Girl group Kara's new album tops local music charts

Girl group Kara perform at the first day of the two-day 2022 Mnet Asian Music Awards held at the Kyocera Dome Osaka in Osaka on Nov. 29. [MNET]

Girl group Kara returned to its fans for the first time in seven years and six months with a new album that is topping local music charts.

The girl group’s label RBW said Wednesday that all the songs on the group's 15th anniversary album “Move Again,” which dropped a day before, have managed to land high on local music charts. The album’s lead track “When I Move” has remained on top of Bugs Music’s real time chart since its release and other songs like “Happy Hour,” “Shout It Out,” and “Oxygen” are all in top 10.

The girl group performed “When I Move” for the first time in front of its fans on Nov. 29 during the 2022 MAMA Awards. All five members, including those who previously left the group, got together for the performance.

“To mark the 15th anniversary of their debut, the members participated in composing and producing the songs on the album,” said the label in a statement. “The members have completed an album that’s very Kara-style.”

Member Jiyoung is one of the composers and lyricist of the lead track “When I Move.” Nicole, who left the group in 2014 also helped with writing the Korean lyrics for the song.

RBW added that the group's choreography, which has always grabbed attention from its fans, will also prove popular.

The girl group currently consists of Gyuri, Seungyeon and Youngji. Nicole and Jiyoung, who left the group in 2014, rejoined for the new release.

In December, the group will release a Japanese version of "Move Again" and hold fan meets in Osaka, Fukuoka and Tokyo.

The group, which made a debut in 2007, is best known for hits “Pretty Girl” (2008), “Honey” (2008), “Mr.” (2009), “Step” (2011) and “Pandora” (2012). Its megahit “Mr.” was a major contributor to the rise of K-pop and Hallyu, or the Korean wave, in Japan, leading Kara to become the first Korean girl group to host a solo concert at the Tokyo Dome.

BY YIM SEUNG-HYE [yim.seunghye@joongang.co.kr]