Kep1er
As K-pop continues its international takeover, its reach is increasingly becoming engrained in overseas cultures. Reality singing competition Girls Planet 999 and new girl group Kep1er, are the latest examples of this ever-growing mindset as a South Korea–based TV show and music group with a major international focus.
Girls Planet 999 featured 99 contestants representing Korea, Japan, and China competing to be part of a new girl group. The competition was broadcast on Korean television station Mnet, Chinese online video platform iQIYI, Japanese live streaming site AbemaTV as well as Mnet Japan, the tvN Asia channel for select South Asian countries, plus YouTube to reach the rest of the world. After 12 episodes, the final members of a new, multinational group formed as Kep1er delivering not only what was sure to be an adored K-pop group but one of the most excitingly diverse acts. From members with a range of nationalities, specialties and experience in the industry, Kep1er represents yet another exciting future where K-pop can grow and expand.
While the group is initially only contracted to stay together for two-and-a-half years per show rules, the possibilities Kep1er have together—and beyond—are open-ended given their early promise not just numbers-wise (their debut mini album release FIRST IMPACT has already broken sales records for girl group debuts with over 200,000 copies sold worldwide) but even in the way they come together and lean on one another in their first overseas interview.
Despite nearly seven years in the industry as a K-pop idol, Kep1er leader Yujin has a fresh chipperness about her, even as her eight juniors agree that she’s “the cutest member of the group” it’s clear that she watches over the group with calm energy and thinks about the best ways to incorporate all nine members into the conversation. Meanwhile, Chaehyun, Youngeun and Yeseo boast undeniable professionalism, despite being so fresh to the scene, with the former regularly taking a graceful lead on tougher questions, and Youngeun and Yeseo always delivering in-depth answers even as Kep1er’s two youngest. There are notable leadership qualities from Mashiro who has a strong camaraderie with Hikaru, helping her out with translations when Hikaru wanted to add more thought to her answers, and Yeseo mentioning her as a source of strength. Dayeon’s dynamic rap and dance style translates in-person with the star regularly giving answers with bouncy perkiness, a fun compliment to Xiaoting who sits to her left that delivers a sense of sophistication and poise while still opening up with fun and self-deprecating remarks. And while Huening Bahiyyih starts quieter than other members, the starlet increasingly warms up to endearingly shooting her hand up to answer questions and playfully shouting out answers, making sure the conversation doesn’t end until adding that Kep1er’s first-year goal is to win the award for Rookie of the Year by the end of 2022.
Altogether, the different moods and viewpoints in Kep1er come to represent an undeniably friendly bond together and an exciting cohesion for audiences. Even if issues with COVID-19 delayed their initial entry into the market, it’s clear Kep1er didn’t waste time preparing and coming closely together to become, what they hope to be, as the next “best girl group.” Get to know the nontet more with this exclusive interview.
Jeff Benjamin: Hello Kep1er! I’m so excited to talk to you and glad your debut is finally here. Since Girls Planet 999 ended, can you tell us how everything has been going?
Yujin: We’re all feeling well and happy. Of course, we were a little bit concerned at first because our debut was delayed, but we spent most of the time practicing for our debut performance.
Xiaoting: As soon as the program ended, we went straight to debut preparations. We had short breaks in between—we met friends and went out shopping mostly—and when I didn’t have anything scheduled, I studied Korean language and practiced performances. Since debuting was our dream goal, we really worked hard for it. I hope everyone looks out for it.
Chaehyun: We actually were in self-quarantine during Christmas so we were a bit on a break then, a solo Christmas. But during self-quarantine, we passed the time with activities on our own. Like I know Huening Bahiyyih baked cookies, I made bracelets, so once the quarantine ended we had some gifts to share with one another.
Jeff Benjamin: In the time before your debut, you’ve had huge pre-order album numbers, more than 1 million Instagram and TikTok followers. Have you noticed the response?
Mashiro: We were very grateful that our first-ever V Live had a lot of viewers and we received a lot of comments during that top. It was actually at that time that I realized there were a lot of fans watching us with anticipation.
Jeff Benjamin: FIRST IMPACT is a really strong debut, I think “WA DA DA” is going to catch on and create a syndrome while “MVSK” is a really great EDM track. What is Kep1er trying to show with this first album? Are you focusing on EDM?
Chaehyun: Our title track single “WA DA DA” has an energetic and lovely charm and embeds our aspirations to become the best girl group and our determination to run to our fans who have been showing such love and support. Since it’s the first album with us nine together, we really want to leave that strong “first impact.”
Dayeon: We’re not trying to limit ourselves to a specific genre but want to present genres with Kep1er’s true colors. But we will show energetic and exciting performances through our time together so I hope fans will look forward to that. But when it comes to EDM, Youngeun and I are huge fans of EDM so we always turn on dance tracks for random dancing and messing around.
Chaehyun: And I think our members have great vocals, so maybe next time we’d really want to show something more in the ballad style.
Jeff Benjamin: How are your relationships with the Girls Planets contestants? Have you heard from anyone before your debut or do you reminisce on big moments from the show?
Hikaru: I’m still talking to J-Group members, especially Shana. Ahead of our debut, we messaged each other about how we did a good job on the performance videos that had been released on YouTube. I’ll be really happy if we can see each other on stage one day.
Chaehyun: We all think the “Shine” performance at the finale in Girls Planet 999 was really special since it was the last performance we did together as a group. It was really touching.
