2024/10/09
In this second part of the event white paper, I would like to write about what I consider the number one event of the first half of the year.
That is, "Kep1er extending their contract as a 7-member group."
Some may wonder why a contract extension would be considered an event, but it is because it made a reality of what had never been achieved before: the extension of activities for a "limited-time group," which was thought to be impossible.
It is not an exaggeration to say that this is an event that will go down in KPOP history.
As I wrote when featuring Kep1er in Season1#1, it was a well-known fact among fans that Kep1er would end their activities, meaning disband, on July 3, 2024.
This is because all groups that were born from Mnet's survival programs and debuted as limited-time groups have disbanded without exception at the end of their originally scheduled activity period.
Kep1er debuted on January 3, 2022, with a set activity period of 2 years and 6 months, and everyone thought that activities beyond July 3 were 99% impossible.
The main reason for this was that each member belonged to different agencies, and it was thought to be impossible to reach an extension agreement with all the agencies.
In fact, 143 Entertainment, to which Mashiro and Yeso belong, did not agree to the extension of Kep1er.
There was a tendency among fans to interpret that Mashiro and Yeso leaving meant the disbandment of Kep1er.
Similarly, although IZ*ONE (which included current IVE members Jang Wonyoung and Ahn Yujin, and current LE SSERAFIM members Chaewon and Sakura) debuted from Mnet's survival program and was extremely popular, they ended their activities as scheduled after 2 years and 6 months, despite reaching agreements with most agencies. This was one of the factors that led fans to interpret the situation this way.
Therefore, the author also believed that unless all agencies could reach an agreement, an extension of Kep1er's contract was impossible.
Now, let's look at how the contract extension was reported chronologically.
2023
September 23: Reports emerge for the first time that negotiations are underway with each agency for a contract extension.
2024
January 12: WAKEONE (Kep1er's agency) reports that they have not given up on the contract extension and are continuing positive discussions with each agency.
May 16: Reports of a contract extension as a restructured 7-member group emerge. The agency comments, "We are in discussions with the members and each agency."
May 17: In a complete turnaround from the previous day, reports emerge that negotiations with each agency have failed. Reports of the contract extension being nullified come out.
May 30: The contract extension as a 7-member group is officially announced.
That was the flow of events.
What is noteworthy here is that reports of negotiations for an extension had actually emerged as early as September of last year.
However, at that time, it seemed that no one took it seriously, thinking it was just the usual extension alibi.
In the past, even when reports of negotiations for extensions were made for IZ*ONE and Wanna One (a boy group born from Mnet's survival program that ended activities after 2 years and 6 months), they ultimately disbanded as scheduled.
Then, on May 16, with just a month and a half until the end of activities, the sudden news of a 7-member extension came out, and I remember that most Kep1ians (Kep1er’s fanbase) were negative about it.
As for myself, I was against the extension if it wasn't with all 9 members, and I assumed that the members themselves did not wish for a 7-member extension.
The next day, reports of the contract extension being nullified came out, and everyone thought, "Well, that’s how it goes."
Everyone thought that the first full album "Kep1goingOn," set to be released on June 3, would be the last activity of Kep1er.
No one doubted that the concert held at K Arena Yokohama from July 13 to 15 would be the disbandment concert.
However, just before the album's release on May 30, the contract extension as a 7-member group was officially announced, shocking Kep1ians around the world.
At the same time, many had mixed feelings about it.
In particular, fans of Mashiro and Yeso were quite vocal on X (formerly Twitter).
That’s understandable.
While their favorites were leaving, the group was continuing to exist.
And I myself felt very conflicted.
Although my bias Yujin remained, I honestly didn't know if I could continue to support Kep1er as a 7-member group.
However, after attending all three days of the concert at K Arena Yokohama, which was the last concert with all 9 members, I was moved by their performance.
Seeing them perform with all their might, determined to give it their all for the last concert, and feeling their message of "Even as 7, we will continue to move forward, so we want you to stay with us," I was finally able to view the contract extension positively.
It was clear that the conclusion they reached after much internal struggle was one that fans might not fully understand, and I felt strongly that the members of Kep1er believed they could reach even greater heights.
Kep1er has achieved the unprecedented contract extension for a limited-time group born from an Mnet survival program.
With their talent, it feels like reaching even greater heights is not just a dream.
After wrapping up their activities as Kep1er, Mashiro and Yeso returned to 143 Entertainment and made their re-debut on September 3 as part of a new group called MADEIN, alongside new members, coincidentally as a seven-member group just like the new Kep1er.
Meanwhile, the seven-member Kep1er has been actively performing as well.
In July, they had their first performance as a seven-member group at KCON LA, and in August, they won the Global Generation Award at The Fact Music Awards, which was held for the first time in Japan. In September, they debuted their new song "sync-love" at KCON Germany, raising expectations for their upcoming comeback (officially announced for November 1!).
Kep1er, who made history with the first-ever contract extension for a "limited-time group" in KPOP,
I hope to continue watching over the seven members and the two who have started their new paths as one Kep1ian.
The End
Neko-machi Peko
Head of the SKOOTA KPOP Team
Originally a Western rock music enthusiast, I once considered working for Rockin' On. I started listening to KPOP thanks to BTS, then got hooked on BLACKPINK, and found myself stepping into the KPOP world. I became a hardcore fan of Kep1er, who debuted from the survival audition show 'Girls Planet 999', and ended up fully immersed in the KPOP scene.