Kep1er drop 8th mini album 'CRACK CODE' with title track 'KILLA (Face the other me)'

Kep1er have released their eighth mini album, CRACK CODE, with "KILLA (Face the other me)" as the title track.

The seven-member group—Choi Yujin, Xiaoting, Kim Chaehyun, Kim Dayeon, Hikaru, Huening Bahiyyih, and Seo Youngeun—debuted in January 2022 with FIRST IMPACT. They've since released DOUBLAST, TROUBLESHOOTER, LOVESTRUCK!, Magic Hour, TIPI-TAP, and BUBBLE GUM on the Korean side, plus regular album Kep1going On, Japanese regular album Kep1going, and Japanese EP AGAINST THE WORLD.

Kim Dayeon, 22, explained the group's vision. "We wanted to approach freshly while not losing Kep1er's color as much as fans waited for us," she said. "I'm so happy to be able to perform on stage in front of fans after a long time."

The comeback extended beyond music. On May 13, Hikaru and Kim Dayeon appeared at Seoul's Gocheok Sky Dome for a Kiwoom Heroes vs. Hanwha Eagles game. Hikaru threw the ceremonial first pitch, Kim Dayeon the last. Kep1er performed on the field before the game. Both members are also scheduled for a SoftBank Hawks game at Mizuho PayPay Dome in Fukuoka, Japan, where they'll handle the same ceremonial duties and perform as a group. Hikaru, born in Fukuoka, said she was "so excited" to throw a pitch there and promised to "deliver good energy."

Hikaru (Ezaki Hikaru), 21, serves as main rapper and main dancer. She finished 7th in Mnet's Girls Planet 999 before joining Kep1er, ranked 1st in Model Press's female idol dance ranking in 2023, then 2nd in 2024. Kim Dayeon placed 4th on Girls Planet 999 and previously appeared on Produce 48. She's also a main rapper and main dancer. Her "Ice Cream" competition stage choreography, which she created in a short time, has become legendary. She was the only Korean in Model Press's top-10 dance ranking for female idols, co-wrote "Shooting Star," and featured on Ailee's "RA TA TA" for a music broadcast stage.