KARA wins double platinum in Japan with ringtone downloads

KARA [DSP Media]

Korean idol group KARA has won double platinum status in Japan with their song "Mister," according to the official website of Record Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ).“Mister,” which is KARA's official Japan debut song released in the country last summer, achieved double platinum status in both the category of mobile ringtones and ringback tones, handed to songs which receive over 500,000 paid downloads. This is the first time a Korean girl group has achieved double platinum status, and a feat that rivals those seen by Japan’s most popular girl band AKB48 with their smash-hit song “Heavy Rotation.”KARA also won platinum status for their song “Jumping,” in the category of ringback tone after recording over 250,000 downloads. “Jumping” is KARA’s most recent hit song from their second mini-album in Japan released in November of last year. Meanwhile, the five-member girl group’s first regular album in Japan “Girls’ Talk” released last November, ranked No.8 on Japan’s prestigious weekly Oricon chart as of today, making it the 13th straight week for the record to remain in the top 10 list of the chart.KARA, composed of members Gu Hara, Han Seung-yeon, Park Gyu-lee, Kang Ji-young and Nicole has been one of the most popular girl groups in Korea since making their debut with their first album "Blooming" in 2007.The group then expanded their career to Japan in August where they enjoyed equal success, being named best new artist of the year at the 25th annual Japan Gold Disc Award and having placed at No. 1 on the Oricon chart's listing for the most successful new artist of 2010 among other acclaims. KARA is currently filming their TV series "URAKARA," a 12-part Japanese series where the girls appear as spies with a special mission to win over the men of their dreams. The future of the group is up in the air however with members Han Seungyeon, Kang Jiyoung and Nicole having applied for their contract with agency DSP Media to be terminated.※ 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.Reporter: Heidi Kim heidikim@Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@<ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved>