KARA

KARA are a South Korean girl group whose signature bouncy style of pop music was popular in their home country and in Japan. • Created by DSP Media—the label behind Fin.K.L, one of K-pop's first successful girl groups—KARA entered the music industry with high expectations. • When their initial R&B sound didn't connect as expected, KARA changed both their music (see: the bubbly pop single "Rock U") and their lineup. Sunghee left the group due to school-related pressures from her parents, and KARA became a quintet by adding Hara and Jiyoung. • While they were a success in South Korea, KARA also broke multiple sales and chart records in Japan, becoming the first female South Korean act to perform at the country's massive Tokyo Dome venue. • When Nicole and Jiyoung left KARA in 2014, the group launched a reality TV show called Kara Project to find a new member. This led them to discover Youngji, who was a part of KARA until the group disbanded in 2016.