Hyuk and Seok, both originally from North Korea, have debuted as idols after years of training, making them the first known North Korean defectors to perform in a Kpop boy group. Their debut single “Shattered,” part of the EP The 1st Verse, launched on July 18 and reflects the intense emotional journey that brought them to this moment.
Hyuk fled North Korea as a child. He remembers going to extreme lengths just to eat, including being beaten after stealing spoiled rice. His escape eventually led him to South Korea in 2013, where he was reunited with his mother. Music was not a part of his life until high school, when a teacher encouraged him to try rapping. That moment planted the seed for everything that followed.
Seok grew up near the Chinese border and first encountered Kpop through a friend’s portable media player. Songs like “Gangnam Style” gave him a glimpse of a world that once felt unreachable. At 20, he escaped with his family and later joined Singing Beetle, the label behind 1VERSE.
The two spent more than two years as trainees before standing on stage as official idols. Alongside members Aito from Japan, Kenny from California, and Nathan from Arkansas, 1VERSE brings together five different backgrounds with one shared dream.
Their music holds real meaning. “Every song tells one of our stories,” Hyuk explained. “To me, the songs themselves are beautiful stories.”
While their origins have sparked curiosity, Seok and Hyuk want to be recognized for their music and growth. They hope to inspire others, especially those who feel their dreams are out of reach. “There are so many defectors and others who haven’t dared to dream yet. If our story helps give someone courage, then this journey is worth it,” Hyuk said.
