{{Infobox album | name = Kara | type = EP | artist = Kara | cover = Kara_rock_u_cover.png | alt = | caption = From left to right: Nicole, Han Seung-Yeon, Park Gyuri, Kang Jiyoung, Goo Hara | released = July 25, 2008 | recorded = 2008 | venue = | studio = | genre = Dance-pop | length = 17:51 | language = Korean | label = DSP Media | producer = | prev_title = The First Bloooooming | prev_year = 2007 | next_title = Pretty Girl | next_year = 2008 | misc = {{Singles | name = Rock U | type = EP | single1 = Rock U | single1date = July 25, 2008 }} }}
'''''Rock U''''' (also known as '''''Kara 1st Mini Album''''')<ref>{{cite web | title = Kara Mini Album | url = http://www.yesasia.com/global/kara-mini-album/1011410837-0-0-0-en/info.html |accessdate = 2014-09-15}}</ref> is the first extended play by South Korean girl group Kara. It was released on July 25, 2008. ''Rock U'' was released as the lead single.<ref name=release>{{cite web|url=http://kpop.soribada.com/Artist/album.php?AID=AK014129&TID=KS0002467|title=Rock U (mini Album) – Kara on Soribada|date=|publisher=Soribada |accessdate=2011-08-13}}</ref>
This was also the first album to feature the two new members of the group; Goo Hara and Kang Jiyoung, following the departure of former member Kim Sunghee. The release also showed a big transition from the group's original "strong female" image to a "cute and natural" appeal, shifting from the R&B sound of their debut to bubblegum pop.
==History== After a 10-month hiatus, Kara returned with 2 new members: 17-year-old Goo Hara and 14-year-old Kang Jiyoung. They replaced Kim Sunghee, who left for educational purposes. The song was promoted in music shows, KBS's ''Music Bank'', MBC's ''Show! Music Core'', SBS's ''Inkigayo'' and Mnet's ''M! Countdown''. A new version of the song "Good Day" called "Good Day: Season 2" was released on October 13, 2008 as a digital single. A remix version of the song "What's This" entered in the special edition of the group's second EP "Pretty Girl".
== Chart performance == The Gaon Music Chart was launched in February 2010 as the official chart for South Korea. The album entered at number 81 for the second week of 2010 on the Gaon Album Chart and peaked at number 8 for the week ending July 3, 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=02&hitYear=2010&termGbn=week|title=The 2nd Weel of 2010 - Album Chart|last=|first=|date=|website=Gaon Music Chart|access-date=March 24, 2020}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=28&hitYear=2010&termGbn=week|title=The 28th Week of 2010 - Album Chart|last=|first=|date=|website=Gaon Music Chart|access-date=March 24, 2020}}</ref> The album spent four non-consecutive weeks in the Top 10 in 2010 and became the group's second Top 10 album on the chart.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=03&hitYear=2010&termGbn=week|title=The 3rd Week of 2010 - Album Chart|last=|first=|date=|website=Gaon Music Chart|access-date=March 24, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=05&hitYear=2010&termGbn=week|title=The 5th Week of 2010 - Album Chart|last=|first=|date=|website=Gaon Music Chart|access-date=March 24, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=40&hitYear=2010&termGbn=week|title=The 40th Week of 2010 - Album Chart|last=|first=|date=|website=Gaon Music Chart|access-date=March 24, 2020}}</ref>
==Track listing== {{Track listing | all_writing = | all_lyrics = | headline = Digital download | extra_column = Arrangement | length13 = | title14 = | length14 = | title15 = | length15 = | title16 = | length16 = | title17 = | length17 = | title18 = | length18 = | title19 = | length19 = | title20 = | length20 = | total_length = 17:51 | title1 = Rock U | length1 = 3:34 | lyrics1 = {{hlist|Han Jae-ho|Song Su-yun}} | music1 = {{hlist|Han Jae-ho|Song Su-yun}} | extra1 = {{hlist|Han Jae-ho|Song Su-yun}} | title2 = Baby Boy | length2 = 3:49 | lyrics2 = Kim Hyun-seo | music2 = Kim Hyun-seo | title3 = What's This | note3 = 이게뭐야 | length3 = 3:24 | lyrics3 = {{hlist|Han Jae-ho|Song Su-yun}} | music3 = {{hlist|Han Jae-ho|Kim Seung-soo}} | extra3 = {{hlist|Han Jae-ho|Kim Seung-soo}} | title4 = Good Day | length4 = 3:17 | lyrics4 = {{hlist|Han Jae-ho|Kim Seung-soo}} | music4 = {{hlist|Han Jae-ho|Kim Seung-soo}} | extra4 = {{hlist|Han Jae-ho|Kim Seung-soo}} | title5 = Wait | length5 = 3:45 | lyrics5 = Hwang Seong-je | music5 = Hwang Seong-je | extra5 = Hwang Seong-je | title6 = | length6 = | title7 = | length7 = | title8 = | length8 = | title9 = | length9 = | title10 = | length10 = | title11 = | length11 = | title12 = | length12 = | title13 = }}
== Charts == {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" !Chart (2010) !Peak position |- ! scope="row" |South Korea (Gaon)<ref name=":0" /> |8 |} {| class="wikitable sortable" !Chart (2011) !Peak<br/>position |- |Japanese Albums (''Oricon'')<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/503091/products/music/904452/1/ | title=１ｓｔ・ミニ・アルバム ＫＡＲＡのプロフィールならオリコン芸能人事典-ORICON STYLE |publisher=Oricon |accessdate=2011-09-13|language=ja}}</ref> |align="center"|106 |}
==Release history== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |- ! scope="col"| Country !! Date !! Format !! Label |- ! scope="row" rowspan="2"|South Korea<ref name=release /> ! scope="row"| July 25, 2008 | Digital download ! scope="row" rowspan="2"| CJ E&M<br />DSP Media |- ! scope="row"| July 31, 2008 | CD |- ! scope="row"| Japan<ref name=japanrelease>{{cite web|url=http://store.universal-music.co.jp/fs/artist/kara_album_cd/pocs22010|title=KARA / 1st Mini Album【国内盤】【CD】 / CD / UNIVERSAL MUSIC STORE|date=|publisher=Universal Music Group|accessdate=2011-09-13|language=ja|archive-date=2011-09-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110912043332/http://store.universal-music.co.jp/fs/artist/kara_album_cd/pocs22010|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=itunes>{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/jp/album/1st-mini-album-ep/id449054279|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113210335/https://itunes.apple.com/jp/album/1st-mini-album-ep/id449054279|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 13, 2012|title=KARA「1st Mini Album – EP」 – iTunes で「1st Mini Album – EP」をダウンロード|date=|publisher=iTunes |accessdate=2011-09-13|language=ja}}</ref> ! scope="row"| February 23, 2011 | CD, Digital download ! scope="row"| Universal Sigma |- ! scope="row"| Taiwan ! scope="row"| November 7, 2022 | CD, Digital download ! scope="row"| Warner Music |}
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Kara}} {{Authority control}}
Category:2008 EPs Category:Kara (South Korean group) EPs Category:Korean-language EPs Category:2000s Korean-language albums