K-Pop History’s First 5-Member Boy Group with North Korean Members Debuts, Singing of Dreams

For the first time in K-pop history, members from North Korea have debuted as a formal boy group. Hyuk and Seok of the 5-member multinational group 1VERSE unveiled their first single, “The 1st Verse,” at a debut showcase held on July 18 at Ilchi Art Hall in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Hyuk served as the rapper and leader of the group, while Seok handled vocals. Along with Americans Kenny and Nathan and Japanese member Aito, they form 1VERSE, creating a multinational lineup that symbolizes K-pop’s globalization. Hyuk’s journey has been dramatic. He escaped North Korea in 2013 and had to beg on the streets due to extreme poverty at the time. Twelve years later, he has become the group leader, shining under the spotlight on a stage in the heart of Seoul. At the debut showcase, Hyuk said, “My dream has always been to live as a human being.” This long-held desire inspired him to write the song “Ordinary Person,” which he released on YouTube in 2024. On the Friday stage, he performed this song live for the first time with his bandmates. He said, “The meaningful moment is now that I can perform this song on stage with my members.” He added, “After joining the company, I found a new community and felt like I belonged here.” Seok, who escaped North Korea in 2019, also changed his life through music. “I loved music when I was in North Korea,” he said. “I used to write lyrics about my mother and nostalgia. I still look at those notes sometimes.” The lyric “Who’s gonna save us now?” from Seok’s song “Shattered” is sung in a high pitch. He laughed and said, “Every time I sing that part, I really feel like someone needs to save me.” He added, “But the lyrics make me immerse myself in the performance. There are times when life gets too hard and I want to collapse. I’ve been there too, and often wished someone would save me.” The debut single album, “The 1st Verse,” includes the pre-release track “Multiverse” and the title track “Shattered,” both available in English and Korean versions. The members were actively involved in the album’s production. Hyuk contributed to the composition and lyrics of “Multiverse,” Aito created the choreography, and Hyuk along with Kenny jointly wrote the lyrics for “Shattered.” Kenny described “Shattered” as having lyrics that capture raw emotions and chaos that arise when the world seems to collapse. Hyuk also said, “At some point in life, everyone feels broken or as if their world is falling apart.” He added, “All our members have had such experiences, and we tried to reflect those feelings and memories in the lyrics.” 1VERSE was discovered in 2022 by the new boutique music label Singing Beetle. It began when Hyuk was a high school boy; his English teacher noticed him writing lyrics during class and suggested he try rapping. Hyuk joined the school’s rap club, composed his first song, and performed at festivals, which transformed his interest in music from a personal curiosity into a professional pursuit. Later, meeting Michelle Cho, the CEO of Singing Beetle, turned his dream into reality. The debut of these two North Korean escapees goes beyond a simple entertainment event; it carries a profound message about the division and reunification of the Korean Peninsula, as well as human resilience and potential. Their performances showcase their journey from extreme poverty to becoming stars on the global stage. Hyuk’s “every casual gesture and smile” shown at the debut showcase powerfully prove just how far he has come.