generasia:Featured article for 2022 week 41
Kep1er
Kep1er (케플러) is a Korean pop 9-member project girl group that was formed via the Mnet TV show Girls Planet 999. They are signed to WAKE ONE and Swing Entertainment.
From August 6, 2021 to October 22, 2021 for a total of twelve episodes, 99 girls competed to debut in a project group of 9-members. On October 22nd, the final episode of Girls Planet 999 aired, revealing those chosen as the final 9 to be in the group. These finalists were Kim Chaehyun, Huening Bahiyyih, Choi Yujin, Kim Dayeon, Seo Youngeun, Kang Yeseo, Ezaki Hikaru, Sakamoto Mashiro, Shen Xiaoting, who ranked #1 through #9 respectively. The group's name was also revealed to be Kep1er. Their name had been suggested by viewers of the Girls Planet 999 show through the website Naver. The name could possibly be a homage to the planet Keplers which was named after the 16th century astronomer Johannes Kepler. The name also kept its relation to Girls Planet 999 by continuing the space-related theme from the show's title.
Kep1er made their debut on January 3, 2022 with the mini-album FIRST IMPACT and lead track "WA DA DA". Their mini-album became the best-selling girl group debut album in its first day on Hanteo after recording 200,000 pre-order copies, breaking aespa's Savage record. On January 13, 2022, they won their first music program award on M Countdown with "WA DA DA".
Their third mini-album, TROUBLESHOOTER, is released this week on October 13th.
