[Edaily Starin KIM HYUNSIK Reporter] "We plan to approach our activities with more determination than ever before."

The members of the mixed-gender group KARD (BM, Jaseop, Jeon So-min, Jeon Ji-woo) met with E-Daily during a roundtable interview held on the 21st at Over the Rainbow in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, and expressed their determination as they kick off promotions for their new album, *Where To Now? Part.2: NOWHERE*.
“Where To Now? Part 2: NOWHERE” is KARD’s first full-length album since the group debuted with a pre-debut single in December 2016. It holds special significance for KARD as it is their final release before their exclusive contract with agency DSP Media expires.
Earlier this month, DSP Media announced via a notice posted on its official website, “After careful discussions with the four members, we have decided to conclude KARD’s group activities following this album and the upcoming tour.”
In this interview, the members personally announced that their exclusive contracts with DSP Media will expire on December 31. However, they emphasized that the end of their exclusive contracts does not mean the group is disbanding, asking fans to “please understand this as simply putting a ‘comma’ in our journey.”
Jeon Ji-woo said, “We didn’t have any major arguments with the members, nor were there any differences of opinion,” adding, “After our contracts end, we’ll spend time on our own, but we may reunite as KARD and resume group activities someday.”
Even if this isn’t a disbandment, KARD’s activities will come to a halt for a while once the members scatter to their respective projects. To resume group activities afterward, an agreement must be reached with DSP Media, which holds KARD’s intellectual property (IP) rights.
Since there’s no guarantee when they’ll be able to reunite and release a new album, all four members poured more heart and soul into this album than ever before.

◇“We Hope People Say, ‘They Left Behind a Masterpiece’”
The new album features a total of 10 tracks, including the title track “Back To Life.” The members unanimously stated, “We worked on this album while reflecting on the 10 years since our debut.”
Jaseop said, “We renewed our contract once in 2022. Unlike then, the company didn’t bring up the topic of a contract this time, so I instinctively sensed that a renewal wouldn’t happen naturally. That’s why we approached this project from the very beginning with the mindset that this would be our final album.”
The title track, “Back to Life,” is a mumbahton-based dancehall track. Jeon So-min said, “We wanted to show you how happily we’re promoting with a song featuring the refreshing sound that people most associate with KARD.”
“Back to Life” is also a song for which all CARD members contributed to the lyrics. Jeon So-min explained, “It conveys the message, ‘You’re not alone,’” adding, “We wanted to offer encouragement and comfort through our music to those going through difficult times.”
Jeon Ji-woo emphasized, “We began our activities with the goal of becoming a group that keeps pace with global music trends, and since the mumbahton-style songs we released early in our debut became hits beyond our expectations, that has become CARD’s signature sound,” adding, “This new song will showcase CARD’s growth and evolution over the years.”
Among the album’s tracks, “Always” was produced as a fan song conveying a message of gratitude to the fandom “Hidden Card,” who have supported the group for the past 10 years.
The members said, “‘Hidden Card’ has been our ‘guardian of self-esteem.’ They’ve been a beacon of light whenever we were exhausted or struggling,” adding, “We wrote the lyrics by pouring our hearts into the message: ‘Thank you for always being a beacon of light for KARD.’”
BM will release all tracks from their new album via various online music platforms at 6:00 p.m. on the 28th. On the 8th of next month, they will hold the first concert of their new world tour, “NOW HERE,” at Gabin Art Hall in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, which will run until the end of their current contract.
BM said, “After releasing the new album, I hope to hear reactions like, ‘Why are you leaving after releasing such a masterpiece?’” He also added, “I’m even imagining us taking first place on music shows with ‘Back to Life,’ and if that actually happens, I don’t think I’ll be able to hold back my tears.”
Jeon So-min stated, “I’ll do my best to show fans more of my smiling side rather than my crying side during this promotional period.”