January kicked off with the disbandment of one of South Korea's most iconic girl groups of recent years. But even before the month ended, all three members of KARA who left their former agency updated fans about what their next career step is.
KARA's Park Gyuri, Han Seungyeon, and Goo Hara have all found new agencies to head to following the Jan. 15th announcement of the group's disbandment.
Prior to the group's end, it was reported by multiple Korean outlets that Goo would head to the actor-oriented talent agency KeyEast Entertainment, headed by actor Bae Yong Joon. Following denials from DSP prior to KARA's disbandment, Goo did indeed sign with KeyEast days after DSP's announcement. Upon announcing the new contract, KeyEast Entertainment revealed that Goo has "high potential" as a singer, MC, and actress. The company hopes to promote her overseas, as KARA was one of the most popular K-pop acts in Japan and China.
Han Seungyeon joined J Wide Company earlier this week. The agency houses a variety of actors and entertainers, and looks to promote Han as a multi-talented entertainer.
Park Gyuri, who was a child actress prior to joining KARA as a vocalist, has yet to sign with a new agency, but is appearing in the upcoming episode of the KBS1 historical drama, "Jang Young Sil." Park will play the princess in a Ming Dynasty royal family who later falls in love with the protagonist of the show, played by Song Il Gook.
KARA debuted under DSP Media in 2007. After a series of line-up changes, the final line-up included the Park Gyuri, Goo Hara, Han Seungyeon, and Heo Youngji. Heo remains under DSP and the company announced that she will continue as a solo artist.
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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.
