Kep1er, a nine-member K-pop group, will now continue as a seven-member band. Created through Mnet's survival competition Girls Planet 999, the group’s contract expired this year. Out of 9 members, only 7 of them decided to renew their contract. Yujin, Xiaoting, Chaehyun, Dayeon, Hikaru, Huening Bahiyyih, and Youngeun, elected to continue their involvement with the group, while Mashiro and Yeseo departed the band. 

Kep1er agency issues statement

Announcing the contract renewal of Kep1er, WAKEONE and SWING Entertainment shared the news of Mashiro And Yeseo’s departure from the band on May 30. The statement read, “Yujin, Xiaoting, Chaehyun, Dayeon, Hikaru, Huening Bahiyyih, and Youngeun have agreed to renew the contract to extend group promotions. Thus, Kep1er will continue promotions as a seven-member group after the project term has expired.”

The statement went on to say that Mashira and Yeseo will not be continuing their group activities. “As a result of considerable discussion and consensus, Mashiro and Yeseo will stop their activities as Kep1er after the scheduled next concert. We are deeply grateful to Mashiro and Yeseo for their devotion and hard work as Kep1ers over the last two and a half years, and we pledge to always support their future endeavors.”

The statement further went on to say that Mashira and Yeseo will not be continuing their group activities. They thanked the two members and pledged to support their future activities. The companies also stated that they will assist each Kep1er member's musical development and market their first to newest album as a 9-member group both locally and internationally.

More about Kep1er

The nine-member group Kep1er, comprising Kim Chae Hyun, Huening Bahiyyih, Choi Yu Jin, Kim Da Yeon, Seo Young Eun, Kang Ye Seo, Hikaru Ezaki, Mashiro Sakamoto, and Shen Xiaoting, is run by Swing Entertainment and WAKEONE.

In 2022, they released their debut EP, First Impact. Following that, the band went on to release multiple albums, including Doublast and Troubleshooter. Additionally, two of their most recent EPs, Lovestruck! and Magic Hour, were released in 2023. The group is presently working on Kep1going, their first studio album, which will be released in Japan on May 8, 2024.