1VERSE Debuts with Two North Korean Defectors, Rewriting K‑Pop Narratives

18 July 2025

Juwon Park | Credit: AP

At the stroke of midnight on July 18, a new K‑pop boy band called 1VERSE emerged onto the global stage, offering more than just electrifying choreography and catchy hooks—they carried stories of survival and resilience in their music and their very presence. Comprising five members in their twenties, Hyuk and Seok (both North Korean defectors), Aito from Japan, and Nathan and Kenny from the United States the group introduced their EP The 1st Verse through a live‑streamed debut that included three tracks. The lead single, “Shattered,” maps the emotional terrain of escaping one of the world’s most closed societies, showing that K‑pop is evolving into a platform for genuine human narratives.

Hyuk, who fled North Korea at the age of twelve via a perilous journey through China, delivers the song’s emotional core. Raised in Kyongsong County, he worked from the age of nine, scavenged for food, and stole what he could often to face brutal beatings for survival. After settling in South Korea in 2013, Hyuk seized a chance encounter with label head Michelle Cho of Singing Beetle to pursue rap lessons and eventually join the formation of 1VERSE earlier this year.

Seok’s path to stardom was no less poignant. From a border town near China, he discovered K‑pop through smuggled videos on a portable player, even as the North Korean regime intensified crackdowns on South Korean culture. He escaped with his father and grandmother at age twenty, leaving a world where listening to Psy’s “Gangnam Style” could mean punishment.

Their stories form the emotional backbone of The 1st Verse, especially in “Shattered,” which channels Hyuk’s grief upon learning of his father’s death after fleeing the North. The song, and the band’s debut music video filmed earlier this year, reflects a blend of high-energy pop stylings and raw dimensions rarely seen in a genre often celebrated for its polished image .

K‑pop’s global success continues to attract talent from diverse backgrounds. Aito, the youngest member from Japan, praised the group’s international mix as “a unique type of global.” Nathan, a Laotian-Thai American from Arkansas, and Kenny, Chinese American, complete the lineup adding authenticity and diverse representation.

Behind the band is Michelle Cho, a former SM Entertainment executive who founded Singing Beetle with a vision for authenticity in pop music. She sought to bridge K‑pop’s dynamic performance culture with personal narratives rarely heard before. Her insight: fans crave connection, not just stylized perfection.

The band’s debut captured attention quickly. Social platforms buzzed with emotional responses, especially after members shared video diaries depicting their grueling training and emotional thresholds. One early post by Seok ended in tears, accompanied by an outpouring of support from international fans.

Importantly, 1VERSE doesn’t want to be defined solely by defection. Hyuk emphasized that he and his bandmates want recognition for talent and message not just their personal histories. He spoke passionately about delivering energy and reassurance to anyone enduring hardship, affirming that they aren't alone.

Their formation arrives as cultural tensions ebb and flow in North Korea, which continues to criminalize South Korean media under Kim Jong Un’s leadership. Risking everything to bring underground pop culture home, Hyuk and Seok’s journey signals the quiet but persistent power of cultural influence across borders.

As 1VERSE ventures forward, their debut stands at a crossroads of culture, identity, and entertainment. Their global release offers not only polished music and high-energy visuals but also a deeper narrative of courage and reinvention. In the evolution of K‑pop, where stories of longing, belonging, and transformation now share the stage with synchronised dance moves, The 1st Verse is just the beginning.