심선아
| 2025-07-22 16:56:32
boy group-interview
1Verse debuts as a truly global K-pop group
By Shim Sun-ah
SEOUL, July 22 (Yonhap) -- K-pop boy group 1Verse officially debuted with its first single album, "The 1st Verse," and a press showcase last week. For Seok, one of the five members and a North Korean defector, the moment still feels surreal.
"I still can't believe I've debuted as an idol," Seok said with a quiet laugh during an interview with Yonhap News Agency at his agency's studio in Seoul on Tuesday.
"It feels like things have gotten a lot busier since then, with many interviews being scheduled. From now on, I want to try to live and work harder with just one word in mind -- beginner's mindset."
The group has drawn wide media attention even before its debut due to the remarkable backstory of its members: two of the members, Seok and Hyuk, are North Korean defectors, though not the first to debut in a K-pop group.
Formed by the independent label Singing Beetle, 1Verse's lineup is as diverse as the members' stories. Alongside Hyuk and Seok from North Korea are Nathan, an American with Lao and Thai heritage, Aito from Japan, and Kenny, a Chinese American raised in Los Angeles.
Both Seok and Hyuk were born in 2000 and share more than just a birth year -- they each risked everything to escape North Korea, though they were raised under vastly different circumstances.
Hyuk fled in 2013 at age 14 after spending his early years in North Hamgyong Province, where he struggled to survive day to day and had to abandon school in search of food.
Seok, on the other hand, grew up in Ryanggang Province near the Chinese border. Dreaming of becoming a professional soccer player, he defected in 2019 and made his way to South Korea in hopes of a better future.
Out of respect for other defectors and to protect those who may still be at risk, both of them chose not to share detailed accounts of their defection routes.
Adapting to life in South Korea was a jarring experience, according to the two members.
"Everything was new. I had to learn how to use computers, how the education system worked. During COVID, university classes were remote, which made it even harder," said Hyuk.
Seok echoed the same challenges. "From filling out college applications to registering for classes online, I had to figure everything out on my own. Using a computer was hard, and so was English," he admitted.
Hyuk was the first to join, in 2021, followed by Seok, Kenny, Aito and finally Nathan -- an Arkansas native who taught himself dance and vocals through YouTube and TikTok. It was Kenny who discovered Nathan's videos and recommended him.
The group's multinational identity wasn't planned, according to Michelle Cho, CEO of Singing Beetle, who also attended the interview.
"When I decided to produce a boy group, I held private auditions and relied on recommendations," she said. "I didn't set out to form a multinational team, but these five just clicked."
Music is more than performance for the group -- it's personal expression.
Hyuk and Kenny contributed lyrics to two tracks on their debut album, "Multiverse" and "Shattered" -- the latter inspired by the devastating news of the death of Hyuk's father, which he learned of while in South Korea.
"I've written a lot," he said. "We have many stories from our different backgrounds -- some from our past, and some still to come."
Hyuk's love for writing began early. "Even in school, I liked Korean language class and used to write a lot of poems. That eventually led me to join a rap club in middle school, and I've been writing lyrics ever since -- originally at the recommendation of my teacher."
While headlines often focus on their status as defectors, both Hyuk and Seok are clear: they don't want to be seen only through that lens.
"I don't feel any burden from my background," Seok said. "Even when I played soccer (in South Korea), there were foreigners on the team. You learn to communicate beyond language. I'm just chasing my dream."
When asked about his goals, Aito answered with ambition: "First, KCON and MAMA. Then someday, Coachella," referring to the annual K-pop concert series organized by CJ ENM, the year-end music festival in South Korea and the California-based Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, one of the biggest music events in the United States.
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