Yujin: I personally liked the performance of “Utopia” [by Unicorn that featured Chaehyun and Yeseo]. Even though I wasn’t a part of it, I saw the other members practicing and I thought it really showed their charms well.
Jeff Benjamin: And then looking ahead, what goals does Kep1er have?
Huening Bahiyyih: Kep1er’s first goal is to rank on the music charts. And I wish we can spread Kep1er’s music around the world.
Jeff Benjamin: Ke1per is a new group but it isn’t the first group for Yujin, Hikaru and Yeseo. I’m curious what you may want to do differently this time or what wisdom you can bring to Kep1er?
Yujin: We spent a lot of time on how to develop and grow as artists. We thought, “We shouldn’t remain the same” and that made us want to practice harder and harder. One of the new goals I have with Kep1er is to win first place on a music show.
Yeseo: I want to show fans a different side of myself through different genres. I really don’t want to be limited to one style.
Hikaru: I also want to try out new styles that I haven’t shown to fans yet.
Jeff Benjamin: In addition to the range of experience, I love the diversity in Kep1er. I’m curious what you’ve learned from your fellow members?
Youngeun: The youngest member, Yeseo, likes to cook at the dorm. She’s actually a really good cook and has mastered recipes that you can cook easily with just a few ingredients in the fridge. She’s cooked for me a couple of times at this point including Korean-style egg fried rice, corn and instant noodles. I don’t consider myself a good cook, but Yeseo taught me some recipes I can do at the dorm and I really thank her for that.
Mashiro: Yujin has helped me a lot, especially during our debut preparation process, on the basic steps in being a girl group member. Like, how to greet other groups and their members who have already debuted.
Jeff Benjamin: Fans watched your broadcasted experience in Girls Planet 999, but I’d like to know more about your personal experiences with one another. Can you share any that stood out?
Yeseo: There were definitely a lot of moments that didn’t make it on TV, but one of them was that we all had this bead-making accessories kit. We made each other bead bracelets and gave them as presents for everyone, no matter what national group you were in, we all shared bead bracelets and rings. They’re all at home now [Laughs] but I’ll wear it next time for you to look out for them!
Dayeon: We did some shooting outdoors including one mission where we had to go to a sweet potatoes farm and harvest sweet potatoes, and it stood out for how hard the work really was. I think I’ll just stick to buying sweet potatoes instead of harvesting. [Laughs]
Jeff Benjamin: Girls Planet could get intense and emotional at times. When you had those hard moments, who did you lean on?
Yeseo: During the program, because I was one of the youngest members, I had time to talk to older unnie members like Huening Bahiyyih, Xiaoting, Yujin and Mashiro. We shared the hard times together, but every time I had a problem or I was wondering how to do something better, I always went to these older members to consult with. They always had great notes for me and advice that I needed, but Mashiro especially helped me with those consultations.
Youngeun: I leaned on to May from the J-Group, who already made her debut as a part of Cherry Bullet. May actually reached out to me, shared her experiences and gave me advice when I was having tough times.
Jeff Benjamin: And since we’re learning more about you in this interview, can you share a new fact about each other that fans don’t know yet?
Mashiro: It was Youngeun’s birthday recently and we had a surprise birthday for her. She almost cried so, overall, it was a success. We really didn’t even have to try so hard to keep it a secret because we were so busy that it’s not like we had to act in secret or hide from her.
Youngeun: We were in the middle of filming so I totally didn’t expect the birthday party. It was really unexpected but I was really happy that our members celebrated.
Chaehyun: I really want to show the natural cuteness of our members and let fans see that. Like, Yeseo is really cute when she is sleeping, and Mashiro is cute when she does random dancing—she’s like a DJ in our practice room.
Xiaoting: When we were filming the video for “WA DA DA” it was really cold, freezing, that day and we totally lost control of ourselves. When the director would say, “3, 2, 1, action” we had to act as if we were not shivering and we were feeling hot. But the moment he said “Cut” we ran as fast as we could to get into our padded jackets.
Dayeon: Sometimes on our way back to our dorm, we suddenly get a ton of energy and get really hyper on our way home.
Hikaru: I listen to “MVSK” every morning these days because it’s one of my favorites. So I really hope the fans enjoy the song when it’s released.
Huening Bahiyyih: Earlier in the Christmas season, my family mailed me snowballs and lightings that we could use in the dorm. I also baked cookies and pancakes for the holiday. And then during self-quarantine, my brother sent some very heartwarming messages and also shine muscat [a type of green grapes popular in Korea].
Youngeun: Because I love dancing and singing when I’m alone in the studio I turn on the volume really really high. But that also means I don’t hear the members coming in so sometimes I think maybe I need to turn down the volume sometimes. But I feel so free!
Yeseo: Because it’s freezing cold in Korea, I love taking hot baths every day which became a daily routine of mine.
Jeff Benjamin: Can you share a message or final words to your fans around the world who have been waiting for Kep1er’s debut?
Mashiro: To our fans worldwide, thank you so much for waiting for our debut. We are so excited to make our debut finally. We’ll work hard to meet you as much as we can. We hope you can look forward to that and thank you so much for the love and support.
Huening Bahiyyih: Can’t forget to add that our biggest goal is to win Rookie of the Year for 2022! That’ll be our best achievement yet.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbenjamin/2022/01/10/meet-kep1er-the-multinational-girls-planet-999-act-talks-leaning-on–learning-from-each-other/