In K-pop, Few Groups Shatter Stereotypes Like 1VERSE

The boy group has become one of fifth gen’s most promising rookie groups without changing much about themselves. With their new single “WABIF” and an upcoming world tour, 1VERSE is proving that idols can be remarkably relatable, too.

SINGING BEETLE

IN AN INDUSTRY DOMINATED  by conglomerates, it’s rare for a K-pop group to succeed unless they are from a massive company. So it is remarkable, then, that 1VERSE, a five-member group from Singing Beetle, stands out as an exception. They have broken through just about every barrier possible, both financially and in terms of visibility, to become a highly popular group of fifth generation K-pop. 

1VERSE was formed by Michelle Cho, a former A&R at SM Entertainment who is committed to prioritizing mental health for idols. In interviews, Cho has been outspoken about her goal to focus on her members’ well-being. But the group is also culturally diverse: two members, Seok and Hyuk, escaped from North Korea. Nathan, who is Lao-Thai, grew up in Arkansas. Kenny is Chinese American, and Aito, the maknae, is Japanese-Korean. [Hyuk is currently on hiatus and did not participate in this interview.]

Despite their meteoric rise, when I met the members this week for an interview, the boys remained humble about why they have become so popular, so quickly.

“I’m not really sure what makes 1VERSE different from other groups. I think it’s really up to the fans to decide how we’re different from them, and what 1VERSE means to each fan individually,” Nathan reasoned when I asked. “But if I had to choose one thing, I’d say our humor sets us apart. I feel like our humor is unique because we can be our authentic selves, both off and on camera. That affects the TikToks we make and how we express ourselves to [our fanbase] 5TARZ.”

He might be right: Plenty of K-pop groups come from diverse backgrounds, but few harness the power of social media with the same authenticity as 1VERSE. Their explosive growth stems from their genuine presence, which resonates with 5TARZ, beyond cultural diversity.

“We do the most random things,” Nathan continued. “We have a lot of ideas. Kenny has a lot of great ideas. All of our members do. We’ll come up with TikToks and say, ‘Let’s just post it! Go for it.’ And we’re extremely grateful for our staff too, because they come up with great ideas as well.”

This authenticity has paid off. The group has sold out multiple dates on their forthcoming North American tour, and both single releases from their debut have crossed the 1 million-stream mark on Spotify. This is important because unlike many idols who go viral on social media, 1VERSE has cultivated a dedicated fanbase that truly engages with their music.

The members are seeing this translate to in-person events too. Last year, when Kenny and Nathan held a short fanmeeting tour, Nathan recalled how 5TARZ “made it feel like a big hangout.”

“They’ll throw out inside jokes from online, and we’re like, ‘Oh yeah, you remember that?’ That’s how we’re able to be our authentic selves even on stage,” he said. “That’s how what we do online translates into something live.”

Seok’s journey provides another perspective. After joining the company a few years following his immigration to South Korea, meeting 5TARZ and the members has been extremely impactful.

“When I first joined the company, I had no idea how I’d interact with fans at all. I didn’t know much about music either, so I had to learn everything from scratch,” he remembered. “But as members joined, each person added a lot to my artistic life. I learned so much from them.”

The members were especially helpful in understanding TikTok. Through their guidance – and the support of the Singing Beetle staff – Seok was able to find his own voice. “Now, through TikTok, I can express my emotions and express myself to fans. I feel much closer to them now,” he said. “So when I see fans in real life, I don’t feel awkward or distant. I feel like I know them, and I hope they feel that way too.”

1VERSE hopes that fans will connect with their new single, “WABIF (Wide Awake Before I Fall)”. The song solidifies something important: where other groups might shy away, 1VERSE is willing to talk about darker subject matters like loneliness and losing your place in life. “I don’t wanna feel like I’m falling/ Like I’m fading away,” the members sing in the chorus. It’s a theme that Kenny, who co-wrote the track with Nathan, hopes fans will connect with.

SINGING BEETLE

“Trauma is a powerful thing. It can totally ruin your life – or you can make something out of it and become something greater. That’s the way we approached this song,” he said. “It’s painful, yes. No argument there. But we made it into something listenable. We told it in a beautiful, poetic way that helped all of us understand the meaning of the song, despite language and cultural barriers.”

He noted that the song’s lyrics “aren’t super grim. They’re written in a more flowery way.”  

Aito, who co-choreographed “WABIF”, agreed with this. “I’d say this new song carries hidden stories from our past that we’ve never told before,” he said. Then noted for the fans who are considering seeing them on tour: “When you come to see us, expect to hear a side of us you haven’t seen before.”

Yet even with a serious topic like trauma or depression, the members still work to infuse some light-hearted humor into the marketing. When I asked how they would pitch the single, Nathan mimicked an infomercial voiceover. “Are you feeling lost? Are you feeling like you’re at your lowest point in life? Do you feel like you’re falling wide awake?” If so, he said, “then come listen to our latest single.”

But I see something significant with “Wide Awake Before I Fall”: Here are five idols talking openly about their mental health and trauma, about feeling lost and out of place. In an industry where perfection is rewarded, it feels refreshing, perhaps even jolting, to hear the ease with which 1VERSE speaks about these topics. 

“What we want you to take away is: we all experience trauma,” Kenny said. “The next step is – What are you going to do with it? Hopefully, you use it to make yourself better.”