As Nicole Departs Kara, DSP Media Confirms Jiyoung Will Quit Group To Study Abroad In April

And then there were three.

One day before founding band member Nicole Jung's record contract with DSP Media is set to expire, the record label dropped another bombshell on the fans, confirming reports that Kang Jiyoung will be leaving the group when her contract expires in April.

"Kang Ji Young will not extend her exclusive contract with DSP Media unless there is a new negotiation," a DSP Media spokesperson wrote in a statement to the online publication allkpop on Wednesday.

"Today, we have once again confirmed Jiyoung's intent, and received word that she still wishes to leave KARA for schooling and to walk the path of becoming an actress."

Jiyoung joined the band along with singer Goo Hara in 2008, after original member Kim Sunghee left due to parental pressure.

The new Kara lineup, which has already been reflected on the group's Wikipedia page, is now Park Gyuri, Han Seungyeon and Goo Hara.

According to the DSP spokesperson, Jiyoung will continue to honor her contractual obligations to the band.

"Jiyoung still has time and schedules under DSP Media until her contract expires in April, and like reported earlier, she has expressed her wishes to study abroad while in negotiations with DSP," the label spokesperson said.

The label rep claims DSP Media executives had remained optimistic of being able to negotiate with Jiyoung until the end.

"We did not receive a letter in the form of certification of contents like the one mentioned [in media reports], but rather a notice containing her position," the rep said.

"The position was that 'We will not extend the contract without a new negotiation', so in time, we were planning to have further negotiations with Jiyoung's side about extending the contract.

Tags
KARA
Kara's Ji Young
Kang Jiyoung
jiyoung
Nicole
Nicole Jung
DSP Media
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