A new K-pop boy band made its global debut on Friday — and it’s not just their music turning heads. 1VERSE, pronounced “universe,” features two members who defected from North Korea, making the group’s origin story as powerful as their performances.
The five-member band includes Hyuk and Seok from North Korea, Aito from Japan, and Nathan and Kenny from the U.S. Their debut EP, The 1st Verse, dropped at midnight with a live-streamed showcase featuring three tracks, including the emotionally charged single “Shattered.”
The accompanying music video, expected later Friday, features bold styling and energetic choreography, but it’s the backstory that adds depth to the glitter. For 25-year-old Hyuk, who escaped North Korea in 2013, the journey from starvation to stardom is deeply personal. “I was beaten and bleeding after being caught stealing food. I was just trying to survive,” he recalled.
He fled as a child through China and several countries with the help of a broker, eventually reuniting with his mother in South Korea. Now, he says, he’s grateful for something as simple as three meals a day—and the chance to share his voice with the world.
His fellow bandmate, 25-year-old Seok, grew up near the China border and was first exposed to K-pop through a smuggled video of Psy’s “Gangnam Style.” He fled North Korea at 20 with his father and grandmother, dreaming of a different life.
Their debut track, “Shattered,” channels the pain and hope of that past—particularly the moment Hyuk learned of his father’s death back home.
Producer Michelle Cho, founder of the group’s label Singing Beetle, said she created 1VERSE to break the mold in an industry often polished to perfection. “Who doesn’t love the story of someone from a humble background chasing their dreams?” she said.
Despite their diverse origins, the group shares one goal: to inspire. “Our group is a different kind of global,” said Kenny, the Chinese American member. “But we connect.”
Hyuk agrees. “I want to be the kind of idol who gives people strength. To show them they’re not alone—even someone like me can make it.”
