EPEX to Continue as Seven: C9 Confirms Keum’s Contract Conclusion and Exit

C9 Entertainment has announced that Keum (Keum Dong-hyun) is leaving EPEX following the conclusion of his exclusive contract. The statement, released November 21, 2025 (KST), adds that EPEX will proceed with activities as a seven-member group.

What happened today

• C9 said Keum’s contract has concluded and he will depart the team. No additional details were provided beyond the contractual update.

• Multiple outlets echoed the announcement and the immediate shift to seven members.

The recent timeline

• May 16, 2025: Keum entered a temporary hiatus for “personal reasons,” with EPEX promoting as seven “for the time being.”

• May 18, 2025: Local reports noted schedule adjustments (including a China concert change) amid the hiatus. 

• Nov 21, 2025: Contract ends; departure confirmed.

What this means for EPEX

• Lineup & roles: EPEX officially pivot to seven members (Wish, MU, A-Min, Baekseung, Ayden, Yewang, Jeff). Expect redistribution of Keum’s rap/center moments in recent setlists and future releases. (Background on lineup and Keum’s position drawn from group profiles.)

• Schedules: Today’s notice did not lay out revised promotions or a comeback timeline; anticipate updated materials (photos, credits, line guides) to reflect the seven-member formation. 

Fan reaction & community context

• Fans had been bracing for news since the months-long hiatus; community coverage today focuses on the contract conclusion and wishes for Keum’s next steps. 

Who is Keum?

Before debuting with EPEX in 2021, Keum gained attention on Produce X 101; within EPEX he was known for rap lines, performance energy, and center work in choreography. 

Bottom line

Today’s confirmation formalizes what the spring hiatus foreshadowed: EPEX move forward as seven, while Keum closes his chapter with C9. For fans, the immediate questions are practical—how parts, formations, and promotions adapt—while hopes for Keum’s future activities now shift outside the group.