Girls' Generation (top), KARA (bottom left) and TVXQ (bottom right) [SM Entertainment/DSP Media]

Korean female idols KARA, Girls' Generation and singing duo TVXQ have been invited to a year end music program in Japan.

Reports by various Japanese media outlets including Sankei Sports revealed on Tuesday that KARA, Girls' Generation and TVXQ will appear on NHK's 62nd music special "Red & White Song Battle" which will take place on December 31.

This will be a first for both KARA and Girls' Generation while the third time for TVXQ. Actor Jang Keun-suk and boy bands Chosinsung, 2PM and SHINee were on the list for potential contenders.

NHK's "Red & White Song Battle" features 50 singers and artists that have led an active singing career in Japan during the year and are divided into teams of red and white to showcase their performances.

KARA, composed of members Gu Hara, Han Seung-yeon, Park Gyu-lee, Kang Ji-young and Nicole, is currently one of the most successful Korean girl groups to break into the Japanese market.

The girls recently topped Oricon's weekly album chart with their second full-length Japanese album "Super Girl."

Girls' Generation, composed of members Taeyeon, Tiffany, Hyoyeon, Sunny, Jessica, Seohyun, Yoona, Yuri and Sooyoung, have expanded their career into Japan in September last year. They have since released several Japanese singles and held their nationwide Japanese tour.

TVXQ, composed of members Max Changmin and U-Know Yunho, have topped Oricon's charts and achieved platinum status with "Why? (Keep Your Head Down)" which went on sale in the country in late January. The boys will soon release their new Japanese single "Winter" on November 30.

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10 아시아 Reporter : Lucia Hong luciahong@
10 아시아 Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@
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