Kep1Er
Kep1er (/ˈkɛplər/; Korean: 케플러; RR: Kepeulleo) 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 nine members: Kim Chae-hyun, Huening Bahiyyih, Choi Yu-jin, Kim Da-yeon, Seo Young-eun, Kang Ye-seo, Hikaru Ezaki, Mashiro Sakamoto, and Shen Xiaoting. They debuted on January 3, 2022, with the extended play (EP) First Impact and would be active for two years and six months.
Kep1er | |
|---|---|
 Kep1er in October 2022 L–R: Hikaru, Yeseo, Dayeon, Xiaoting, Chaehyun, Yujin, Huening Bahiyyih, Youngeun, and Mashiro | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Seoul, South Korea |
| Genres | K-pop |
| Years active | 2022–present |
| Labels | |
| Spinoff of | Girls Planet 999 |
| Members | |
| Website | wake-one |
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.
History
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
On February 14, 2023, Wake One 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 22, it was reported that WakeOne is discussing on the possibility of extending the group's contract with the members' respective agencies beyond the initial two years and six months contract, which if unsuccessful will lead to the group's disbandment in mid-2024. 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.
By January 2024, discussion on renewal of the group members' contracts was reported to still be ongoing. The group's current contract is set to expire on July 3 later that year. 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, 2024, and in Kobe at the Kobe World Memorial Hall on March 2–3. On May 8, Kep1er will be releasing their first Japanese studio album Kep1going. The MV for title track "Straight Line" was released on April 23, 2024.
Endorsements
On February 15, 2022, Kep1er became models for South Korean cosmetics brand S2ND.
Members
- Choi Yujin (최유진) – leader
- Shen Xiaoting (沈小婷; 션샤오팅)
- Mashiro Sakamoto (坂本舞白; 사카모토 마시로) – co-leader
- Kim Chaehyun (김채현)
- Kim Dayeon (김다연)
- Hikaru Ezaki (江崎ひかる; 에자키 히카루)
- Huening Bahiyyih (휴닝바히에)
- Seo Youngeun (서영은)
- Kang Yeseo (강예서)
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Kep1going |
|
Extended plays
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Sales | Certifications | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOR | FIN | JPN | JPN Hot | ||||
| First Impact |
| 1 | 19 | 2 | 10 |
|
|
| Doublast |
| 2 | — | 9 | 24 |
|
|
| Troubleshooter |
| 2 | — | 6 | 21 |
|
|
| Lovestruck! |
| 2 | — | 7 | 29 |
| |
| Magic Hour |
| 3 | — | 7 | 61 |
| |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Sales | Certifications | Album | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOR | KOR Songs | JPN | JPN Comb. | JPN Hot | NZ Hot | SGP | VIE | US World | WW | |||||
| Korean | ||||||||||||||
| "Wa Da Da" | 2022 | 75 | 70 | — | 7 | 9 | 24 | 11 | 73 | 13 | 77 | — |
| First Impact |
| "Up!" | — | — | — | 36 | 27 | — | 29 | — | — | — | Doublast | |||
| "We Fresh" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Troubleshooter | |||
| "Giddy" | 2023 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Lovestruck! | ||
| "Galileo" | — | — | — | — | 96 | — | — | — | — | — | Magic Hour | |||
| Japanese | ||||||||||||||
| "Wing Wing" | 2022 | — | — | 2 | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — |
|
| Kep1going |
| "I Do! Do You?" | 2023 | — | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — |
|
| |
| "Grand Prix" | — | — | 2 | 2 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — |
|
| ||
| "Straight Line" | 2024 | To be released | ||||||||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||||||||||||
Promotional singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart position | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOR DL | |||
| "Sugar Rush" | 2022 | 82 | Non-album single |
| "Rescue Tayo" | 2023 | 160 |
Other charted songs
| Title | Year | Peak chart position | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOR DL | US World | |||
| "See the Light" | 2022 | 128 | — | First Impact |
| "MVSK" | 96 | — | ||
| "Shine" (Kep1er ver.) | 118 | — | ||
| "Another Dream" (Kep1er ver.) | 143 | — | ||
| "OOO" (Kep1er Ver.) | 135 | — | ||
| "Don't Go" (나비소녀) (with Loona as Sun and Moon) | — | 14 | Queendom 2 Position Unit Battle Part.1-1 | |
| "Purr" (with Viviz as Kev1z) | 118 | — | ||
| "The Girls (Can't Turn Me Down)" | 154 | — | Queendom 2 Final | |
| "Le Voya9e" | 65 | — | Doublast | |
| "Attention" | 75 | — | ||
| "Good Night" | 78 | — | ||
| "Rewind" | 79 | — | ||
| "Lion Tamer" | 182 | — | Troubleshooter | |
| "Dreams" | 185 | — | ||
