After being selected from the talent show “Girls Planet 999”, the period-limited Korean girl group Kep1er was originally scheduled to conclude their activities in July this year. However, the management companies WAKEONE and SWING Entertainment announced today that after the expiration of Kep1er’s original contract, the group will continue its activities with a seven-member lineup.
Kep1er was initially slated to be active for 2 years and 6 months. According to the original contract, they were supposed to end their group activities in July 2024. Today, the management company revealed that members Choi Yoojin, Shin Soojin, Kim Chaehyun, Kim Doyeon, Mahiro Kawase, Huing Bahia, and Seo Yeong-eun have agreed to renew their contracts and continue as a seven-member group after the original contract period of Kep1er.
Additionally, the company stated that Sakamoto Maika and Kang Rui Xu, after lengthy discussions with the company, have decided to leave the group after the release of their first full-length album “Kep1going On” on June 3 and the conclusion of the July concert in Japan. WAKEONE and SWING Entertainment also expressed their gratitude to Sakamoto Maika and Kang Rui Xu for their hard work as members of Kep1er for the past 2 years and 6 months, and mentioned that they will continue to support them in the future.
Furthermore, WAKEONE and SWING Entertainment expressed their hope that fans will look forward to Kep1er’s first and final full-length albums, which will be released under a nine-member lineup. The companies emphasized that they will actively support the group’s future activities and the musical growth of each member.
Despite two members not renewing their contracts, Kep1er stands out as the first case among period-limited groups selected from talent shows to extend their contracts and continue group activities.