Netizens gathered in an online community to discuss the future of Kep1er members after their impending disbandment.
Read more of their discussion below.
What Happens to Kep1er Members After Disbandment? Here's What K-pop Community Thinks
In the fourth generation, Kep1er is one of the most well-loved project groups in the K-pop industry. The group was formed on Mnet's survival program "Girls Planet 999," and made their debut on January 3, 2022, with album "First Impact" and main track "WA DA DA."
(Photo : Facebook: Mnet 엠카운트다운(M COUNTDOWN) X M2)
Operating under WAKEONE Entertainment and Swing Entertainment, the K-pop community eventually came to love the nine-membered group, which is composed of Yujin, Xiaoting, Mashiro, Chaehyun, Dayeon, Hikaru, Huening Bahiyyih, Youngeun, and Yeseo.
Like any project girl group, Kep1er also has limited time in their run, and their exclusive contract status has remained one of the most discussed topics in online communities. The group has also been offered two and a half years of promotion and it will most likely end in June 2024.
Online, netizens gathered in a post titled, "What to make of Kep1er's future prospects post disbandment?"
(Photo : pannchoa)
The author addressed Kep1er's looming contractual dissolution and asked netizens about the possible opportunities for each member after their disbandment.
"As a temporary group, Kep1er's disbandment is looming large in the near future. What are some prospects for them post disbandment?"
"Any chance a big agency will pick anyone of them up? Will Xiaoting debut again in K-pop, or has she made enough of a name herself to likely relocate to Chinese entertainments like many of her contemporaries have in similar situations?"
(Photo : Facebook: Mnet 엠카운트다운(M COUNTDOWN) X M2)(Photo : Instagram)
Netizens based their speculations solely on how much impact Kep1er made throughout their career and compared it to the previous project girl group IZ*ONE, who made headlines with their music, album sales, and reception, especially in South Korea and Japan.
"If Kep1er is as popular as IZ*ONE, two members will re-debut under HYBE as their fifth-gen girl group, but Kep1er is a flop and HYBE isn't a charity organization."
"Tbh the only disbanded post-produce group who is doing well is IZ*ONE. Maybe you can count Somi in. Other than that are not that good."
"I think they will be the same as the others, but I hope I'm wrong. I also don't see any big company pulling Chaewon and Sakura again."
"If they are lucky one or two members will be successful in some acting role, but I find it difficult, because even some IZ*ONE girls are struggling to succeed as actresses."
Some enumerated each member's possible prospects in the future.
"My guesses:
Yujin - Actress, (maybe) Soloist
Xiaoting - Solo in China, or a Mid-sized/Big will try to debut her in a K-pop group
Mashiro - Will join LIMELIGHT
Chaehyun - Soloist
Dayeon - Girl Group (whether that be from Jellyfish or another company, idk)
Hikaru - Maybe solo in Japan, or girl group (if she signs with a Korean company)
Hiyyih - Girl Group (whether that be from IST or another company, idk)
Youngeun - Solo or Girl Group (I can see either working for her)
