Kep1er member Seo Youngeun has officially left the girl group, seven months after stopping activities due to health issues, with the group set to continue with six members.
On March 6, 2026, Kep1er’s management company Klap announced that Seo Youngeun’s team’s activities had come to an end. The agency said it reached the decision after long and careful discussions with the singer about her future direction.
In its statement, the company thanked Youngeun for working sincerely and passionately with Kep1er since their debut in 2022. It added that it will “support his future activities wholeheartedly,” asking fans to continue sending warm encouragement, according to allkpop.
After Youngeun’s release, Kep1er will advance as a six-member group. The agency said the team will “continue its new journey” and promised to repay fans with better music and shows.
Youngeun is now the third member to leave Kep1er, after Mashiro and Yeseo previously ended their activities with the group. Despite the lineup change, the group intends to continue promoting itself under the name Kep1er.
Seo Youngeun had been inactive since July 2025, when she suspended activities due to health issues. At the time, agencies Wake One and Swing Entertainment explained that she was not feeling well and doctors had advised her to get enough rest. Soompi reported.
Due to her condition, Youngeun did not take part in Kep1er’s August 2025 comeback or other scheduled events. The companies said his health is the top priority and promised full support for his recovery.
Fans had already gone months without seeing Youngeun on stage and were hoping for her return after the break. Many are now sharing messages online expressing sadness at her departure and wishing her good health and success.
Kep1er, formed through Mnet’s “Girls Planet 999” and debuting in 2022, has built a strong international fan base with songs like “WA DA DA” and “Up!” With the group entering a new phase with six members, the focus is now on how Kep1er’s music and promotions will evolve and what path Seo Youngeun will choose next, as per Hokkoku.
