KARA to postpone release of third Japanese album

Album cover for KARA's third Japanese single "Jet Coaster Love"

Korean girl group KARA has postponed the release of their third Japanese single in the country, reported various Japanese newspapers including Sankei Sports on Wednesday.

According to Sankei Sports, the release date for KARA's new album "Jet Coaster Love" which was scheduled to hit stores on March 23, has been delayed due to Japanese recording companies AVEX, Sony Music and Universal Music pushing back the release date of new albums which were set to go on sale this month following last week's earthquake in the country.

Sankei went onto say that AVEX pushed back the date of release for albums which were set for March 23, Sony Music delayed record sales set for March 23 and 30 as well as Universal Music postponing their releases set for March 23, 25 and 30 to later dates.

Japan is currently battling to prevent a nuclear catastrophe and to care for millions of people without power or water after an earthquake with a magnitude of 8.9 sent a 10-meter (33-foot) wave surging through several of its towns and cities on March 11.

The girls' local agency DSP Media explained that they are in talks with their agency in Japan on when KARA, who were scheduled to leave for Japan today, will be able to visit the country to begin promoting their upcoming release.

They added that the girls will be donating profits they see from the sale of "Jet Coaster Love" to help relief efforts for quake-stricken Japan.

KARA, composed of five members Gu Hara, Han Seung-yeon, Park Gyu-lee, Kang Ji-young and Nicole, debuted in 2007 and are well-known in Korea for their hit songs "Mister," "Wanna" and "Lupin."

Their career soared further in Japan, being named best new artists of the year at the 25th annual Japan Gold Disc Award and placing at NO.1 on the Oricon chart’s listing for the most successful new artists of 2010 and them being named the most promising artist of 2011.

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.

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Reporter : Lucia Hong luciahong@
Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@