DSP confirms Nicole is leaving Kara. Kang Jiyoungs decision could decide the groups future.

[suxaholic.livejournal.com]

Popular girl group Kara is coming to an end in January, at least in its current five-member configuration. After weeks of speculation, the group’s agency DSP Media told Ilgan Sports, an affiliate of the Korea JoongAng Daily, that Nicole will leave the group after her contract expires in January.

The agency also said it is preparing to give Nicole a farewell for the group’s fans.

Kara released a new EP - “French Kiss” - and a best-of album in Japan yesterday, but nothing official has been announced for the fans in Korea yet.

Many local music experts expect that the DSP Festival on Dec. 14 at Jamsil Stadium in southeastern Seoul, featuring all the singers affiliated with the agency, could be the last chance to see Kara with the whole lineup.

Whether the group continues without Nicole is still undecided as another member, Kang Ji-young, also has a contract expiring in April, and she has not said if she wants to remain with the agency.

Officials in the music industry are saying the group’s future will likely hinge on Kang’s decision. Many think that Kara could withstand losing one member, but two may be a deathblow.


source Korea joongan daily , asian junkie

Comments

[evivante.livejournal.com]

Oh well. It was a good ride.

[girlsday.livejournal.com]

it's sad for the girls but i can't help but not feel bad for kamilias! such an awful group of people

[ohlookshiny.livejournal.com]

what? imo kamilia's are one of the most sane fandoms out there. which is not saying much obviously but still.

[bauci.livejournal.com]

Hope the last stage is a great stage!

[tothechangmin.livejournal.com]

:( so sad because they're my favourite kpop girl group and nicole's my favourite member. all the best to her though. i wish i could have seen their performance live at least once.

[lalaland-xx.livejournal.com]

Kara is my favorite girl group. So ofc this is like no biggie for me :))))))))))

[kjc48.livejournal.com]

I always wondered why I don't really have love for Nicole (she's everything I look for in a bias: foreigner, rapper, down to earth), I think this was the reason.

It was a good ride. Good luck to all of them!

P.s. most anti-climatic breakup EVER. Came out of nowhere, went nowhere, meant nothing.

[myfreakingod.livejournal.com]

This was the reason?

[leopolitan.livejournal.com]

it would be kind of interesting to see how they'd fare as a group of 3 or 4. i think they could survive as 4 but not as 3.

[kjc48.livejournal.com]

I know they could survive as 4. And truthfully musically/performance wise they could pull off 3 too (G/S/H are the core of KARA). But I think DSP would just throw in the bag if there was only 3 left.

[hitthoselightz.livejournal.com]

hara, seungyeon(bias) and gyuri are my top 3 so if they continue ill be happy
if not then it was a good ride

[malhy.livejournal.com]

They are my favourite ones too, I'm curious if they could make it as 3.

[footballfina.livejournal.com]

With the Wonder Girls basically defunct and now this.... it really feels like the end of an era. Soshi holding down the class of 2007 by themselves.

I guess I'm excited this is giving newer girl groups an opportunity to gain some popularity *whispers* A Pink, A Pink, A Pink

[kjc48.livejournal.com]

+1

I'm pretty sure A Pink already out ranks them now. They have about the same album sales/fanbase, but A Pink had a hit song this year. Plus Eunji and Naeun are bringing in a lot of solo activities/relevance.

[yukahoo.livejournal.com]

Was this a big deal? It didn't feel like it. It felt nothing like when they were on the verge of breakup in 2011. Back then even without being in the fandom you could tell that it was a bloody big deal. So much wank and speculation...

Did the industry change or did I just miss all the crying and shaking?

[suxaholic.livejournal.com]

I guess everybody was prepared for the worst

[the-erotomanic.livejournal.com]

she was never a favorite, but i'm sad to see her go. she was a great performer. good luck to her.

i do hope the rest find a better spot in the industry.

[annhh.livejournal.com]

I guess it's final. NOOOO. Well, she clearly wants to move on and good for her. I like KARA, I hope they don't fall apart. DSP being shit and all.

Nicole really rocked KARA songs, but her voice isn't good for solo. Interested to see her next move, no one knows right?

I have been expecting this since the lawsuit

[hipployta.livejournal.com]

*SIGH*

Why can't DSP treat their groups well?

Frickin SS501 was promoting without a contract for awhile trying to resolve things too *smh*

*worries for Gyuri and Hara*

[aurora2687.livejournal.com]

With the dent to Hara and Seungyeon's images, I don't know how Kara can survive as a three.

[jeit91.livejournal.com]

if there's 3 of them left just put them in with Rainbow, no one would ever know

[uguukawaii.livejournal.com]

how dare u

[uguukawaii.livejournal.com]

this is really sad im not sure why dsp didnt find it in their interest to give her what she wants. they are such a shitty label mispromoting kara post their peak + all the shit they do to rainbow
idc i expected it but her requests were so simple to me that i was sort of optimistic.
gonna watch some star golden bell n weep for the better days

[weerainbow.livejournal.com]

I always enjoyed their songs so I'll be sad to see them go if they do, even though I don't really follow them much. I hope things go well for Nicole anyway whatever she decides to do

[labaleine.livejournal.com]

My heart </3

[chunjoezl.livejournal.com]

I don't know but this is probably the-not-so-dramatic group break-up. It's unfortunate that they're coming to an end and if DSP is up for a KARA trio, I wonder if they could survive.

[kaila-09.livejournal.com]

there goes another group. Still hoping to see WonSoKa in the future though. It would be very nostalgic

[kidsalsa20.livejournal.com]

Doesn't Korea have issues with Hara and SH now? Like how will they survive if Jiyoung leaves? Gyuri can't man the ship by herself

[hellociara.livejournal.com]

wait...why do they have issues with Hara and Seungyeon?

[olive-101.livejournal.com]

i was never really into kara but i remember when they were all over the kpop industry. sort of sad to see them go although i could never get into their songs

[vermicelli-rice.livejournal.com]

she was definitely my favorite member. best body, favorite performer, and ugh her smile.
adios 'cole.

[gathyou.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sad, I really enjoyed KARA's songs and the girls, of course. I feel like another "history group" falling apart and it makes me feel weird. A little bit nostalgic too.
Anyway I hope Nicole will be fine and having the life she wanted because in the declarations she made she seemed really fed up with her company. Anything would be better.
As for the remaining ladies... Jiyoung already said she wanted maybe to study abroad ? If she decides so, I'll be happy for her, but I'm quite pessimist about KARA's future in that case. Gyuri can still try to have good dramas. But the two others ? I really don't know...

[chikage-chan.livejournal.com]

I'm glad Nicole is out, tbh. Even if she doesn't come back to the kpop scene, anything is better than being forever shafted like she has been. I hope Gyuri jumps ship too. I really like her, but my dislike for Hara/Seungyeon is stronger.

And Kara had a good run, but their last 2 years were really lackluster. Like lots of people said, DSP has a talent for taking their groups when they are on top and basically ruining their careers...

Let's all mourn with one of the most iconic songs of 2009!