DSP & reps for 3 KARA members meet for 8 hours, decide to continue activities as 5

KARA’s agency, DSP Media, and the representatives for three of the group’s members (Kang Jiyoung, Jung Nicole, Han Seungyeon) met for a second round of negotiation talks regarding the existing schedule and group members.

In a news item released on January 27th, it was revealed that as a result of the second talks, KARA will remain as a five-member group and will work together to continue their scheduled activities.

DSP Media representatives said, “The reached agreement for the five members to work together was in order to not cause problems for the scheduled activities.” Adding on, “In a restaurant in Gangnam, Seoul, the CEO of DSP and the parents of Kang Jiyoung, Jung Nicole, and Han Seungyeon met for the first time since the dispute occurred and talked for 8 hours. Because no negotiations were reached in the last meeting on the 25th between the legal representatives, this meeting was initiated.”

DSP Media continued, “At this meeting, the parents of the three members who were leaving the agency and the DSP Media CEO tried to agree on their demands. Thus, the urgent issue of the existing scheduled activities was resolved.”

Furthermore, DSP Media added, “The results of the issues discussed and plans of future meetings were not determined.”

DSP sends proposal to KARA, could possibly return as 5 soon

On January 25th, Landmark, the legal representatives for the three members of KARA (Kang Jiyoung, Jung Nicole, Han Seungyeon), revealed that, “DSP Media has proposed the following for KARA members: ‘Creating an agreement on promotions within and outside of Korea’ and ‘Consulting and requesting the members’ opinions’. With regards to the first proposal, DSP expressed that the company has shown clear intentions of negotiating with the members. These were proposed in hope that the three KARA members will continue carrying out their schedules in Korea and Japan. The representative predicts that the fans will be able to see the five members of KARA promoting together very soon.”

The contents of ‘To create an agreement on promotions within and outside of Korea’ are as follows:

1) From now on, KARA members will have an experienced manager while promoting in Korea and overseas.

2) After discussing resuming promotions in Japan, DSP will acknowledge the opinions of members and seek contact from the manager stated in the first point.

3) During promotions in Korea and overseas, the members are allowed to have their guardians (the members’ parents or someone they have chosen) accompanying them and contribute to making important decisions.

4) While promoting in Japan, the representative of DSP Japan will be cooperative.

However, a representative of the three KARA members said, “In regards to the second proposal, the KARA members expressed that they still don’t have faith in DSP. There’s been a promise and agreement with DSP to promote right away, yet we are disappointed with their insincerity.”

The KARA members’ opinions of ‘Consulting and requesting of the members’ opinions’ are as follows:

1) The three members of KARA will let the legal department deal with their contract, and both sides have agreed to complete activities that they have missed.

2) In order to restore faith in the relationship between KARA and DSP, the three members have suggested the following to be completed by January 27th:

a) The members will meet with representative Lee Hoyeon and not DSP.

b) Finding an end to the gap between the management until the return of representative Lee Hoyeon.

c) They will seek a management that is highly regarded and reliable.

d) They will find a way to organize and improve Care, KARA’s management team.

e) Making sure that KARA’s promised income is given.

f) An explanation in the relationship between DSP and DSP Japan.

3) Fixing the individual contracts before all the members terminate their contract.

4) Once the overall income has been calculated, they will provide full disclosure and all paperwork regarding the income.

A representative of the three members said, “DSP was not able to give a clear answer in regards to representative Lee Hoyeon’s whereabouts, as well as performing as five members again. Not only did the three KARA members lose faith in DSP, but the contracts were also unfair. The members have also recognized a difference between their opinions and the company’s stand on the issue.”

With regards to their requests to shorten their contract, they expressed, “It was not the members who had brought it up first, but DSP had privately approached one member with this issue. We were able to find out the intentions of DSP on that day. The company had stated that they would resolve and shorten the contracts but to change their answer now has confused all of us.”

Credits: allkpop

DSP Media to meet with KARA on January 25th

DSP Media has revealed that they will be trying their absolute best in reaching a compromise with the three estranged KARA members on January 25th.

Representatives reported on the 24th, “We received notice that they will be meeting on the 25th at 10 AM.  We have yet to receive a location.”

When asked how they would respond to request of a management shuffle, which became an issue earlier on, they responded, “They would not bring such unrealistic requests to the table.  We believe that as much as the three have expressed a desire in maintaining KARA, they will be realistic in their plan.  KARA is the most important right now, and protecting the team is our highest priority.  We believe that their opinions aren’t much more different than ours.”

They concluded, “Our stance is still the same as well.  The only way to solve a misunderstanding is through conversation and compromise.  The reason we haven’t been taking any other type of action is to prevent the issue from exacerbating and to promote conversation.  This is the best we can do, and we will continue to do our best in protecting KARA, so please refrain from further creating distorted rumors or speculations.”

Credits: allkpop