Hyuk grew up in North Korea, where his early life was a constant struggle for survival, with no access to the world of K-pop music. After defector to South Korea, he is set to debut as a member of the new K-pop band, 1Verse.
This is a historic moment, as it marks the first time performers from nuclear-armed North Korea have trained for stardom in South Korea’s globally recognized K-pop industry.
Hyuk’s childhood in North Hamgyong province involved skipping school to work and “stealing just to survive.” In contrast, his bandmate Seok, hailing from a more affluent family near the border, had access to banned K-pop music through smugglers, thanks to his older sister.
Hyuk and Seok’s Defection to South Korea
At 13, Hyuk joined his mother in the South, escaping the dire conditions in North Korea. Seok followed a similar path, defecting at 19 to pursue his dreams in South Korea. Both had different motivations but shared a common destination.
VIDEO: 🇰🇷 🇰🇵 The North Korean defectors turned K-pop stars
It's been a long road from North Korea to the cusp of K-pop stardom in the South for Hyuk and Seok, two members of boyband 1Verse. Both were teenagers when they defected from the North, where K-pop is banned#AFPVertical pic.twitter.com/Q3lGK4TyWt
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) March 26, 2025Hyuk and Seok were discovered by Michelle Cho, CEO of the Seoul-based label Singing Beetle. While Hyuk initially hesitated about his musical talents, Cho recognized and nurtured his potential. On the other hand, Seok entered the scene with confidence and determination, driven by his early exposure to K-pop.
1Verse isn’t just a showcase of talent from the Korean peninsula; it also includes members from diverse backgrounds, such as a Chinese-American, a Lao-Thai-American, and a Japanese dancer. Despite language barriers, the group finds common ground in their love for music and performance.
K-pop's newest idol group, 1Verse, is set to make history as the first to feature two North Korean defectors, Hyuk and Seok. pic.twitter.com/98RfqbOchl
— South China Morning Post (@SCMPNews) March 24, 2025The band’s preparation for its debut is a melting pot of cultural learning and adjustment. Hyuk, now proficient in English, remarks on the surprising ease of communication within the group. Aito, the Japanese dancer, expresses his initial apprehensions about North Korean defectors, which quickly dissolved upon meeting his bandmates.
As 1Verse nears its debut, the excitement is palpable. Seok aspires to touch people’s hearts with his voice, while Hyuk finds the reality of being in a band both surreal and exhilarating. Their journey from the depths of North Korean hardship to the brink of K-pop stardom underscores a narrative of resilience and ambition, promising to make 1Verse a notable addition to the K-pop world.
