KARA mothers want girls to stay five-member group

From left, KARA members Kang Ji-young, Nicole, Gu Hara, Han Seung-yeon and Park Gyu-lee [DSP Media]

The mothers of girl group KARA members Han Seung-yeon, Kang Ji-young and Nicole have said they want their girls to remain a quintet, regardless of their decision to split from agency DSP Media.

They revealed their stance on KARA's future through a press release issued by their legal representative Hong Myung-ho of law firm Landmark on Friday, clarifying that the current situation is related only to the girls' relationship with the agency, not problems existent amongst the girls themselves.

Many have voiced their concerns over KARA possibly disbanding due to rumored discord within the group since leader Park Gyu-lee has not joined the three in their move and member Gu Hara reversed her position and chose to stay with the agency.

"KARA's [three] members and their parents want a five-member KARA to be able to continue its activities. There may be legal problems in regards to the company but the [three] members consider all five staying a team as the first and foremost principle," the statement read.

It then went onto say, "It is the management company's basic role to support an artist's activities...... We want a professional entertainment firm that can support KARA's activities so they may be able to exhibit their talent and abilities to the fullest."

Han, Kang and Nicole had pointed to the agency's poor and unskilled management of KARA through press releases issued since Wednesday when they first announced their decision to terminate their contract with DSP.

Other issues they had cited were the agency abusing its authority to force the girls to carry out unwanted activities, insulting them and signing contracts without discussion nor consent from them including tricking them into signing a contract with DSP's branch in Japan.

Today's statement then reaffirmed that the five girls are all on good terms with each other and asked DSP to "refrain from contacting each member separately and splitting sides."

Meanwhile, DSP has been rebutting every claim made through Landmark, saying the wife of DSP's chief has managed the agency well on her husband's behalf which can be proven through KARA's popularity in Japan and throughout Asia, that KARA has been paid in a way that would be advantageous to them and that there was no deception involved with contracts.

KARA has been one of the most popular girl groups in Korea since making their debut with their first album "Blooming" in 2007. They have released several singles and albums containing their hits "Pretty Girl," "Wanna" and "Lupin."

The quintet then expanded their career to Japan in August last year after signing with Universal Music Sigma, a branch of Universal Music group, which too has been a success.

They were named best new artist of the year at the 25th annual Japan Gold Disc Award, have placed at No. 1 on the Oricon chart's listing for the most successful new artist of 2010, and Oricon also named them the most promising artist of 2011.

※ Any copying, republication or redistribution of 10Asia's content is expressly prohibited without prior consent of 10Asia. Copyright infringement is subject to criminal and civil penalties.

Jessica Kim jesskim@