1Verse | |
|---|---|
| Genres | K-pop |
| Years active | 2025–present |
| Labels | Singing Beetle |
| Members |
|
1Verse (Korean: 유니버스; pronounced 'universe' and stylized in all caps) is a South Korean boy band formed by Singing Beetle. The group consists of five members: Hyuk, Seok, Aito, Kenny and Nathan. Two members of the group (Hyuk and Seok) are from North Korea, making them the first South Korean boy group with North Korean defectors. They debuted on July 18, 2025, with the single album The 1st Verse.
History
[edit]Pre-debut
[edit]Two of the five members of the band are North Korean defectors.[1] Yu Hyuk, one of the members, is from North Hamgyong Province and grew up with his father and grandmother, after his parents separated and his mother defected to South Korea.[1] His family was poor and as a child he worked odd jobs, begged on the streets and sometimes stole food to survive.[2][3] He said that he usually ate only one meal a day and he never heard of K-pop music while in North Korea.[3] Hyuk was contacted by his mother who requested he join her in South Korea, and he undertook a six-month journey through several countries to escape, arriving in Seoul, South Korea, at age 13, in 2013.[1][2] After arriving in South Korea, he became interested in K-pop, joining a music club in his first year of high school and writing rap lyrics.[4]
The other North Korean member, Kim Seok, grew up in a region near China and was from a "relatively better-off family."[1] He was able to listen to K-pop and watch South Korean television shows that were smuggled in with USBs and SD cards.[1] He defected to South Korea in 2019 after several of his uncles had done so.[5] He had been a football player in North Korea, but gave up the sport after defecting.[5]
In 2020, Hyuk met Michelle Cho, a former representative at SM Entertainment and the founder of independent label Singing Beetle.[2] She offered to provide rap lessons and Hyuk left his job as a factory worker to enter music full-time in 2021.[2] He thus became the first member of the boy group SB Boyz under the Singing Beetle label, later renamed to 1Verse (pronounced "universe").[2][5] A year and a half later, Seok was added to the group.[3] Cho, their trainer, described the two as "blank canvases" and complete beginners, noting "they had absolutely no grasp of pop culture," but praised their development and ability to "endure physical challenges."[1]
In 2024, Hyuk released a rap song, titled "Ordinary Person" as part of a pre-debut project.[1] By early 2024, the group had added two more members: Aito, who is Japanese-Korean, and Kenny, who is Chinese-American.[6] A fifth member, Nathan, an American of Lao and Thai descent, joined by the end of the year.[1]
On July 4, 2025, 1Verse released their pre-debut single, "Multiverse", co-produced by 1Verse member Hyuk. They also released a music video paired with the song.[7]
2025–present: Debut
[edit]On June 20, Singing Beetle announced that 1Verse would debut in July.[8] Their debut single album The 1st Verse and the music video for its title track "Shattered" were released on July 18.[9]
In September 2025 it was announced via 1Verse official social media channels[10] that Hyuk would be taking a hiatus from the group due to personal and health reasons.
In October 2025 1Verse announced their first tour <SHATTERED>,[11] stopping at eight locations in the US, including Seattle, New York City, and Orlando. The dates would have taken place over October and November 2025, but they were cancelled and have been delayed until 2026. Four of five members would have performed during the shows, with Hyuk still being on hiatus for the tour, which was announced as tickets could be upgraded to have selfies with four members.[12]
Members
[edit]- Hyuk (혁)
- Seok (석)
- Aito (아이토)
- Kenny (케니)
- Nathan (네이슨)
Discography
[edit]Single albums
[edit]| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOR [13] | |||
| The 1st Verse |
Track listing
|
39 |
|
Singles
[edit]| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Multiverse" | 2025 | The 1st Verse |
| "Shattered" |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h Ku, Yuna (February 10, 2025). "How a North Korean went from begging to K-pop". BBC News. Archived from the original on February 15, 2025. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e Sohn, Jiyoung; Yoon, Dasl (November 15, 2023). "North Korean Escapee Who Begged on the Streets Chases K-Pop Stardom". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023 – via archive.today.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c '탈북 아이돌' 탄생할까...'거리의 꽃제비'가 무대 위에 서기까지 [Will a "North Korean idol" be born? – From street begging to rising star] (in Korean). BBC News Korean. September 23, 2024. Archived from the original on October 7, 2024. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
- ^ Hye-seung, Choi (September 25, 2024). 쉰밥 훔쳐 먹던 꽃제비서 래퍼로… 탈북민 출신 아이돌 연말 美서 데뷔 [A North Korean defector-turned-rapper who stole rice from a flower shop... Idol to debut in the US at the end of the year]. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 25, 2024. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
- ^ a b c Jung-youn, Lee (November 28, 2024). "Meet 1VERSE, first K-pop boy band to feature North Korean defectors". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on February 14, 2025. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
- ^ Mi-geon, Kim (October 28, 2024). ""Won't people's perception of N. Korean defectors change through us?"". The Chosun Ilbo. Archived from the original on February 14, 2025. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
- ^ CHOSUNBIZ (July 5, 2025). "Multinational boy group 1VERSE pre-releases debut single ahead of July 18 launch". CHOSUNBIZ. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
- ^ Lee, Jung-youn (June 20, 2025). "1Verse, K-pop group with North Korean defectors, to debut in July". The Korea Herald. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
- ^ "'탈북민 멤버' 유니버스(1VERSE), 오늘 데뷔…"해외서 활동 시작" : 네이트 연예". 네이트 뉴스 (in Korean). Retrieved July 20, 2025.
- ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
- ^ "1VERSE US TOUR 2025". 1VERSE Official Fan Community. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
- ^ "1VERSE US TOUR 2025". 1VERSE Official Fan Community. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
- ^ "The 1st Verse". Retrieved July 24, 2025.
- ^ Cumulative Sales of The 1st Verse:
- "Album Chart: 2025 Week 29". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved July 24, 2025.
- "Album Chart: 2025 Week 38". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved September 25, 2025.
- "Album Chart: 2025 Week 41". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved October 16, 2025.
- "Album Chart: 2025 Week 44". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved November 19, 2025.