Koo Ha-ra ( 구하라 ) (January 13, 1991 – November 24, 2019) mononymously known as Hara also called Goo Ha-ra. She was a South Korean singer and actress. She was a member of the South Korean girl group Kara. Hara also appeared in television dramas including City Hunter (2011). She made her debut as a soloist in July 2015 with the release of her EPAlohara (Can You Feel It?). Hara was found dead at her home on November 24, 2019, aged 28.

Life and Career
Koo Ha-ra ( 구하라 ) was born on January 13, 1991, in Gwangju, South Korea. She participated in SM Entertainment’s youth appearance tournament in 2005. In 2007, she unsuccessfully auditioned to join JYP Entertainment. She attended Sungshin Women’s University. Goo joined the girl group, Kara, in 2008, following the departure of former member Kim Sung-hee. In October 2009, she became a cast member of the KBS’ reality show Invincible Youth. In 2011, she made her acting debut in SBS City Hunter. She and Nicole Jung became the new MCs for Inkigayo in November 2011. In 2013, she collaborated with Japanese musician and songwriter Fukuyama Masaharu to record a song called “Magic of Love” in Korean under the project group HARA+. In October 2013, Hara was appointed as the blood donation ambassador for the Hanmaum Blood Bank. Her own reality show titled On & Off aired on December 29, 2014, on MBC Music.

In January 2015, she started hosting KBS’ idol beauty show A Style For You along with Super Junior’s Kim Heechul, EXID’s Hani, and Sistar’s Bora. In June 2015, she released a beauty book titled Nail HARA. Goo debuted as a solo artist with the release of the EP Alohara (Can You Feel It?) in July 2015, which peaked at #4 domestically. The title track “Choco Chip Cookies” features South Korean rapper Giriboy.
In October 2015, Goo joined the variety show Shaolin Clenched Fists. On January 15, 2016, Goo left DSP Media due to the expiration of her contract with the company, prompting Kara to go on an indefinite hiatus. She then joined KeyEast. In December 2016, she featured in Thunder’s single, “Sign”. Goo starred in a web movie titled Sound of a Footstep in August 2017.

