Imagine a new sound shaking up the K-pop scene, a blend of sleek moves and raw, deeply personal stories. That’s 1VERSE, a fresh face on the global stage. Two of its members carry a past few can fathom: they are young men who escaped North Korea. Their music isn’t just catchy; it weaves in the echoes of their journey.
This new five-man boy band, all in their twenties, brings together talent from North Korea, Japan, and the United States. They call themselves 1VERSE, meant to sound like “Universe.” Its members go by the names Hyok, Seok, Aito, Nathan, and Kenny.
The group stepped onto the stage on July 17th, dropping their first EP, “The 1st Verse.” It features three tracks, including their debut single, “Shattered.” The music video for “Shattered” officially released on July 18th. Footage filmed earlier this year shows the members with full makeup and styled hair, dancing against a dazzling, strobing backdrop.
Hyok, 25, is one of the two North Korean defectors. He originally hails from the Kyongsong District in North Korea’s northeast. He has called South Korea home since 2013. Beyond the joy of freely expressing his artistic talent, Hyok cherishes a simple pleasure many take for granted: three square meals a day. He spoke of working from age nine, of hunger so sharp it pushed him to extreme measures. He sometimes ate spoiled rice or worse, and even resorted to stealing.
From their studio in Seoul, Hyok shared a difficult memory with Reuters. “After I got caught stealing, I was beaten badly until I bled,” he recalled. “I was so hungry. My only thought was survival.”
Just last month, UN human rights experts painted a grim picture of life inside North Korea. They noted that the government has tightened its grip on people’s lives since the COVID-19 outbreak. All borders are now closed. Reports of human rights abuses continue, including executions, forced labor, and widespread starvation.
Hyok made his escape from North Korea as a child. He traveled through China and other countries. His mother, who was already in South Korea, arranged for a broker to help him. Despite finding happiness in his new life, he remembers the pain of leaving home. “I was hungry and tired,” he said, “but I was happy to be among people I liked. That’s why I didn’t want to come here at first.” His song “Shattered,” he explained, captures his feelings when he learned his father had died back in North Korea.
Seok, the other 25-year-old North Korean defector in the band, grew up in a border town close to China. He first stumbled upon K-pop when a friend shared music videos on a portable player. That included Psy’s massive hit “Gangnam Style” in 2012. Seok eventually fled North Korea with his father and grandmother when he was 20.
Recent reports suggest North Korea’s government is intensifying its crackdown on South Korean culture. Teens have received harsh labor sentences just for watching K-pop. Authorities are even trying to block South Korean ways of speaking.
Michelle Cho, producer and CEO of 1VERSE’s label, Singing Beetle, explained her vision. She wanted to create a more unique group in an industry often seen as perfect. “Who wouldn’t love a story of people from humble backgrounds chasing their dreams?” she asked, “especially in K-pop.”
While their background as defectors brings attention, Hyok hopes the band will be judged on their talent and their music’s quality. “I want to be an idol who brings good energy and a message that makes many people feel better,” he said. “They are not alone, and there are people like me out there.”
Source: Reuters