title track MV. They also release a Korean version of the mini-album.
November 24, 2010: The first full-length Japanese album, Girl's Talk, is released
February 23, 2011: Kara releases a DVD titled Kara Best Clips
April 6, 2011: Kara releases Japanese mini-album "Jet Coaster Love" with title track MV
June 22, 2011: Kara releases Japanese single album "Go Go Summer!" with title track MV
September 6, 2011: Kara releases their album Step with title track MV
October 19, 2011: Kara releases Japanese single album "Winter Magic" with title track MV
November 21, 2011: Kara releases second Japanese album Super Girl with all their previous Japanese singles
November-December 2011: Kara appears on end-of-year shows in Japan, including the 53rd Annual Japanese Record Awards and the 62nd Kohaku Uta Gassen.
January 11, 2012: The group attends the Golden Disk Awards in Osaka
January 19, 2012: The group attends the Seoul Music Awards
February 18, 2012: Kara starts their first headlining tour, "Karasia". Their first solo concert was held in Seoul Olympic Park.
February 29, 2012: Kara releases another DVD/Bluray called Kara Best Clips II & Shows
March 21, 2012: Kara releases Japanese single album "Speed Up/Girl's Power", with MVs for both songs
April 14, 2012: "Karasia" is extended and Kara begins their first tour in Japan. The first Japanese solo concert is held in Yokohama.
July 14, 2012: Kara performs at the MTV World Stage in Malaysia
August 22, 2012: Kara releases mini-album "Pandora" with title track MV
September 5, 2012: Kara releases a special Japanese album titled Kara Collection
October 17, 2012: Kara releases Japanese single album "Electric Boy" with title track MV
November 14, 2012: Kara releases Japanese album Girls Forever with their previous Japanese singles
November 30, 2012: A collection of the solo songs from "Kara Collection" are released in Korean on mini-album "Kara Solo Collection"
January 6, 2013: Kara holds a concert at the Tokyo Dome
March 1, 2013: The anime Kara the Animation is released
March 27, 2013: Kara releases Japanese single album "Bye Bye Happy Days" with MV
June 23, 2013: Kara holds their second Japanese fan meeting called "Kamilia School" in Yokohama Arena
July 24, 2013: Kara releases Japanese mini-album "Thank You Summer Love" with MV
August 21, 2013: Kara releases their first single from an upcoming full album, "Runaway"
August 28, 2013: Kara releases Japanese album Fantastic Girls
September 2, 2013: Kara releases album Full Bloom with title track "Damaged Lady" MV
November 27, 2013: Kara releases Japanese single album "French Kiss" and MV
Japanese compilation album Best Girls is released on the same day
December 24, 2013: OST mini-album "Kara the Animation" is released
January 13, 2014: Nicole withdraws from the group after her contract expires
January 15, 2014: Jiyoung withdraws from the group after her contract expires
May 2014: A show called Kara Project begins to search for new trainees to join Kara
June 13, 2014: The group's drama, Secret Love, begins airing. Nicole and Jiyoung are included in the show.
July 1, 2014: Kara Project ends, and the winner, Youngji, is added to the group
August 18, 2014: The mini-album "Day & Night" is released with title track "Mamma Mia" and MV
August 27, 2014: The Japanese single album version of "Mamma Mia" is released with B-side "So Good"
October 24, 2014: Kara goes on their third tour in Japan
March 15, 2015: Kara releases Japanese mini-album "Summer-gic/Sunshine Miracle/Sunny Days" and Summer-gic MV
May 26, 2015: Kara releases mini-album "In Love" with title track "Cupid" MV
June 17, 2015: Japanese compilation album Girl's Story is released
September 2015: Kara returns to Japan for their fourth tour
January 15, 2016: Gyuri, Seungyeon, and Hara all leave the group when their contract expires. DSP Media says Youngji will continue with solo activities. It is assumed Kara is disbanded.
April 13, 2016: Gyuri hopes the members can release music once again as Kara in the future.
(from left to right: Jiyoung, Nicole, Gyuri, Seungyeon, Hara)
Awards
2007
Rookie of the Month (July) - Cyworld Digital Music Awards
Best Newcomer - Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism & Korean Culture and Content Agency
2009
Best Dance Award - Lupin - Mnet Asian Music Awards
Bonsang - Cyworld Digital Music Awards
Top 10 Artists - Mel0n Music Awards
Asian Best Group - Asia Song Festival
2010
Bonsang Award - Seoul Music Awards
Asian Best Group - Asia Song Festival
Best Female Singer - 16th Korean Entertainment Arts Awards
Project Award - Japan Record Awards
2011
Hot Korean Wave Star - Mnet 20's Choice Awards
World's Best Group Selling Asian Artist - World Music Awards
World's Best Female Group Asian - World Music Awards
New Artist of the Year - Japan Gold Disc Awards
International Artist of the Year - Korea International Awards
Best J-pop Artist - Korea International Awards
Best K-pop Music - Korea International Awards
Best Female Group - Korea International Awards
Most Popular - Korea International Awards
Asian Best Group - Asia Song Festival
Excellence Award - Japan Record Awards
Hallyu Honorary Award - Ministry of Culture
Best Dressed - Japan Fashion Association
Content Industry Award - Korean Ministry of Culture and Tourism
Album of the Year - Super Girl - K-pop Lovers! Awards
Best Crossover Artist - Melo Awards
Kohaku Uta Gassen Award - NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen
2012
Best Global Group (Female) - Mnet Asian Music Awards
Best Asian Artist - Japan Gold Disc Awards
Best 3 Albums (Asian) - Girl's Talk - Japan Gold Disc Awards
Best Music Videos - Kara Best Clips - Japanese Gold Disc Awards
Song of the Year by Download (Asian) - "Jumping" - Japan Gold Disc Awards
Bonsang Award - Seoul Music Awards
Hallyu Special Award - Seoul Music Awards
Disk Bonsang - Step - Golden Disk Awards
Best K-pop Disk Album Award - Step - Golden Disk Awards
Best Rival - SBS MTV Best of the Best
Asia Star Award - 7th Asia Models Awards
Korea Communications Commission Award - Korean Mobile Awards
Korea-Based Global Social Movement - GCS International Grand Awards
Achivement Award - Korean Tourism Awards
MBC Gayo Daejaejun Award - MBC Gayo Daejaejun Awards
Special Award - Female Singer - 24th Japan Best Jewelry Wearer Awards
2013
Disk Bonsang - Pandora - Golden Disk Awards
Malaysia's Most Favorite Star Award - Golden Disk Awards
Album of the Year - Super Girl - Japan Gold Disc Awards
Best Asian Artist - Japan Gold Disc Awards
The Most Popular International Group - 17th Global Mandarin Chart Awards
Best Girl Group - Korea Entertainment 10th Anniversary Awards
2014
K-POP World Hallyu Star Award - Gaon Chart K-pop Awards
Best Female Music Video - SBS MTV Best of the Best
(from left to right: Youngji, Gyuri, Seungyeon, Hara)
Endorsements
2009
i-Musician mobile game
2010
We Online game
Mistine BB Wonder Compact
Samsung Tomorrow Campaign
Ask
Bear Paws
KDDI
Au Smart Sports Run&Walk
TalesLand
Karaya (Kara's clothing franchise)
2011:
LG Optimus Bright
Nature Republic (Gyuri, Hara, Jiyoung)
"Mister" dolls (Kara action figures)
2012
K5J (Kara's official fragrance)
Korean Food for the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries
Soy Kara snacks
(from left to right: Jiyoung, Nicole, Gyuri, Seungyeon, Hara)
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