Recently, Kep1er made their comeback with their 8th EP Crack Code, along with the title track MV Killa. This marks their first comeback in six months since the EP Bubblegum, as well as their first release following Youngeun’s departure in early March. In the ever-changing and highly competitive K-pop market, Kep1er’s name has gradually faded, and as expected, their latest release has not received the level of attention fans had hoped for.
On platform X, many netizens were shocked to learn that the MV Killa only garnered 11,000 views within its first hour of release. This is considered an extremely low number for any fourth-generation K-pop group, especially for Kep1er, who once made waves following Girls Planet 999. However, that peak was already four years ago. At present, Kep1er has largely lost its momentum and is gradually fading into obscurity amid the rise of hundreds of new groups debuting each year.
Not only that, but the EP Crack Code sold just over 26,000 copies on its first day, significantly lower than their previous releases. Compared to Troubleshooter (167,000 copies), Doublast (153,000 copies), and FIRST IMPACT (150,000 copies), their recent releases have seen a drop of up to 80% from the group’s peak.
Notably, after posts expressing concern about Kep1er’s comeback began circulating, the MV Killa started to gain traction. After four days, the MV reached 9.6 million views, a relatively solid number compared to its initial 11,000 views. However, Crack Code has yet to show significant improvement in album sales. By the fourth day, the EP sold just over 7,000 additional copies, bringing the total to nearly 55,000. With such slow growth, Kep1er is predicted to wrap up the Crack Code era with around 70,000 copies sold.
It is not difficult to understand why Kep1er has lost momentum so quickly despite their strong debut following Girls Planet 999. The biggest issue lies in their fandom structure. As a group formed through a survival show, Kep1er has a large number of solo fans but a relatively weaker unified fandom. Over time, this model reveals its limitations, as fans may not consistently stream, purchase albums, or support group activities collectively during comebacks.
The departures of Yeseo, Mashiro, and Youngeun have also left noticeable gaps, both in terms of talent and emotional connection within the fandom. For groups with short lifespans and unstable fanbases, lineup changes often feel like a reset, increasing the risk of losing loyal supporters.
Another critical factor is the lack of a consistent musical direction from their agency, WAKEONE. Throughout their career, Kep1er has continuously shifted between concepts such as girl crush, high-teen, and bubblegum pop. This inconsistency has made it difficult for the public to associate the group with a distinct musical identity.
At the same time, WAKEONE’s promotional strategy has been criticized for lacking clear planning. The group has not had many viral moments and has struggled to maintain momentum after each comeback. In an entertainment industry where even a few months of silence can result in being overshadowed by newer artists, Kep1er appears to have missed the “golden timing” to establish themselves as a top fourth-generation girl group.
Kep1er is a South Korean girl group formed through Girls Planet 999 and officially debuted in January 2022 under WAKEONE. The original lineup consisted of nine multinational members: Yujin, Xiaoting, Mashiro, Chaehyun, Dayeon, Hikaru, Bahiyyih, Youngeun, and Yeseo. From their debut mini album FIRST IMPACT and title track WA DA DA, Kep1er quickly gained attention thanks to the survival show’s popularity, achieving strong album sales and chart success, becoming one of the standout rookies of fourth-generation K-pop at the time. However, they gradually lost their edge as other girl groups like LE SSERAFIM and NewJeans rose to dominance.
Sources: kenh14