KARA performs their song "STEP" at a showcase introducing their 3rd full-length album of the same name held in Seoul, South Korea on September 14, 2011. [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]

"It's great to see them. Right? Haven't we waited for them for so long?" This is what comedienne Kim Shin-young said at the showcase marking the release of KARA's third full-length album "STEP" held in Seoul on September 14. And making such a remark would usually be a formality for when singers make a comeback but this was not the case for KARA's fans who must have been anxious starting January, when rumor said they would disband, up till the moment they got to see them on stage on Wednesday. Their cries such as "Kyulee is the prettiest!" or "Look over here too!" which poured out from here and there even before they gave their first performance were in earnest and they were more in unison than ever when rapping along to the rap part of song "STEP." As if having looked forward to this day too, KARA's Gu Hara, all smiles, playfully answered, "Yes?" when fans called out her name and Kang Jiyoung charmingly said hello to fans.

Hence the bond between KARA and their fans had grown stronger and KARA showed their energetic selves to their fans. Kang was still her cute self, giving an embarrassed laugh after saying, "I became a turtle for our third album. Because turtles may not be fast but they show you how they take each and every step" and Park was chic as ever, responding "What are you talking about?" when fans urged her to name her daughter 'Kyul' [meaning 'tangerine'] when she has her in the future. They were also still odd, suddenly racing each other to see who can peel tangerines faster when asked "How do you girls peel tangerines?" and were honest as seen by how member Han Seungyeon said, "I've stood on top of an apple box before," when asked about high heels. They may have shed tears three months ago when on a television program, they said, "We'll continue to show everyone how amazing we are so I don't think there'll be much more for us to say right now." But the lyrics to "STEP" -- "I won't ever look back. Time is too short even when looking just forward" and "I'm starting all over again. I'm going raise the tempo and go forward" -- is the story of these five ladies as well.

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10 아시아 Reporter : Hwang Hyo-Jin seventeen@
10 아시아 Photographer : Lee Jin-hyuk eleven@
10 아시아 Editor : Jang Kyung-Jin three@
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