In November 2017, Goo joined the variety show Seoul Mate. She released a soundtrack for the drama Jugglers, titled “On A Good Day” in January 2018. In April 2018, she hosted the JTBC’s beauty show My Mad Beauty Diary. Hara was named honorary ambassador for the 6th Animal Film Festival in July.
Personal life
On January 5, 2010, during an appearance on the SBS reality show Strong Heart. Koo Ha-ra ( 구하라 ) admitted to getting dental and minor facial cosmetic surgery. She stated that she had always had double eyelids, but had surgery to make them more defined. On January 19, 2011, it was announced that Goo would be terminating her contract with her label DSP Media along with three other members of Kara, and a lawsuit was filed on their behalf. Later that day, it was announced that she would discontinue her involvement with the suit and rejoin the company, as she apparently was not fully aware of the lawsuit’s details.
In 2018, Goo filed a lawsuit against her former boyfriend Choi Jong-bum for uploading a nude photograph of her without her consent. Choi was sentenced to one and a half years in prison. Three years of probation in the first trial held in August 2019 after being convicted of threatening, coercing, injuring, and destroying Goo’s property. On May 26, 2019, Goo attempted suicide in her apartment and was immediately taken to the hospital. Hara was found dead on November 24 at her home in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam. The police are investigating the cause of death.
EPS
Year | Title | Details |
2015 | Alohara (Can You Feel It?) | Released: July 14, 2015 Label: DSP Entertainment, Loen Entertainment Format: CD, digital download |
Singles
Year | Title | Album |
2012 | Secret Love (시크릿 러브) | Kara Solo Collection |
2013 | Magic of Love (사랑의 마법) | Galileo+ |
2015 | Choco Chip Cookies (초코칩쿠키) feat. Giriboy) | Alohara (Can you feel it?) |
2015 | How About Me? (어때) (feat. YoungJi) | Alohara (Can you feel it?) |
2018 | WILD | TBA |
2019 | Midnight Queen | TBA |
Other appearances
Year | Song | Album |
2011 | I Love You, I Want You, I Need You (Sweet Acoustic Ver.) | City Hunter OST Special |
2014 | Talk About Love | |
2017 | Sign | Thunder |
2018 | On A Good Day | Jugglers OST |
Film
Year | Title | Role |
2013 | Kara The Animation | Herself |
2017 | Sound of a Footstep | Yoon-jae |
Television Series
Year | Title | Role |
2008 | The Person Is Coming | Gang of school girls (Cameo) |
2009 | Hero | Cameo |
2011 | Urakara | Hara |
2011 | City Hunter | Choi Da-hye |
2013 | Galileo 2 | Cameo |
2014 | Secret Love | Lee Hyun-jung |
2014 | It’s Okay, That’s Love | Cameo (Ep.16) |
Reality Show
Year | Title | Notes |
2005 | Unwavered Dreams | Documentary |
2008 | Check it Girl Season 2 | Fashionista Girl |
2008-2009 | Strange Casting – Season 2 | Cast member |
2009 | Hunters | Cast member |
2009-2010 | Invincible Youth | Cast member |
2014 | ON & OFF: The Gossip | Her first reality show |
2015 | A Style For You | MC |
2015 | Shaolin Clenched Fists | Cast member |
2017 | Seoul Mate | Cast member |
2018 | My Mad Beauty Diary | MC |
Events Shows Hosting
Year | Title | Role |
2011 | Dream Concert 2011 | Host |
2011 | Seoul-Tokyo Music Festival | Host |
2012 | Inkigayo | Host |
2012 | Korean Music Wave in Kobe | Host |
2013 | Dream Concert 2013 | Host |
2013 | KBS Entertainment Awards | Host |
2014 | Hallyu Dream Festival 2014 | Host |
2015 | Dream Concert 2015 | Host |
2015 | Show! Champion – Yokohama Special | Host |
2016 | Power Of K 2016 | Host |
Awards
Year | Award | Category |
2010 | KBS Entertainment Awards | Best Female MC Award |
2011 | 5th Mnet 20’s Choice Award | Hot Campus Girl |
2011 | SBS Drama Awards | New Star Award |
2013 | ’50th’ Savings Day | Saving Award |
2015 | 2015 Korean Nail Star Award | Singer Category Award |
2015 | 2015 SBS Entertainment Awards | Best Challenge Award |
2015 | 2015 SBS Entertainment Awards | Best Teamwork Award |
Links
- IMDB
- Official Website
- Wiki
- Hancinema
- K-Pop Now!: The Korean Music Revolution
- [스타의 모든것③] 구하라 “45명 중 38등이 최악의 성적” – 일간스포츠. Ilgan Sports.
- 카라│My name is…2
- KBS ‘청춘불패’, ‘아이돌 7공주’의 좌충우돌 시골생활 정착기 – 노컷뉴스
- Hallyu stars given award for savings. Yonhap News
- Goo Hara, K-pop star of Kara fame, found dead CNN
- Pop artist Goo Hara found dead at home aged 28 BCC
- Hara, South Korean K-Pop Star, Is Found Dead The New York
- K-Pop Star Goo Hara Found Dead In Her Home
- Pop Star Koo Hara Found Dead at Age 28 | PEOPLE.com
- K-pop star Ku Hara has died at age 28 – Vox
- Koo Hara: Ex-member of K-pop girl band found dead
- Goo Hara, South Korean K-Pop Star, Is Found Dead
- goo hara kara
- koo hara asianwiki
- ku hara height
- goo hara instagram
- choi jong beom
- goo hara choi jong beom
- kara members
- goo hara profile
- koo ha-ra ( 구하라 )
- hara
- ha-ra ku
- ha-ra koo