KARA Gu Hara to make acting debut through "City Hunter"

KARA member Gu Hara [DSP Media]

Girl group KARA member Gu Hara will make an acting debut through upcoming SBS TV series "City Hunter."

Her agency DSP Media announced through a press release on Monday that Gu, 20, will appear as the daughter of Korea's president in the show set to star top Korean actors Lee Min-ho and Park Min-young.

Park will play the role of judo athlete-turned-bodyguard Kim Nana working at Korea's presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae who falls in love with MIT doctorate degree holder Lee Yoon-sung (Lee Min-ho) who also works at Cheong Wa Dae.

"We had to think long and hard about Gu's appearance in the drama because KARA has yet to resolve their problem but after discussions with Gu, we decided that it would be a good opportunity for her since it is becoming compulsory for singers to pursue acting careers as well," DSP said.

The statement then added, "It is true that she is only fulfilling her already existent contract but they have been feeling pressure following their carrying out their activities in Japan so she will individually resume her career in Korea first and we will do our best to see that all of KARA resumes its activities."

The future of the top girl group has been up in the air with members Han Seungyeon, Kang Jiyoung and Nicole having applied for their contract with agency DSP Media to be terminated despite the success they have seen in the music markets in Korea and Japan.

Members Gu and Park Gyulee, the latter the leader of the group, have said they will remain with DSP.

"City Hunter" is originally a Japanese manga series by Tsukasa Hojo starring a detective named Ryo Saeba and set in Tokyo during the latter half of the 1980s.

Producer Jin Hyuk of hit dramas "Brilliant Legacy" and "Princess Prosecutor" and writer Hwang Eun-kyung of "The President" will collaborate to create "City Hunter" set to premiere on May 25.

※ 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@