| "Downtown" | 186 | — | ||
| "The Girls (Can't Turn Me Down) (Remastered)" | 198 | — | ||
| "Back to the City" | 2023 | 79 | — | Lovestruck! |
| "LVLY" | 85 | — | ||
| "Why" | 88 | — | ||
| "Happy Ending" | 90 | — | ||
| "The Door" | 146 | — | Magic Hour | |
| "Love on Lock" | 152 | — | ||
| "Tropical Light" | 160 | — | ||
| "Tape" | 167 | — | ||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory | ||||
Concerts and tours
Kep1er Japan Concert Tour 2023 'Fly-By'
| Date | City | Country | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 20, 2023 | Tokyo | Japan | Yoyogi National Stadium |
| May 21, 2023 | |||
| June 2, 2023 | Aichi | Aichi Sky Expo | |
| June 3, 2023 | |||
| June 10, 2023 | Kobe | World Memorial Hall | |
| June 11, 2023 |
Kep1er Japan Concert Tour 2024 'Fly-High'
| Date | City | Country | Venue | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 23, 2024 | Chiba | Japan | Makuhari Event Hall | 30,000 |
| February 24, 2024 | ||||
| February 25, 2024 | ||||
| March 2, 2024 | Kobe | World Memorial Hall | ||
| March 3, 2024 |
Videography
Music videos
| Title | Year | Director(s) | Length | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Wa Da Da" | 2022 | Bang Jae-yeob | 3:18 | |
| "Up!" | Hiijack | 3:18 | ||
| "Wing Wing" | Naive Creative Production | 3:23 | ||
| "Sugar Rush" | 3:34 | |||
| "We Fresh" | 3:44 | |||
| "I do! Do you?" | 2023 | Ko Joo-yeong | 4:00 | |
| "Giddy" | Bart (Flipevil) | 3:15 | ||
| "Rescue Tayo" | OHSKA | 2:34 | ||
| "Galileo" | Hong Jaehwan / Lee Hyesu (SWISHER) | 3:32 | ||
| "Grand Prix" | 88 Gymnastics Heros | 3:16 | ||
| "Straight Line" | 2024 | 3:07 |
Filmography
Television shows
| Year | Title | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Girls Planet 999 | Survival show determining Kep1er's members | |
| Kep1er View | Pre-debut reality show series | ||
| 2022 | Kep1er Debut Show | Debut show | |
| Queendom 2 | Contestant | ||
| Kep1er Doublast On Air | Comeback show | ||
| 2023 | Kep1er-unner | Reality show series | |
| Kep1er Comeback Show: Lovestruck! | Comeback show |
Web shows
| Year | Title | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–present | Kep1us | Behind the scenes of the members' activities | |
| 2022 | Kep1er Zone | Variety show series | |
| KEPtain Heroes | |||
| 2023 | Kep1ayer | ||
| 2023–present | Kep1erving | Weekly variety shows |
Awards and nominations
| Award ceremony | Year | Category | Nominee / Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asia Artist Awards | 2022 | Best Choice Award – Music | Kep1er | Won | |
| New Wave Award – Music | Won | ||||
| 2023 | Best Icon Award | Won | |||
| Brand Customer Loyalty Awards | 2022 | Rookie of the Year (Female) | Won | ||
| Cable TV Broadcasting Awards | Star Award | Won | |||
| Circle Chart Music Awards | 2023 | Song of the Year – January | "Wa Da Da" | Won | |
| New Artist of the Year – Digital | Nominated | ||||
| New Artist of the Year – Physical | Doublast | Nominated | |||
| Genie Music Awards | 2022 | Best Female Rookie Award | Kep1er | Nominated | |
| Golden Disc Awards | 2023 | Rookie Artist of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Hanteo Music Awards | 2023 | Won | |||
| 2024 | Popular Global Group | Won | |||
| Japan Gold Disc Award | 2023 | Best 3 New Artists (Asia) | Won | ||
| Song of the Year by Streaming (Asia) | "Wa Da Da" | Won | |||
| Japan Record Awards | 2022 | Special Achievement Award | Kep1er | Won | |
| K-Global Heart Dream Awards | K-Global Super Rookie Award | Won | |||
| Korea Model Awards | Rising Star Award – Singer | Won | |||
| MAMA Awards | 2022 | Favorite New Artist | Won | ||
| Best New Female Artist | Nominated | ||||
| Worldwide Fans' Choice Top 10 | Nominated | ||||
| Artist of the Year | Longlisted | ||||
| 2023 | Favourite Asian Female Group | Won | |||
| Worldwide Fans' Choice Top 10 | Nominated | ||||
| Melon Music Awards | 2022 | New Artist of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Mnet Japan Fan's Choice Awards | 2022 | Rookie of the Year | Won | ||
| Seoul Music Awards | 2023 | New Wave Star Award | Kep1er | Won | |
| 2024 | Hallyu Special Award | Nominated | |||
| Main Award (Bonsang) | Nominated | ||||
| Popularity Award | Nominated | ||||
| The Fact Music Awards | 2022 | Global Hottest Award | Kep1er | Won | |
| Fan N Star Choice Award (Artist) | Nominated | ||||
| Four Star Awards | Nominated | ||||
| idolplus Popularity Award | Nominated |
Notes
References
External links
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