Kep1er's Xiao Ting Goes Solo: "LEGEND" and What It Means for the Group

Quick Answer: Kep1er is a six-member girl group formed through the survival show "Girls Planet 999" in 2021. On July 30, 2026, member Xiaoting released "LEGEND," her first solo single since the group's 2022 debut — making this a great moment for new fans to jump in.

In This Article

1. Who Is Kep1er?
2. Meet Xiaoting
3. Why Does a Solo Single Matter for an Active Group Member?
4. Where Should New Fans Start Listening?

Who Is Kep1er?

Kep1er was formed through Mnet's 2021 reality competition "Girls Planet 999," debuting on January 3, 2022 with the high-energy single "WA DA DA." The group originally had nine members, but the lineup has changed twice since: Mashiro and Kang Yeseo returned to their original agency, 143 Entertainment, in July 2024, and Seo Youngeun officially departed in 2026 after being on health-related hiatus since mid-2025. Kep1er now promotes as a six-member group under WAKEONE: Choi Yujin, Xiaoting, Kim Chaehyun, Kim Dayeon, Hikaru, and Huening Bahiyyih.

Kep1er · WA DA DA · WAKEONE · via YouTube

Meet Xiaoting

Xiaoting (born Shen Xiaoting, November 12, 1999) is one of Kep1er's two international members, representing China alongside American member Huening Bahiyyih. Like Hikaru, she performs under her given name only, without a surname. She's under a dual-agency arrangement with WAKEONE and Kleb Entertainment, a structure not uncommon for international K-pop trainees whose home-market activities are managed separately from their Korean group promotions.

Since debut, she's been known for going viral on Chinese variety television — most notably a 2024 appearance on the reality show "Keep Running," where she performed a self-arranged live cover under pressure — and for vocal moments that stand out from the group's usual choreography-heavy format. That track record makes her solo single feel like a natural next step rather than a surprising pivot.

Why Does a Solo Single Matter for an Active Group Member?

New fans sometimes assume a solo release means a group is on the way out, but it's usually the opposite. Agencies frequently give individual members standalone singles or mini-projects specifically to showcase a skill the main group format doesn't highlight — vocals, songwriting, a different genre. Xiaoting's "LEGEND," released July 30, 2026, is her first solo activity since Kep1er's debut over four years ago, arriving a few months after the group's eighth mini album "CRACK CODE" (March 2026). It's best read as a confidence vote from WAKEONE, not a signal that Kep1er's promotions are slowing down — the group has continued releasing new material on a steady cycle even as the lineup has shrunk from nine to six members.

Kep1er · KILLA (Face the other me) · WAKEONE · via YouTube

Pro Tip: If you're brand new to Kep1er, don't try to start with the most recent era. Their sound has shifted significantly across four years — starting from the debut single gives you a much clearer sense of how the group's identity has evolved before you land on their harder, more mature 2026 material.

Where Should New Fans Start Listening?

Track	Era	Sound	Best For
WA DA DA (2022)	Debut	Big room house, high-energy	Understanding their original concept
Up! (2022)	Doublast	Funk-house, summery	A lighter, more playful side
KILLA (2026)	Crack Code	Electronic hip-hop, trap-based	Their current, more mature direction
LEGEND (2026)	Xiaoting solo	TBD — first solo release	Getting to know an individual member's style

Kep1er · Up! · WAKEONE · via YouTube

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