Photo Cr. Peter Saari // KpopWise
1VERSE are currently on their first European tour “SHATTERED” and came to Finland, as Helsinki was the most voted city on Kooky’s app.
1VERSE consists of five members: Seok, Nathan, Kenny, Aito, and Hyuk, of whom four are participating in the tour. 1VERSE includes the first two North Korean members in a K-pop group, Seok and Hyuk. Even though Hyuk could not join this time, the four members delivered an incredible performance with so much energy that even surprised me, despite having followed them since their early SB BOYZ days.
Before the concert, there were several VIP events for different groups. First was the fansign, along with 1:1 polaroid photos. The atmosphere was very warm, welcoming, and genuine. Every member connected well with 5TARZ, their fandom, and they were truly happy to see fans from Finland and even from other countries. Even though some fans were clearly nervous meeting the members, there were no awkward silences, as the members kept conversations going, welcomed everyone kindly, and Kenny, as always, brought humor with his jokes.
It was also wonderful to see how supportive their company is. Michelle, the CEO of Singing Beetle, who has appeared in many of their videos, was just as warm and kind in person. Watching from the side, it was clear how close the members are with her and the rest of the staff, which is quite rare in K-pop but incredibly important for idols’ well-being.
After the fansign, group photos were taken with different VIP groups. The atmosphere remained just as warm and close-knit as throughout the entire day. In addition, individual polaroids were taken with one fan at a time and the group.
Before the show, 1VERSE held a soundcheck that kept the energy just as positive as earlier. The atmosphere was fun and relaxed, and they performed short dance covers. Aito performed ‘Adrenaline’ by ATEEZ, Seok performed ‘Catch Catch’ by YENA with a little support from the other members, while Kenny took on ‘PINKY UP’ by KATSEYE and Nathan covered ‘Growl’ by EXO. 1VERSE also asked the audience questions and were surprised by how many fans had come from outside Helsinki.
After a short wait, the concert began and the energy was immediately high. Their stage presence and ability to engage the audience were impressive, on the level of even bigger groups. Each member had the chance to showcase their vocals, and their skills exceeded expectations, even though it was already known that they are very talented individuals. Their dance skills have also clearly improved, showing continuous growth.
Aito especially stood out with his dance cover of ‘Drip Drop’ by Taemin. His movements were smooth, precise, and his stage presence made him seem like someone who has been an idol for much longer.
Seok showcased his vocal abilities with Drowning by WOODZ, which is a very difficult song to perform. He delivered it beautifully and got the audience singing along.
Nathan performed ‘Babydoll’ by Dominic Fike, which shifted the atmosphere completely. It felt different from a typical K-pop stage, but it fit perfectly, and the audience sang along enthusiastically. The song suited Nathan’s vibe very well.
Kenny performed ‘The A Team’ by Ed Sheeran, highlighting his beautiful vocal tone and leaving the audience in awe. After his performance, it became even clearer how talented the group truly is.
Their own choreographies shined on stage, and the variety of covers brought a wide range of emotions. Some were more emotional, while others lifted the energy to the maximum, with fans singing, shouting, and jumping. The ‘Guerrilla’ by ATEEZ cover was an especially strong choice, as the crowd reached one of the loudest moments of the night.
During the concert, they also played a game where members answered fun questions like “who would survive the longest in a zombie apocalypse.” The audience chose Aito, while the members chose Seok. Nathan explained that “Seok has many survival skills and can do everything.”
After that, Aito lost a rock-paper-scissors game and had to guess the choreographies based only on footsteps behind him. If he didn’t guess correctly, Kenny said he would kiss him as a punishment. The game was very entertaining, and Aito managed to guess every choreography correctly, likely thanks to his strong dance skills.
Towards the end of the concert, the members received banners made for the show and a Finnish flag signed by fans. They also took phones from the front row onto the stage and threw paper airplanes into the crowd containing their own polaroids.
After the concert, there was a hi-touch event, giving fans one more chance to greet the members before leaving. The atmosphere remained high there as well.
It was beautiful to see how people from such different backgrounds can become so close and form something like a family. The members themselves mentioned this towards the end of the concert, reinforcing that feeling.
Having followed them throughout the entire day, it was clear how genuinely kind and warm-hearted they are. They deserve even more recognition than they currently receive. Fortunately, this is only the beginning, so the sky is the limit. The audience is left hoping for 1VERSE to return to Finland. Overall, it was a very successful concert with wonderful members, a great company, and an amazing audience.
All photography by Peter Saari @pittimedia
Special thank you to Singing Beetle for the coverage opportunity!