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| ▲ This photo of K-pop boy group 1VERSE, a K-pop boy group with two members who defected from North Korea, is provided by Singing Beetle. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, July 7 (Yonhap) -- “Back in North Korea, I was just trying to survive day by day. Now, I'm creating music that gives people courage. Even when things are tough here, I feel good. Thinking about who I might become tomorrow makes me happy.”
So says Hyuk, a member of the upcoming K-pop boy group 1VERSE, who is set to debut as an idol after escaping from North Korea. For Hyuk, who once lived as a "kkotjebi (a North Korean homeless child)," music has become a driving force for self-growth and hope.
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| ▲ This photo of K-pop boy group 1VERSE, a K-pop boy group with two members who defected from North Korea, is provided by Singing Beetle. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
The dream of becoming a singer is what unites the five members of 1VERSE. Despite coming from different nationalities and backgrounds, they say that sharing the same dream helped them come together as a team.
In a recent interview at their practice studio in Seoul’s Gangnam District, the members of 1VERSE said, “We are united by the common goal of putting on amazing performances. We want to show people that if you respect one another, you can move forward toward your dreams.”
1VERSE consists of Hyuk and Seok, both North Korean defectors; Nathan and Kenny, both of Asian-American background; and Aito from Japan. Hyuk serves as the group’s main rapper, while Aito is the main dancer, with the remaining members focusing on vocals.
Born in 2000, Hyuk and Seok are the same age but escaped North Korea in different years — Hyuk in 2013 and Seok in 2019. Hyuk gave up his studies and struggled just to eat in North Hamgyeong Province, while Seok lived in Ryanggang Province near the Chinese border and crossed into South Korea in pursuit of a dream to become a soccer player.
They chose not to go into detail about their escape routes, citing potential repercussions for other defectors.
Their paths to becoming idols began unexpectedly.
Hyuk developed a passion for music through his high school rap club. After appearing on a TV program as a member of the club, he caught the attention of an agency and began training.
“I wrote my own raps and even performed at a school festival, but I didn’t dream of becoming a rapper,” Hyuk recalled. “After graduating, I worked at a factory. When the agency head offered to teach me from the basics, I decided to give it a shot.”
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| ▲ This photo of K-pop boy group 1VERSE, a K-pop boy group with two members who defected from North Korea, is provided by Singing Beetle. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
Seok, meanwhile, had continued playing in the K3 League — South Korea’s third-tier professional soccer league — even after defecting. But when adjusting to life proved difficult and he began exploring other paths, he encountered his current agency.
“I once watched the music video for f(x)'s ‘LA chA TA’ in North Korea,” Seok said. “I always liked singing and playing the guitar. When I first met the agency CEO, I told him I’d give it my all. I had a strong feeling I’d regret it if I gave up.”
Hyuk began training in September 2021, and Seok joined the team a year later. They quickly bonded over their shared age and backgrounds and supported each other through the demanding trainee life.
“At first, we were shy and didn’t even speak casually,” said Seok. “But once we became close, I realized he was really energetic and full of life. He joined the agency earlier than me and taught me a lot. I’m grateful.”
Their journey inspired the other members, who said they found strength in hearing Hyuk and Seok’s stories.
“I was moved and inspired by their experiences,” said Nathan. “It made me believe that I can achieve anything I set my mind to.”
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| ▲ This photo of K-pop boy group 1VERSE, a K-pop boy group with two members who defected from North Korea, is provided by Singing Beetle. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
1VERSE incorporated their personal narratives into the pre-release single “Multiverse,” which dropped on Thursday. The warm, emotionally driven song tells the story of individuals from different worlds coming together as one.
“It’s a song that expresses the values of our agency and our team,” said Kenny. “We’ve practiced it the longest, so we wanted it to feel like a gift to the fans who have been waiting for us.”
1VERSE is scheduled to officially debut on June 18 with their first album “THE 1ST VERSE.” The members said they are determined to pour everything they’ve prepared into their debut performances.
“We want to show the world the talents we have,” said Kenny. “Acting, singing, dancing — we’ve worked hard to learn them all, and now we want to share them one by one.”
Looking ahead, the group’s goal is to make it onto the Billboard charts and become role models for future generations. They aim to tell their own unique stories by embracing the diversity within the team.
“Having different backgrounds might seem like a weakness, but we think it’s our biggest strength,” said Nathan. “We believe that our differences come together to create great music.”
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