WAKEONE project girl group Kep1er consists of members from South Korea, Japan, and China, making effective communication all the more important. In such situations, strong leadership could be the lubricant that keeps the group working together well. And if one leader is not enough to keep on top of the whole group, why not add a second? So with that in mind, among Yujin, Xiaoting, Chaehyun, Dayeon, Hikaru, Huening Bahiyyih, Youngeun, and former members Mashiro and Yeseo, here is the complete answer to who the leader (and co-leader) of Kep1er is.
Yujin Is the Leader of Kep1er
Yujin is the leader, and Mashiro was the co-leader (or “vice leader”) until Mashiro and Yeseo’s conclusion of activities with the group on July 15, 2024. This was officially established in the first Kep1er livestream held on November 18, 2021, prior to the group’s debut. Yujin and Mashiro were playfully appointed into their roles with a short ceremony and certificate, and these roles were said to have been decided by the members “after a long discussion.” Mashiro promised to “do a good supportive work so that all burden’s not all on Yujin,” and Yujin appreciated Mashiro for being able to address any areas where she might be lacking.
These were smart selections, as both Yujin and Mashiro had demonstrated particularly strong leadership throughout Girls Planet 999. Notably, Yujin is Korean and was a veteran idol already from being in CLC, while Mashiro is Japanese. Yujin had finished Girls Planet 999 with the third-place ranking, and Mashiro had finished with the eighth-place ranking. CLC fans very likely played a role in Yujin’s high final placement, as it was during an August 2021 episode of Girls Planet 999 that Yujin tearfully revealed that Cube Entertainment had no plans to promote CLC anymore. Cube would officially announce the end of CLC activities on May 20, 2022.
Yujin has playfully described herself as the “oldest yet the youngest” member of Kep1er, and the group members agree that aegyo (basically meaning “cuteness”) is her “key talent.” That is a somewhat rare trait for the oldest member of a K-pop group, yet it is unarguable in her case.
In summary, the leader of Kep1er is Yujin, and the co-leader or “vice leader” was Mashiro until her departure. Together, they kept this project girl group running smoothly, but now Yujin runs the ship herself. For more about the group, check out how old the Kep1er members currently are and when they originally debuted. And for another group with a unique leader and sub-leader arrangement (also Korean and Japanese, respectively!), check out who the leaders of &Team are.