Recently, Kep1er returned to the spotlight with their eighth EP Crack Code, along with the title track MV Killa. This marks their first return in six months since the Bubblegum EP, as well as their first release since 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 didn’t receive the level of attention fans were hoping for.
On Platform X, many netizens were shocked to learn this the Killa MV only garnered 11,000 views within the first hour of release. This is it considered an extremely low number for any fourth-generation K-pop groupespecially for Kep1er, which once caused a sensation later Girls Planet 999. However, that peak already occurred four years ago. At the moment, Kep1er has largely lost its momentum and is gradually fading into obscurity due to the rise of hundreds of new groups debuting every year.
Not only that, but the Crack Code EP sold just over 26,000 copies on its first day, significantly lower than previous versions. 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.
In particular, after posts expressing concern about Kep1er’s return began circulating, MV Killa began to gain traction. After four days, the MV has reached 9.6 million views, a relatively solid number compared to the 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 expected to end the Crack Code era with around 70,000 copies sold.
It’s not hard to understand why Kep1er lost momentum so quickly despite their strong debut following Girls Planet 999. The biggest problem 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 stream, purchase albums, or collectively support the group’s activities consistently during comebacks.
The departures of Yeseo, Mashiro, and Youngeun also left significant gaps, both in terms of talent and emotional connection within the fandom. For bands with a short lifespan and unstable fan base, lineup changes often feel like a reset, increasing the risk of losing loyal supporters.
Another critical factor is the lack of coherent musical direction from their agency, WAKEONE. Throughout their career, Kep1er has continually moved between concepts such as girl crush, high-teen and bubblegum pop. This inconsistency made it difficult for audiences 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 hasn’t 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 lead to being overshadowed by new artists, Kep1er seem to have missed the “golden moment” to establish themselves as one of the best fourth generation girl groups.
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. Since their debut mini album FIRST IMPACT and title track WA DA DA, Kep1er have quickly gained attention thanks to the survival show’s popularity, achieving strong album sales and chart success, becoming one of the prominent newcomers of fourth-generation K-pop at the time. However, they gradually lost their edge as other girl groups such as LE SSERAFIM and NewJeans rose to dominance.
Sources: kenh14
