KARA

KARA (카라) is a South Korean girl group that debuted on March 29, 2007 under DSP Media. The group has undergone several lineup changes throughout its history, with the current five-member formation consisting of Gyuri, Seungyeon, Nicole, Jiyoung, and Youngji. The name derives from the Greek word "chara" meaning "joy" or "sweet melody." KARA rose to prominence in 2009 with "Mister" and its iconic "butt dance," a choreography that sparked a cultural phenomenon across Asia. The group became one of the first K-pop acts to achieve major success in Japan, where they held record-breaking arena tours and topped Oricon charts multiple times. Their Japanese album "Super Girl" (2011) became the highest-selling album by a foreign female artist in Japan that year. The group disbanded in January 2016 following contract expirations, but reunited in November 2022 for their 15th anniversary. Former members Nicole and Jiyoung returned to join Gyuri, Seungyeon, and Youngji, releasing "Move Again" as a comeback single. The reunion marked an emotional return, coming three years after member Goo Hara's tragic passing in 2019. Since reuniting, KARA has embarked on the fifth (2024) and sixth (2025) Karasia tours, released the Japanese single "I Do I Do" (July 2024), and "When I Move" (July 2024). Their enduring legacy as second-generation K-pop pioneers continues to influence the industry, having paved the way for Korean artists' success in Japanese markets.