Draft:1VERSE

1VERSE

1VERSE (Korean: 유니버스) is an upcoming four-member South Korean boy group under Singing Beetle. The group consists of Hyuk (혁), Seok (석), Kenny (케니, Hao Ruiran, 郝瑞然), and Aito (아이토). Their debut date has not yet been announced, but is expected to be by the end of 2024. Formerly known as SB Boyz, the group debuted their official team name 1VERSE on the 19th of September 2024, accompanied by the phrase "A verse of our lives, a verse in our song; Alone we are verses, together we are a song".

Pre-debut

Aito (left), Hyuk (top centre), Seok, (bottom centre), Kenny (right)

Hyuk and Seok, both originally from North Korea, are the two eldest members of the group, with Hyuk fronting the position of main rapper in the team. On the 10th of August 2023, Kenny, who previously appeared on Asia Super Young (TVB, 2023), was revealed as the third member of the group, followed by Aito, the youngest member and main dancer, on 26 January 2024. With 4 different nationalities represented in one group, 1VERSE marks the first K-pop act to debut young artists from North Korea, aiming to break cultural barriers within the industry.

Label

Singing Beetle is a global K-pop label that manages artists and songwriters from around the world, including North Korea. The label offers music production services to K-pop labels and artists, publishing services for international songwriters, and songwriting education. Their mission is to create a healthy and inclusive environment for K-pop musicians, emphasising that quality entertainment is rooted in the well-being of artists.

Singing Beetle was founded by Michelle Cho, a Multi-Platinum A&R with extensive experience working with top K-pop acts such as EXO's Kai and Baekhyun, Wanna One, and PRISTIN. She has also been active as a composer and lyricist. Cho, a Harvard graduate with a master's degree in education, initially dreamed of becoming an international education policymaker but shifted her focus to music, inspired by her deep passion for the industry. She previously worked as an international A&R for SM Entertainment before establishing Singing Beetle. In 2023, Cho was selected as a leader in the Obama Foundation Leaders Asia-Pacific Programme, reflecting her ongoing commitment to international issues.

The label’s name, Singing Beetle, is inspired by Aesop’s fable The Ant and the Grasshopper. Cho’s interpretation of the story sees the grasshopper not as lazy, but as providing music to energise the working ant, receiving food as compensation for its songs. This reflects the label’s belief in the importance of artists’ livelihood, supporting them in their careers while recognising the joy and consolation they bring through their music.