Arzen Rose Dulzura

Two North Korean defectors debut as K-Pop idols in group 1VERSE

Article (news)

E. Kristhoff Cagape

Push Team

<p>Two North Korean defectors, Seok and Hyuk, have debuted as K-pop idols under the new boy group 1VERSE.</p><p>Both Seok and Hyuk escaped North Korea through China when they were teenagers. In 2022, they were discovered by the South Korean music label Singing Beetle.</p><p>“I never thought I’d be doing music in South Korea. I liked music when I was in North Korea. I used to write down lyrics of songs I liked, usually about mothers, about longing. I kept those notes. I still look at them sometimes,&quot; Seok shared in an interview with <em>CNN.</em></p><p>Seok remarked that coming to South Korea felt like he was reborn. &quot;South and North Korea are completely different. That’s why I’m able to dream a new dream here,&quot; he said.</p><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-26" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DL5CqgpzQt_/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=768&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A26%2C%22os%22%3A14143279.200000048%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="847" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-26" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>Unlike Seok, Hyuk discovered his passion for music later in life. “Back in North Korea, I didn’t even have time to listen to music, and I wasn’t in an environment that allowed it either,” he recalled. It was during his high school years in South Korea that he realized his talent for rapping.</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-24" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DL2d6yNTwEE/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=768&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A24%2C%22os%22%3A14117963.80000019%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="847" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-24" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>Hyuk hopes that their journey will inspire others especially fellow defectors. &quot;There are 30,000 North Korean defectors in South Korea. And there are many others (who aren’t defectors) who haven’t dared to dream yet. If our story gives them courage, then I think that process itself is meaningful,&quot; he stated.</p><p>Seok and Hyuk trained for over two years before debuting as members of 1VERSE, a group that prides itself on diversity and storytelling. “Every song tells one of our stories. Our members, our company, me and Seok. To me, the songs themselves are beautiful stories,&quot; Hyuk highlighted.</p><p>1Verse made their debut on July 18 with the release of their album <em>The 1st Vers</em>e. Aside from Hyuk and Seok, the group is consists of Aito who is Japanese-Korean, Kenny who is Chinese-American, and Nathan, who is an American of Lao and Thai descent.</p><p>1VERSE is the first K-Pop group to have North Korean defectors as members.</p>

<p>Seok and Hyuk, who are North Korean defectors, debut as K-pop idols under the new boy group 1VERSE.</p>

Seok and Hyuk, who are North Korean defectors, debut as K-pop idols under the new boy group 1VERSE.