New K-pop band has 2 North Korean defectors
SEOUL, South Korea—With two of its five members being defectors from North Korea, K-pop group 1VERSE is breaking new ground this weekend as it presents its debut single album “The 1st Verse.“
The band represents an unusual convergence of backgrounds—rapper Hyuk and singer Seok from North Korea join Nathan from Arkansas, Kenny from Los Angeles, and Aito from Japan.
While not the first K-pop act to include North Korean defectors—BE BOYS’ Hak Seong debuted earlier this year—the diversity of the group’s members add a rare dimension to K-pop’s growing global diversity.
“With members from different countries all coming together as 1VERSE, I just thought, going forward, we can do this regardless of background,” said Aito, the group’s youngest member from Chiba, Japan.
Chance encounter
Hyuk, who lived in North Korea’s North Hamgyong province until he was 12, defected in 2013.
His journey to pop stardom began while working in a factory in South Korea, where a chance encounter with the CEO of a music label eventually led to weekend rap lessons in Seoul.
“I went to university but things went bad. It was when COVID was pretty severe and a bad incident happened that I had no choice but to work at a factory,” he said.
Hyuk initially thought the invitation to record might be a scam. He recalled thinking: “I really have nothing right now, even if you rob me, not even dust would come out.”
After a year of meetings where the music executive consistently bought him meals and encouraged his training, Hyuk joined the agency in late 2021.
Soccer player
Seok’s path was similarly unconventional. A former soccer player who started playing at 8 years old in North Korea, he defected in 2019. He declined to provide additional details, citing safety concerns.
After arriving in South Korea, he briefly played for a semi-professional team before pursuing physical education studies. During weekend soccer games he was approached about an idol training program.
“I was starting music for the first time, right? So I started with the mindset that if it doesn’t work out, I can just stop and try something else,” Seok said.
Harsh realities
Both members’ experiences reflect the harsh realities they left behind. Hyuk described spending eight to 10 hours daily gathering firewood for cooking.
“Where I lived, we had to collect firewood just to survive. It was essential,” he said, recalling his childhood. “I don’t remember that I had time to listen to music. I didn’t have that luxury.”
Seok had some exposure to music from South Korea, listening occasionally to f(x)’s “LA chA TA” and Super Junior songs despite K-pop being banned in the North.
“I probably heard K-pop back in elementary school. But I couldn’t listen often since it was illegal,” he said.
Cultural influence
Experts and defectors say South Korean pop culture has emerged as a challenge to North Korea’s leadership as the genre steadily gains popularity.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has intensified campaigns since the pandemic to eliminate South Korea’s cultural influence.
