Lupin (Hangul: 루팡) is the third Korean extended play (EP) by South Korean girl groupKara, released on February 17, 2010, by DSP. The concept and artwork of the album is based on French writer Maurice Leblanc's fictional gentleman thief, Arsène Lupin.[1] The EP sold over 64,000 copies in 2010, ranking as the 16th best-selling album of the year in South Korea.
In early February, DSP Media announced that Kara would be coming back with "Lupin" and showing a darker, more mature concept.[1] The song was released to digital outlets on February 17, 2010, and topped various charts the following day.[2]Han Seung-yeon noted that, although the group had a cute image with singles like "Pretty Girl" and "Mister", "Lupin" would allow the girls to portray a "chic" concept.[3] Media reports noted that the group would be going up against Girls' Generation, who had made their comeback a few weeks earlier with "Oh!".[4]
The music video was released on February 22, garnering more than 90,000 views in the first two hours.[5] After the popularity of the group's "butt dance" with "Mister", netizens were curious to see the choreography of "Lupin"; as such, parts of the dance, including the "Emergency Exit" dance and the "Halla" dance, were highlighted by viewers.[6] Other moves of interest were Goo Hara's hair flip.
Kara made their comeback in late February, starting with Mnet's M! Countdown on February 25, 2010.[7] The group then performed on all major network music shows over the weekend.[8] On March 4, 2010, Kara won their first #1 award for "Lupin" on M! Countdown. The following week, Kara won yet another #1 award on M! Countdown, making it their second consecutive win on the program.[9]"Lupin" also gave Kara their first #1 win on Music Bank on March 12, 2010, making it the group's first win on the music show since their debut,[10] and held onto the position for three consecutive weeks.[11] The song also won the Mutizen award from Inkigayo.[12] "Lupin" is among a handful of Kara tracks featured in the arcade music game, DJ Max Technika 3.
^"카라 한승연, 데뷔 3년만에 '뮤뱅' 첫 1위 눈물 '그래도 예뻐'" [Kara Han Seung-yeon, 1st place on 'Music Bank' 3 years after debut]. Newsen. Daum. March 12, 2010. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
^ ab카라, '루팡'으로 3주 연속 '뮤직뱅크' 1위 [Kara, 1st place on 'Music Bank' for 3 consecutive weeks with 'Lupin']. Star News (in Korean). Naver. March 26, 2010. Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
^ ab"카라, 음악차트 올킬!" [Kara, music chart all-kill!]. Hankook Ilbo (in Korean). March 14, 2010. Archived from the original on June 13, 2011. Retrieved March 14, 2010.
^"카라, '루팡'으로 2주 연속 '엠카' 1위" [Kara, 'Lupin' 1st place for 2 consecutive weeks on 'M Countdown']. Star News (in Korean). Naver. March 11, 2010. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
