The future of K-pop act KARA is up in the air as the group faces disbandment.
The contracts of three members of the DSP Media quintet, Goo Hara, Park Gyuri, and Han Seungyeon, are up for expiration this year. This will be one of a series of line-up changes for KARA, which debuted in 2007.
It is rumored that Goo Hara is looking to move to another agency, and reported that she is likely to sign with Keyeast, a large entertainment agency home to several top Korean celebrities.
Goo is reportedly set to shift her career from singing towards acting.
Park and Han have yet to clarify their plans regarding their future, and the future of KARA.
The current line-up of KARA, which includes the three members whose contracts are set to expire as well as Heo Young Ji, was formed in 2014. Heo joined the iconic K-pop girl group following a survival show where she competed against other DSP Media trainees to gain a spot in KARA.
This is not the first time KARA has faced changes with their members. Out of the four current members, only Park Gyuri and Han Seungyeon debuted with the girl group in 2007, alongside Kim Sunghee and Nicole Jung.
Following the departure of Kim in 2008, Goo Hara and Kang Ji Young joined the lineup. However, in 2014, preceding Younji's including in KARA, Nicole and Kang Jiyoung left the group following the end of their contracts.
According to the K-Pop Herald, DSP Media has yet to comment on KARA's future as a group.
KARA last made a Korean comeback in 2015 with their "In Love" EP.
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Tamar Herman is a multi-media journalist and the co-founder of KultScene. She is a freelance writer and copy editor, and has written for MTV Iggy, Noisey, and Paste Magazine.
