Kep1er

Kep1er (Japanese: ケプラー, Hepburn: Kepura) is a South Korean girl group formed through the Mnet reality competition show Girls Planet 999 in 2021 and managed by Swing Entertainment and WakeOne. The group consists of seven members: Kim Chae-hyun, Huening Bahiyyih, Choi Yu-jin, Kim Da-yeon, Seo Young-eun, Ezaki Hikaru, and Shen Xiaoting. Originally a nine-piece ensemble, former members Kang Ye-seo and Sakamoto Mashiro departed from the group in July 2024.

Kep1er debuted on January 3, 2022 with their first extended play (EP) First Impact. Upon its release, the group received immediate commercial success, selling over 395,000 units and peaking at number 1 on South Korea's Gaon Album Chart. In addition, both the EP and its lead single "Wa Da Da" charted on the Billboard Global 200 and World Digital Songs respectively. The early success subsequently hailed them as the New Wave of the Year at several awards ceremonies, including Asia Artist Awards and Seoul Music Awards.

The group's Japanese debut single, "Fly-Up", was released on September 7, 2022, under the Sony Music Entertainment Japan subsidiary Ariola Japan. Debuting at number two on Oricon Singles Chart and with over 100,000 unit sales, the single was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ).

Name


"Kep1er" was a name suggested by viewers of Girls Planet 999 through the website Naver. The name is a reference to the planets in the Kepler star systems named after the 16th century astronomer Johannes Kepler.

Formation through Girls Planet 999
Kep1er was formed through the Mnet reality survival show Girls Planet 999, which aired from August 6 to October 22, 2021. The show brought 99 contestants from China, Japan and South Korea to compete to debut in a multinational girl group. Out of initially 99 contestants, only the top nine would make the final lineup.

Before the show began, several group members had already been active in the entertainment industry. Choi Yu-jin made her debut in the Cube Entertainment girl group CLC on March 19, 2015, with the group's extended play (EP) First Love; she was on hiatus from CLC due to activities with Kep1er until their disbandment. In 2010, Kang Ye-seo was a member of the girl group CutieL before joining Busters from 2019 to 2020.

Kim Da-yeon participated in Produce 48 in 2018, representing CNC Entertainment, while Shen Xiaoting participated in Produce Camp 2020, representing Top Class Entertainment. Both were eliminated in the first round, placing 70th and 80th in their respective shows. Mashiro Sakamoto, a trainee at JYP Entertainment from 2016 to 2018, appeared in the first episode of the Mnet reality survival show Stray Kids as part of the female trainee team, but did not progress past the first episode. Following Produce 48, Da-yeon left CNC Entertainment and signed with Stardium Entertainment, only to leave once more after her debut plans fell through. Xiaoting was a competitive ballroom and modern dancer, having won a gold medal in a modern dance sport competition in Shanghai, as well as ranking sixth globally in a British competition.

2021–2022: Debut with First Impact, Queendom 2, and Japanese debut with Fly-Up
Kep1er was originally scheduled to debut on December 14, 2021, with pre-orders for their EP First Impact having begun on November 29. They were also initially scheduled to perform at the 2021 Mnet Asian Music Awards on December 11. However, it was announced that the group's scheduled debut had been delayed to January 3, 2022, after one of their staff members tested positive for COVID-19. Their performance at the 2021 Mnet Asian Music Awards was also cancelled. On December 14, it was revealed that group members Mashiro and Xiaoting tested positive for COVID-19 and were announced to have fully recovered on December 26.



On January 3, 2022, Kep1er released their debut EP First Impact, with "Wa Da Da" serving as lead single. On January 10, Chaehyun was announced as the new co-host for SBS MTV's music program The Show alongside Ateez's Yeosang and Cravity's Minhee. On January 13, Kep1er won their first music program award on M Countdown with "Wa Da Da". On February 21, 2022, it was confirmed that Kep1er will participate in the second season of the Mnet reality competition show Queendom, scheduled to premiere in March 2022. On June 20, Kep1er released their second EP Doublast, with "Up!" serving as the lead single. On August 3, Kep1er released their first Japanese single Fly-Up, featuring "Wing Wing" as lead track. It was released on September 7, 2022. On September 23, Kep1er released the promotional single "Sugar Rush" through Universe Music. On October 13, Kep1er released their third EP Troubleshooter, with "We Fresh" serving as the lead single.

2023–present: First Japanese arena tour and line-up changes
On February 14, 2023, WakeOne and Swing Entertainment announced the dates for Kep1er Japan Concert Tour 2023 'Fly-By', which will be held in Aichi and Hyogo. This marked the first time that the group will hold a Japanese arena tour since their debut. On March 15, Kep1er released their second Japanese single Fly-By, with "I Do! Do You?" as the lead track. On April 10, The group released their fourth EP Lovestruck!, with "Giddy" as the lead single. Kep1er successfully carried out their concert tour by performing in Tokyo at Yoyogi National Stadium on May 20–21, Aichi Sky Expo on June 2–3 and at Kobe World Memorial Hall in Kobe on June 10–11. On July 6, Kep1er released the promotional single "Rescue Tayo" in collaboration with the YouTube children animation channel Tayo the Little Bus. On September 25, the group released their fifth EP Magic Hour, with "Galileo" as the lead single. On November 22, the group released their third Japanese single Fly-High, with "Grand Prix" as the lead track.

In 2024, Kep1er held their second Japanese concert tour titled Kep1er Japan Concert Tour 2024 'Fly-High' in Chiba at the Makuhari Event Hall on February 23–24, and in Kobe at the Kobe World Memorial Hall on March 2–3. On February 14, WakeOne and Swing Entertainment announced that the group's first Japanese studio album Kep1going would be released on May 8. Its title track "Straight Line" was released on April 23. On May 13, it was announced that Kep1er would be releasing their first Korean studio album Kep1going On on June 3.

In September 2023, it was reported that WakeOne was discussing the extension of the group's contract with the members' respective agencies beyond the initial two years and six months contract, which if unsuccessful would have led to the group's disbandment in mid-2024. By January 2024, discussion on renewal of the group members' contracts was reported to still be ongoing. The group's contract was set to expire in July of the same year. On May 30, WakeOne announced that all members of Kep1er, except Mashiro and Yeseo, renewed their contracts. Mashiro and Yeseo departed from the group after the group's concerts in Yokohama, Japan on July 15.

Endorsements
On February 15, 2022, Kep1er became models for South Korean cosmetics brand S2ND.

Current

 * Choi Yujin (최유진) – leader
 * Shen Xiaoting (沈小婷; 션샤오팅)
 * Kim Chaehyun (김채현)
 * Kim Dayeon (김다연)
 * Ezaki Hikaru (江崎ひかる; 에자키 히카루)
 * Huening Bahiyyih (휴닝바히에)
 * Seo Youngeun (서영은)

Former

 * Sakamoto Mashiro (坂本舞白; 사카모토 마시로)
 * Kang Yeseo (강예서)

Discography

 * Kep1going (2024)
 * Kep1going On (2024)