▲ This photo of BE BOYS' Hakseong, a defector from North Korea, is screenshot from his X posting. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, June 20 (Yonhap) -- This summer, the K-pop industry is seeing the debut of idol groups featuring members who are North Korean defectors.

 

Hakseong, a defector from North Korea, took his first steps in the music world on June 18 as a member of the newly debuted six-member boy group BE BOYS, according to the music industry on Friday.

 

Hakseong gained attention when he appeared on the KBS2 audition program "MAKEMATE1" last year, where he introduced "defector" as his keyword, saying, "I came [from North Korea] in 2017." His story drew interest from both judges and fellow contestants.

 

Although he was eliminated during the competition, Hakseong fulfilled his dream of becoming a singer by debuting with BE BOYS about a year later.

 

On July 18, another multinational five-member boy group called 1VERSE, which includes two North Korean defector members named Hyuk and Seok, will debut with a showcase.

 

 

▲ This photo of 1VERSE, a multinational five-member boy group with two North Korean defector members, Hyuk (far L) and Seok (C), is screenshot from their X posting. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

1VERSE is composed of Hyuk and Seok (both defectors from North Korea), Nathan (a Laotian-Thai American), Kenny (a Chinese American), and Aito (from Japan). The group's album was produced by Cho Michelle, a former A&R (Artist & Repertoire) executive at SM Entertainment.

 

The group name "1VERSE" represents the idea that just as each member has a unique story or "verse," together they form one world — a "universe."

 

The group's agency, Singing Beetle, stated, "Even before their debut, the members have built a following of nearly one million through platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, showcasing their vocal talents and dance covers."

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