“We hope to become part of our fans’ universe.”
On Oct 15., the members of “1VERSE,” a K-pop boy group set to debut under Singing Beetle, shared their story of how they came together. The group is made up of Hyuk (24) and Seok (24), both North Korean defectors who fled in 2013 and 2018, respectively, Chinese-American member Kenny (22), and Japanese member Aito (19). The members of “1VERSE,” with their diverse cultural backgrounds, spoke about how they support and challenge each other as they work toward their shared goal of becoming a successful K-pop group. “1VERSE” is scheduled to debut at the end of this year.
Cho Michelle, CEO of Singing Beetle, founded the agency after leaving SM Entertainment, where she worked in International A&R. When asked about the formation of 1VERSE as a multinational group, particularly including North Korean defectors, Cho explained, “I’ve always wanted to produce a K-pop group, but in the process, I ended up gathering these incredibly talented individuals.” She continued, “I’ve seen many gifted artists in the industry abandon their dreams due to practical concerns, like financial struggles, which has been heartbreaking. Watching people with the talent to create incredible music set aside their ambitions just to get by inspired me to create a space where they could focus solely on their art, free from those burdens. As I brought together individuals who shared that vision, 1VERSE naturally evolved into the global team it is today, regardless of their backgrounds.”
Could you please introduce 1VERSE?
Kenny: “Hello! We are 1VERSE, a multinational group consisting of Hyuk, Seok, Aito, and myself. We’re excited to be preparing for our upcoming debut. The name ‘1VERSE’ was created through brainstorming with our team—it represents our desire to share our music and stories, one verse at a time, while also listening to and reflecting the stories of our fans. The ‘1′ in 1VERSE is pronounced ‘uni,’ symbolizing unity.”
[To Kenny and Aito] How did you feel when you found out the group included North Korean defectors?
Kenny: “It didn’t surprise me at all. To me, North Koreans are no different from anyone else.”
Aito: “I understand why some people might have negative perceptions of North Korean defectors, especially given the tense relations between certain countries. But I thought that through 1VERSE, we might be able to help change how people see them.”
[To Hyuk and Seok] Did you have any concerns when you discovered that members from the U.S. and Japan would join the group?
Hyuk: “Actually, I was excited. I began my trainee journey alone, so whenever I heard that new members were joining, it felt like the group’s image, especially as a global idol group, was coming together—particularly with Kenny and Aito’s addition. I was eager to see the kinds of performances we could create as a team. I had no concerns at all.”
Seok: “I was thrilled, especially about Kenny joining. He’s American and speaks Chinese, which I can speak too. I thought practicing together would help improve my English. I was confident that we would grow closer and form a strong group through training and spending time together. We’ve already shared a lot, and I found out that other members have never tried Pyongyang naengmyeon, so I plan to let them taste it. It’s fantastic.”
How do you think having members from such diverse cultural backgrounds will influence the group?
Hyuk: “Having members from different backgrounds allows us to showcase various performances and styles. But more importantly, being in such a diverse group has taught us to respect and appreciate each other’s cultures. This strengthens our bond and will help us connect with fans worldwide when we perform internationally.”
With multinational members,1VERSE’s training is exceptionally diverse, covering topics such as intercultural awareness, cooking, foreign languages, and critical thinking. CEO Cho explained, “I believe that many misunderstandings and missteps in communicating with people from different cultures—including our fans—stem from a lack of understanding. That’s why our training includes various programs to build social and cultural awareness, ensuring that the members can communicate smoothly with each other and, during global activities, engage with others respectfully, recognizing their cultures and values.” She further noted, “In addition to the company’s curriculum, the members actively contribute suggestions and provide feedback, which continuously enriches the lessons over time.”
Hyuk, given your limited exposure to music in North Korea, was it a difficult decision to pursue becoming a trainee after defecting?
Hyuk: “I began my trainee journey three years ago, having had no prior exposure to K-pop. The first K-pop song I encountered after fleeing North Korea in 2013 was G-Dragon’s ‘Crooked,’ and I was captivated by the music video. After enrolling in high school here, I joined a music club and started writing rap lyrics, though at the time, it was merely a hobby—I never considered pursuing a career as a K-pop artist. Once I started university, financial difficulties forced me to work in a factory. My life took an unexpected turn in 2018, when a friend informed me that CEO Cho had seen my performance in an educational program and wanted to meet me. Initially, I was skeptical and found it hard to believe. Due to my job, I could only attend trainee classes on weekends, but after nearly a year of training, along with immense support from CEO Cho and the company, I decided to leave my job and became the first trainee at Singing Beetle.”
CEO Cho mentioned that when she first saw Hyuk’s rap lyrics, she was struck by his musical sense and talent, mainly since he had limited exposure to music, K-pop, and the rap genre. She added that his talent really stood out. In fact, a song he composed, “Marshmallow,” was included on TWICE’s subunit MiSaMo’s album.
Seok, unlike Hyuk, you had some exposure to K-pop in North Korea. What was your first impression of it?
Seok: “I didn’t grow up listening to much K-pop but was exposed to older Korean music. When I first heard K-pop, it felt completely different—the lyrics, the rhythm, everything. Even though we speak the same language, I could only understand about 30% of the lyrics at first. But I was drawn to it and worked hard to understand more. Taeyang especially inspired me after hearing his performance of ‘Eyes, Nose, Lips.’ Now, I’m primarily a vocalist in 1VERSE, but I’ve been practicing dancing a lot too. I hope to become an artist who’s just as respected.”
Kenny, you were already familiar with the K-pop trainee system when you joined. How did you support your groupmates?
Kenny: “Initially, facing the camera can be quite intimidating, so I believe I helped the others feel more at ease in that regard. They’ve also mentioned that my positive, upbeat personality has influenced the group well (laughs). Beyond singing and dance practices, we’re involved in various activities, including cooking. I’m even considering a special episode where I cook for the members. Aito enjoys Kimchi-jjigae (kimchi stew), so I plan to make that for him.”
Aito, I heard you returned to Japan after leaving your previous agency. What motivated you to pursue the idol path again, leading you to join 1VERSE?
Aito: “Kenny deserves much credit for convincing me to join (laughs). He kept telling me I’d be a great fit for the group. I was also intrigued by the fact that 1VERSE has North Korean defectors, making us unique because it is the world’s first group with members from that background. I decided to join earlier this year, and I’m glad I did.”
As they prepare for their debut, 1VERSE members hope to inspire and empower their fans with the same strength and comfort they’ve found in music. Hyuk shared, “I’m not someone special; I just want to be an artist who can naturally connect with fans through my music alongside the other members.” Seok added, “I never imagined I’d have the chance to become a K-pop idol. My only hope is to be an artist who inspires others and sets a positive example.” Until that day, they promise to uplift each other and work hard to become the artists their fans admire. Kenny summed it up by saying, “We hope to become part of our fans’ universe.”
