Kep1er

Kep1er
Kep1er posing for the camera at Gimpo International Airport
Kep1er in November 2023
L–R: Seo Young-eun, Choi Yu-jin, Kang Ye-seo, Sakamoto Mashiro, Kim Da-yeon, Ezaki Hikaru, Shen Xiaoting, Huening Bahiyyih, and Kim Chae-hyun
Background information
OriginSeoul, South Korea
Genres
Years active2022 (2022)–present
Labels
Spinoff ofGirls Planet 999
Members
  • Choi Yu-jin
  • Shen Xiaoting
  • Kim Chae-hyun
  • Kim Da-yeon
  • Ezaki Hikaru
  • Huening Bahiyyih
  • Seo Young-eun
Past members
Websitewake-one.com/artists/kep1er/

Kep1er (/ˈkɛplər/; Korean: 케플러; RR: Kepeulleo; Japanese: ケプラー, Hepburn: Kepurā) is a South Korean girl group formed by CJ ENM through the Mnet reality competition show Girls Planet 999 in 2021. 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.[2][3] Originally a nine-piece ensemble, former members Kang Ye-seo and Sakamoto Mashiro departed from the group in July 2024.

The group debuted on January 3, 2022, under the co-management of WakeOne and Swing Entertainment with their first extended play (EP) First Impact.[4] Upon its release, the group received immediate commercial success, selling approximately 400,000 copies and peaking at number 1 on South Korea's Gaon Album Chart.[5][6] In addition, both the EP and its lead single "Wa Da Da" charted on the Billboard Global 200 and World Digital Songs respectively.[7] 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).[8][9]

Since September 30, 2024, as part of the label reorganization of Swing Entertainment, Klap Entertainment will be co-managing the group alongside WakeOne.[10]

  1. ^ "ARTIST LIST - Ariola Japan (アリオラジャパン)". Ariola Japan. Archived from the original on September 20, 2022. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  2. ^ Kim, Hyun-sik (October 22, 2021). "김채현 1위...'걸스플래닛' 9인조 걸그룹 '케플러' 결성" [Kim Chae-hyun 1st place... 'Girls Planet' 9-member girl group 'Kep1er' formed]. Edaily (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 22, 2021. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  3. ^ "케플러, 해체 아닌 7인 활동..."프로젝트 그룹 중 최초"". Archived from the original on May 30, 2024. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  4. ^ Kim, Jung-soo (January 4, 2022). "'데뷔' 케플러, 아이오아이·아이즈원 잇는다 'WA DA DA(와 다 다)' 첫무대 [MD동영상]" ['Debut' Kep1er joins I.O.I and Iz*one for first performance of 'WA DA DA' [MD video]]. MyDaily (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 2, 2024. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  5. ^ "Album Chart 2022". Circle Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 13, 2023. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  6. ^ "First Impact" (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. January 2–8, 2022. Archived from the original on January 13, 2022. Retrieved January 13, 2022 – via Gaon Chart.
  7. ^ "Rookie girl group Kep1er ranks on Spotify and Billboard charts". koreajoongangdaily.joins.com. January 18, 2022. Archived from the original on September 24, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  8. ^ "週間 シングルランキング – 2022年09月19日付" [Weekly Single Ranking – Published for September 19, 2022]. Oricon (in Japanese). September 5–11, 2022. Archived from the original on September 14, 2022. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  9. ^ "一般社団法人 日本レコード協会". www.riaj.or.jp. Archived from the original on February 8, 2019. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  10. ^ Kim, Ye-eun (September 30, 2024). "케플러, 7인조 활동 본격 스타트" [Kep1er, 7-member activities begin in earnest]. Xports News. Archived from the original on September 30, 2024. Retrieved September 30, 2024 – via Naver.