The K-pop landscape is ever-evolving, and few groups have left as distinct a mark as KARD. Known for their unique coed dynamic and captivating sound, the quartet has spent nearly a decade building a global fanbase. Now, they stand at a significant crossroad, preparing to release their first full-length studio album that, surprisingly, marks an emotional culmination rather than a fresh start.
For most K-pop groups, a first full-length album marks a beginning. For KARD, it marks an ending.
Nearly a decade after their December 2016 debut, the four-member coed group – BM, J.seph, Somin, and Jiwoo – will drop their highly anticipated first studio album, “Where To Now? (Part.2): Nowhere,” on Tuesday. This release precedes their final world tour next month, after which the members will embark on individual career paths, bringing a temporary close to one of K-pop’s longest-running mixed-gender acts.
The album itself serves as both a poignant farewell and a deep reflection. While its title concludes the narrative initiated with last year’s “Where To Now? (Part.1: Yellow Light),” the members emphasize that its core message transcends a mere destination. Instead, it’s about appreciating the journey itself.
“As artists entering our tenth year, perspective is incredibly important,” BM shared during a roundtable interview in Seoul on July 21. “What’s more important than where you are is who you’re with. People often focus too much on distant goals, and the farther away what you want seems, the harder life becomes. But if you change your perspective, your life can change surprisingly easily. That’s the message we wanted to convey.”
The 10-track album is a rich tapestry of sound, featuring the main song “Back To Life,” four new group songs, and four previously released solo tracks from each member. BM took the helm in production, while all four members poured their hearts into writing the lyrics for both “Back To Life” and the dedicated fan song, “Always.”
Initially, the group didn’t envision this project as their swan song.
An Unplanned Farewell: Individual Paths and Hopes for Reunion
“We didn’t make this album thinking it would be our last,” J.seph revealed. “As our contracts were nearing their end, we worked on the songs and gradually realized this might end up being our final album.”
Rather than labeling their decision as a definitive breakup, the members frame it as a strategic pause – an invaluable opportunity for individual growth, with the hopeful prospect of reuniting stronger in the future.
“We’ve all done our best, and we’ve seen what those efforts have achieved,” BM explained. “At this point, each of us has a chance to grow further and spread our wings somewhere new. If we gain those experiences, I think we’ll be able to come back together later and create even better work with even greater synergy.”
Somin echoed this hopeful sentiment, drawing parallels to industry seniors. “We’ve seen senior groups take a break and come back together later,” she noted. “We’d appreciate it if fans could think of us the same way.”
Pioneering Spirit: KARD’s Enduring Influence
KARD debuted during a challenging era for mixed-gender idol groups in K-pop, when they were a rarity. Even prior to their official debut, their pre-release project singles ignited international interest, leading to early tours across North and South America. Overseas touring became a cornerstone of their career, particularly resonating in Latin America and Europe, even as domestic recognition in Korea remained a tougher climb.
Somin proudly highlighted KARD’s role in shaping broader K-pop trends.
“There weren’t many groups using moombahton or tropical sounds when we debuted, but now there are quite a few,” she pointed out. “There also weren’t many artists touring internationally back then. Now many more K-pop artists have opportunities to meet fans around the world. I also think it’s encouraging that perceptions of coed groups have become more positive. I’d say we had a positive influence.”
Despite their significant global impact, the members openly acknowledged that their domestic career remains one of their biggest regrets.
“I still feel it’s unfortunate,” Jiwoo confessed. “Building recognition in Korea was always our biggest challenge, and we worked hard to overcome it, but it didn’t always go the way we wanted. Whenever we returned from overseas tours, we had very few engagements in Korea. Sometimes I wonder what it would have been like if we’d been able to promote here more actively during those times.”
Yet, not a single member expressed regret over the unique path KARD ultimately forged.
A Grand Finale: The ‘Now Here’ World Tour
The group is set to launch their emotional farewell “Now Here” world tour in Seoul on August 8th, before taking their final performances to fans across Berlin, Frankfurt, Brussels, Lisbon, Barcelona, Madrid, Paris, London, Sofia, Athens, and Singapore.
For now, their collective focus remains firmly on maximizing their remaining time together and cherishing every moment with their dedicated Hidden KARD.
“We’re filming a lot of content and trying to hold as many fan signing events as possible,” Somin shared, emphasizing their commitment. “We want to spend a great final chapter with our fans.”
And what if this final album exceeds all expectations, achieving unexpected success? Could it alter their plans?
“Of course,” Somin replied instantly, when asked if success could change the group’s retirement plans.
“One hundred percent,” J.seph added without hesitation, leaving a glimmer of hope for a future that might just bring KARD back together sooner than anticipated.
