New Idol Groups from Diverse Backgrounds Debut One After Another, Including the North Korean Defector Group 1VERSE and International Group LOVEONE

New idol groups are continuously making their debuts in the K-pop industry, driving significant changes within the sector. The entry of newcomers with varied nationalities and backgrounds into the K-pop scene is accelerating the globalization of this genre. The boy group 1VERSE, which includes North Korean defectors, has made its debut with the release of its first album. Composed of five male members in their 20s — Hyuk and Seok, who are North Korean defectors, Nathan, who is of Laotian and Thai descent, Kenny, who is of Chinese descent, and Aito, who is Japanese — 1VERSE has garnered attention from media outlets. Reuters reported on the group’s debut as a noteworthy development. Hyuk, 25, hails from Gyeongsong County in North Hamgyong Province and settled in South Korea in 2013. In an interview with Reuters, he expressed gratitude for not only having the freedom to showcase his talents but also for being able to eat three meals a day. He recalled starting to work at the age of 9 in North Korea and described the extreme poverty there, saying, “Sometimes we had to eat rotten rice or even resort to theft due to desperate circumstances,” and added, “I was caught stealing and beaten severely until I bled.” Hyuk also shared his complex emotions during his escape from North Korea. He confessed that although he was hungry and struggling, he was initially reluctant to come to South Korea because he was happy being with the people he loved, having settled there through a broker arranged by his mother after passing through China. 1VERSE’s Title Track, “Shattered,” reflects the shock and emotions he felt upon hearing of his father’s death in North Korea. Another member, Kim Seok, 25, comes from a city near China’s border. He first encountered K-pop through a portable media player that contained music videos, including Psy’s 2012 hit “Gangnam Style,” via a friend. Kim Seok fled North Korea with his father and grandmother at the age of 20. North Korean authorities have intensified crackdowns on consuming Korean culture, including sentencing teenagers to hard labor for watching K-pop, and have even banned certain Korean-style speech patterns. The production of the album’s songs and choreography involved producers such as Dr. Ahn, Secret Weapon, Showl, and Justin Staring, who have worked with groups like BTS, TWICE, SEVENTEEN, and NCT. The members of 1VERSE noted that despite their diverse backgrounds, they share many common traits. Kenny, who is of Chinese descent, emphasized, “Although our nationalities are different, we get along very well. It’s a global yet unique group.” Hyuk expressed his ambition to be evaluated based on his musical skills rather than his background as a defector, aiming to become an idol who conveys the message that people are not alone and that there are others like him, while also giving energy to fans. Meanwhile, the female international group LOVEONE is also establishing itself as a newcomer. Composed of five members — Korean members Yosum, Azin, and Chaei, and Japanese members Yume and Yuna — LOVEONE has been active since its debut in November 2024, delivering music and showing love for its fans. Their second single, “Drama Queen,” released in April, featured a funky dance track along with “Dream In,” a song that combines rhythm guitar and brass instruments. LOVEONE advanced to the second round of the “Next Icon” category in the newly established “Global Netizen Award” at the 7th Newsis Hallyu Expo, with the finalists for the third round to be determined through fan voting.