Kara Still Marching in 'Step' with New Album

Korean girl group Kara have proved with their third official album, "Step", that internal conflict and crisis can sometimes pull artists closer together than ever, the band said on Wednesday.

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"We worked on this album with more affection and attachment than any of our previous albums", said main vocalist Han Seung-yeon, who earlier this year became involved in a legal wrangle with the band's management agency.

"Many people are worried that our sense of teamwork may have suffered, but we will do our best to put on even greater shows [in the future]", she added at a press conference at SBS Hall in Seoul to launch the album.

Kara performs at a press event announcing the release of its third album, "Step", in Seoul on Wednesday.

Now the girls, who stand at the forefront of the current K-pop invasion of Japan, are expecting a positive response from fans around Asia with their latest album. The title track, also called "Step", is an energetic and catchy fusion of rock and electronic rhythms.

Earlier this year, Kara looked in danger of disbanding when three of the band's five members sued DSP Entertainment over a contractual dispute. But this was resolved in April and the band -- the first Korean girl group to top Japan's Oricon Weekly Single Chart -- pushed on with the new album.

Despite the crisis, Kara has remained immensely popular in Japan. After spending three weeks promoting "Step" in Korea, it plans to focus on its activities in Japan.