By 2024/10/09
In this second part of the event white paper, I would like to write about what was my personal number one event of the first half of the year.
That event is the “Kep1er contract extension as a 7-member group.”
Some may wonder why a contract extension would be considered an event, but it’s because it made a reality of something that had never happened before: the extension of activities for a “limited-time group,” which many thought was impossible.
This can be said to be a significant event in KPOP history.
As noted in Season1#1, it was well-known among fans that Kep1er would end its activities, effectively disbanding on July 3, 2024.
This was because every group that had debuted as a limited-time group through Mnet’s survival programs had, without exception, disbanded at the end of their originally scheduled activity period.
Kep1er debuted on January 3, 2022, with an activity period of 2 years and 6 months, and it was thought that activities past July 3 were 99% impossible.
A major reason for this was that each member belonged to different agencies, and it was believed that it would be impossible to reach an agreement for an extension with all the agencies.
In fact, 143 Entertainment, which has Mashiro and Yeso, did not agree to the extension for Kep1er.
There was a sentiment among fans that losing Mashiro and Yeso would automatically mean 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 a survival program hosted by Mnet and was immensely popular, while most agencies came to an agreement, there were some agencies that did not (it is said that STARSHIP Entertainment, which was preparing for IVE’s debut, did not agree to an extension, but the truth of this is unclear), and they ended their activities as scheduled after 2 years and 6 months. This was one factor that led fans to interpret the situation as such.
Therefore, the author also thought that unless all agencies could agree, a contract extension for Kep1er was impossible.
Now, let’s look at how the contract extension was reported chronologically.
2023
September 23: The first report emerges indicating negotiations with each agency for a contract extension.
2024
January 12: WAKEONE (Kep1er’s agency) insists that they have not given up on the contract extension and are continuing to negotiate positively with each agency.
May 16: Reports state an extension has been restructured with the 7-member formation. The agency comments, “We are currently in discussions with members and each agency.”
May 17: Contrarily, reports emerge about the failure of negotiations with each agency, indicating the contract extension is back to square one.
May 30: The contract extension is officially announced with the 7-member group.
That was the sequence of events.
What is noteworthy here is that reports suggesting ongoing negotiations for an extension had started as early as September of last year.
However, at that time, it seems that no one took it seriously, assuming it was simply the customary extension alibi.
Similar to the case with IZ*ONE and Wanna One (a boy group that also debuted from a Mnet survival program and ended activities after 2 years and 6 months), when reports of negotiations for an extension were made, they ended up disbanding as originally scheduled, which contributed to this skepticism.
Then, suddenly on May 16, with only a month and a half left until the end of activities, news broke of the extension with 7 members, and I recall most Kep1ians (Kep1er fans) being negative about it.
I, too, was against the extension if it weren’t with all nine members, and I assumed the remaining members did not wish for a 7-member continuation.
The next day, reports of the extension being reverted came out, and everyone thought, “Well, that’s how it always goes.”
By June 3, the release of the 1st full album “Kep1goingOn,” was anticipated by all Kep1ians to be their last activity.
No one doubted that the concerts held from July 13 to 15 at K Arena Yokohama would be the disbandment concerts.
However, just before the album’s release on May 30, the official announcement of a contract extension with 7 members was made, shocking Kep1ians worldwide.
At the same time, many had mixed feelings.
Particularly, fans of Mashiro and Yeso expressed their dissatisfaction on X (formerly Twitter).
This is understandable.
While their favorite members were departing, the group was continuing on.
Personally, I also found myself with very complex feelings.
Though my bias, Yujin, remained, I honestly couldn’t know if I could continue to support Kep1er as a 7-member group.
However, after attending all three days of the final concert with all nine members at K Arena Yokohama and being moved by their performance, I felt their determination to go all out during what was their last concert without regrets.
I could also feel their sincere wish to move forward together with fans saying, “Even as a 7-member group, we will continue to progress, so we want you to keep following us.” This was the moment I was able to first view the contract extension in a positive light.
It was evident that the members had struggled with this difficult decision, which conveyed their belief that they could reach greater heights.
Kep1er has achieved the unprecedented contract extension for a limited-time group born from Mnet’s survival program.
Seeing them, I was convinced that reaching for even greater heights from here on out is no longer a dream.
Meanwhile, Mashiro and Yeso, upon finishing their activities as Kep1er, returned to 143 Entertainment and, interestingly, recently re-debuted on September 3 with a new group called MADEIN, consisting of 7 members, similar to the new Kep1er.
On the other hand, the now 7-member Kep1er is actively engaged in various activities.
In July, they performed as a 7-member group for the first time at KCON LA, and in August, they won the Global Generation Award at The Fact Music Awards, which was held in Japan for the first time. In September, they debuted their new song “sync-love” at KCON Germany, creating excitement for their upcoming comeback (which has been officially announced for November 1!).
Having created a monumental incident in KPOP history with their contract extension as a “limited-time group,”
I hope to continue watching both the seven members and the two as they embark on new paths as one Kep1ian.
The end
Nekomachi Peko
Head of the SKOOTA KPOP Department
Originally a fan of Western rock, I considered working at Rockin’ On at one point due to my deep interest in music. I started listening to KPOP because of BTS, then got hooked on BLACKPINK, ultimately wading deeper into the KPOP realm. I became an avid fan of Kep1er, who debuted from the survival audition program ‘Girls Planet 999’ (often referred to as Galpra), resulting in my complete immersion in KPOP.
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