The interview for KARD's final studio album felt somewhat heavy. As a rare mixed-gender group in K-pop who enjoys immense popularity in South America, news of the members' expiring exclusive contracts with their current agency was distorted into rumors of group 'disbandment,' leading to false speculation that this album would be their goodbye release and that they would no longer be active.
KARD has been loved overseas much more than domestically, releasing experimental and unconventional music for a solid 10 years. Due to the unique nature of being a mixed-gender group, they constantly faced various difficulties, such as blending the members' music and performances and dealing with dating rumors, but the members summed up the past time as 'fighting really well.'
KARD (BM, J.seph, SOMIN, JIWOO) is releasing their 1st studio album "Where To Now? (Part.2) : NOWHERE" today (the 28th) at 6 PM. Serving as an extension of last year's 7th mini-album, this release carries the message that after a journey of endlessly searching for direction, this very moment and the people who stayed by their side were the true destination. Coincidentally, this album is also the last studio release KARD is putting out ahead of the expiration of their exclusive contract with DSP Media.
During the interview, the members repeatedly emphasized that these promotions do not mean "disbandment." BM said, "It was meant to convey the completion of a chapter due to the contract ending, but there seems to have been a slight misunderstanding. We will continue making music in a new environment, and we might even get together among ourselves to release a KARD album." J.seph also drew laughter by sharing an anecdote where he explained to his nephew, who called to check on him, "Uncle has a company too, and the time has come for that tied-up contract to end."
Ever since making their name known with a project single in December 2016, KARD is a group that received unusual attention even before their official debut, holding a world tour spanning North and South America. Since then, they have steadily continued tours across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, and last year, they once again cemented their unique musical color through the title track of their 8th mini-album. They have steadily solidified their presence as global artists, winning a culture award category last year and receiving a grand prize in recognition of their contributions to spreading the Korean Wave.
Even so, a deep sense of regret over their domestic public recognition lingered. JIWOO confessed, "Domestic recognition has always been a major homework assignment. We tried various methods on how to catch the public eye in Korea, but it didn't quite resonate."
J.seph also shared that after returning from overseas tours, their schedule in Korea was sparse, admitting that the disappointment was once significant. However, he calmly concluded, "Looking back, I received more love overseas than enough to put that regret behind me. I think it was a very good stepping stone."
Ironically, the news of their ending promotions has now become a point in time when they are receiving attention domestically. J.seph steeled his determination, saying, "I thought that even if it's late, receiving attention now is an opportunity, and since we have made a great song called 'Back To Life,' I think this is truly our last chance."
The title track "Back To Life" is a dancehall track based on moombahton that sophisticatedly reinterprets KARD's signature tropical sound, with all members participating in the lyric writing. Amidst a blend of upbeat synths and heavy bass, it carries a comforting message that they will always be a place to lean on for each other. Regarding this song, SOMIN explained, "It's a song that can bring coolness to many people during the scorching summer, and I hope it becomes a comfort."
The album features a total of 10 tracks, including "Armor," which contains the determination to protect oneself amidst outside gazes; "At Least," which sets the lingering, unhealed resonance of a breakup over a reggaeton rhythm; "Signal," depicting a strong attraction; the fan song "Always," containing gratitude toward the fans; as well as individual solo tracks for each member.
Toward the end of the interview, when asked, "What is something you wanted to say to each other over the past 10 years?" the members grew teary-eyed.
SOMIN, who spoke first, told the members, "We really fought wonderfully and well." Reflecting on the past, she said, "In the early days of our promotions, the agency's opinions were almost everything, but after that, we talked about how it would be great for us to actively voice our opinions and build things ourselves, so we actively participated in music production and album concepts. I am truly proud that we never gave up and stubbornly protected what we wanted."
J.seph, who then took the microphone, shared unexpected recent news with a relatively calm expression. It was the news that his father had passed away 3 weeks ago. He said, "Back then, I kept waiting for the time the members would come. Having them by my side like that was a huge source of strength, and looking back after going through those flustered times, although it sounds cheesy, I realized a lot that family is indeed family."
Following that, BM shared his thoughts, saying, "We debuted at these ages of 21 and 25, and it felt like learning about society together. Spending 10 years together, we've seen each other more than our actual families and friends." JIWOO added, "I am so relieved and grateful that I was able to debut as KARD and be together with these members."
KARD will kick off their full-scale world tour by holding the "KARD 2026 WORLD TOUR 'NOW HERE' IN SEOUL" at Gabin Art Hall in Gangnam-gu, Seoul on August 8. The tour is scheduled to continue until early next year, and additional cities are expected to be unveiled sequentially.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)