K-pop girl group T-ara to release last album in May

K-pop group T-ara is set to release their last album with all six members before their individual contracts expire. PHOTO: T-ARA/FACEBOOK

SEOUL (The Korea Herald/Asia News Network) - K-pop group T-ara is set to release their last album with all six members before their individual contracts expire.

The girl group's agency MBK Entertainment released a statement saying that the upcoming album , slated for a May 17 release , will be the last in its "complete form".

MBK Entertainment said: "Concerts and other activities as a group will cease as of late June. The members will discuss their future plans with the agency afterwards."

T-ara is one of the longest lived K-pop groups in Korea, having debuted in July 2009 with the EP Lies. It followed up with its first studio album Absolute First Album (2009) , which spawned several hits, including Bo Peep Bo Peep and You Drive Me Crazy.

T-ara hit the jackpot in 2011 with megahit Roly-Poly, which became South Korean music chart Gaon's best-selling single of the year.

But the group's popularity took a hit the following year due to controversy over an allegation that former member Ryu Hwa Young, now an actress, was bullied.

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