The last time as nine: Kep1er holds last performance with current team in Japan

Girl group Kep1er held its last performance as a nine-member team in Yokohama, Japan, on Monday.

Girl group Kep1er [WAKEONE/SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT JAPAN/SWING ENTERTAINMENT]

Girl group Kep1er held its last performance as a nine-member team in Yokohama, Japan, on Monday.

"I hope you will continue to support and love us no matter where we are in the future," said Yujin during the performance, according to a press release by Kep1er’s agencies WakeOne and Swing Entertainment.

The performance was part of the “Kep1going” concert series at the K-Arena Yokohama, held from Saturday to Monday.

Kep1er debuted as a nine-member project girl group formed through Mnet's multinational girl group audition show "Girls Planet 999: The Girls Saga" (2021). Kep1er members had a two-and-a-half-year contract with WakeOne and Swing Entertainment, set to expire in July.

The nine-member girl group will restructure as a seven-member team, as two members — Yeseo and Mashiro — return to their original agency, 143 Entertainment.

The remaining seven members — Hikaru, Dayeon, Xiaoting, Chaehyun, Yujin, Huening Bahiyyih and Youngeun — have renewed their contracts with WakeOne and Swing Entertainment to continue as seven.

Yeseo and Mashiro will debut as members of a new girl group called MADEIN, 143 Entertainment said Tuesday in a press release.

The name of the girl group comes from the fact that most members were “made” by the love of fans through auditions, according to the agency. MADEIN is set for debut in September.

Both the specific date of debut and the member roster for MADEIN have not been disclosed as of Tuesday afternoon.

To find out more about Kep1er, visit Celeb Confirmed!

BY KIM MIN-YOUNG [kim.minyoung5@joongang.co.kr]