Kep1er members kpop profile (2024 updated)

Yujin

Xiaoting

Chaehyun

Dayeon

Hikaru

Huening Bahiyyih

Youngeun

Past members

Mashiro

Yeseo

Introduction

Kep1er, also stylized and pronounced as Kepler, is a seven-member global project girl group under WAKEONE. They were formed through the South Korean survival show "Girls Planet 999", which was produced by CJ E&M and broadcast by Mnet.

The first episode of "Girls Planet 999" aired on August 6, 2021, and the remaining episodes were broadcast weekly every Friday until October 22, 2021, when the final episode was broadcast live and the final nine members of Kep1er were announced.

Kim Chaehyun placed 1st, followed by Huening Bahiyyih in 2nd. Choi Yujin placed 3rd, Kim Dayeon placed 4th, Seo Youngeun placed 5th, Kang Yeseo placed 6th, Ezaki Hikaru placed 7th, Sakamoto Mashiro placed 8th and, finally, Shen Xiaoting placed 9th.

With nine members and originally signed to both WAKEONE and Swing Entertainment, Kep1er debuted on January 3, 2022 with their first mini album "First Impact". From that moment forward, the members were to promote for 2 years and 6 months, after which the group would disband.

On January 3, 2022, the group’s fandom name was announced to be "Kep1ian", which means the inhabitants of the planet “Kep1er”. On the planet “Kep1er” dwells the members together with the fans, where they share the same dream.

In early 2024, rumors began to circulate about the potential renewal of Kep1er's contract. On May 30, 2024, WAKEONE stepped forward and announced the contract renewal of seven out of nine members, with Mashiro and Yeseo ending their activities with the group as originally agreed. Therefore, going forward, Kep1er would continue their promotion as a seven-member group with Yujin, Xiaoting, Chaehyun, Dayeon, Hikaru, Bahiyyih and Youngeun. Furthermore, their contract with Swing Entertainment was terminated.

Mashiro and Yeseo officially departed from Kep1er on July 15, 2024, after the group's Japanese concert. After terminating their contract with WAKEONE, they both returned to their agency 143 Entertainment and were announced as members of MADEIN.

The extention of their contract with WAKEONE marks Kep1er as the first survival project group from Mnet's flagship survival shows to do so. They are expected to make their first seven-member comeback before the end of 2024.

The name of the group “Kep1er” combines “Kep” which means catching dreams and the number “1” which refers to the nine members who join together to be the best. It also refers to the planet “Kepler”, the Kepler space telescope inspired by the German astronomer Johannes Kepler. The group’s official introduction is: “Catch your eye, Catch your mind! Hello, we are Kep1er”.

On September 30, 2024, it was announced that Kep1er had signed an exclusive contract with KLAP Entertainment, who will also be co-managing the group along with WAKEONE.

On October 7, 2024, it was announced that the group will release their 6th mini album titled "TIPI-TAP" on November 1, 2024, marking their first comeback as a seven-members group with Yujin, Xiaoting, Chaehyun, Dayeon, Hikaru, Bahiyyih, and Youngeun.