AHOF
AHOF in August 2025 L–R: Shuaibo, Han, Jeongwoo, JL, Steven, Chih En, Woongki, Juwon, Daisuke
AHOF in August 2025
L–R: Shuaibo, Han, Jeongwoo, JL, Steven, Chih En, Woongki, Juwon, Daisuke
Background information
Also known asAll-time Hall Of Famer
OriginSeoul, South Korea
GenresK-pop
Years active2025 (2025)–present
LabelsF&F
Members
  • Steven
  • Jeongwoo
  • Woongki
  • Shuaibo
  • Han
  • JL
  • Juwon
  • Chih En
  • Daisuke
WebsiteAHOF

AHOF (Korean: 아홉; RR: Ahop; lit. 'Nine') is a South Korean boy band formed through SBS TV's reality competition show Universe League. Managed by F&F Entertainment, the group consists of nine members: Steven, Jeongwoo, Woongki, Shuaibo, Han, JL, Juwon, Chih En, and Daisuke. They debuted on July 1, 2025, with the extended play Who We Are.

Name

[edit]

The group's name, 'AHOF'—short for All-time Hall Of Famer—was conceived by F&F Entertainment to reflect the agency's intent of establishing the group as lasting and influential figures in the K-pop industry, evoking the idea of a "hall of fame".[1] In Korean, the pronunciation of AHOF is similar to the word for the number 9, referencing the group's nine members and implying an ongoing journey rather than a finished state, in line with their emphasis on continued growth.[2][3]

History

[edit]

Formation through Universe League and other activities

[edit]

AHOF is a nine-member K-pop group formed through SBS's reality competition show Universe League, which aired from November 22, 2024 to January 24, 2025.[4][1] The show featured 42 contestants from South Korea, China, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, Australia, and the Philippines, who competed for a spot in a multinational boy group. On January 24, the final lineup was announced: seven members from the winning team, Team Rhythm, and one top-voted contestant from each of the two losing teams, based on global voting.[1][5]

Before appearing on the program, several AHOF members had prior experience in the entertainment industry. In 2019, Steven participated in Mnet's Produce X 101 under his full name as a DS Entertainment trainee and was eliminated in 72nd place.[6] He later debuted in 2021 as a member of Luminous,[7] which officially disbanded on February 9, 2025.[8] That same year, Cha Woong-ki competed in To Be World Klass,[9] where he ranked third and debuted in April 2020 as a member of TOO, which rebranded as TO1 in March 2021.[10][11] He departed from TO1 in June 2022.[12] Zhang Shuaibo participated in iQIYI's Youth With You 3 in 2021 and was eliminated in the first round, ranking between 63rd and 118th place.[13][14] In 2023, Cha Woong-ki and Zhang Shuaibo took part in Mnet's Boys Planet, where they were eliminated in episode 11, ranking 20th and 28th, respectively.[15][16] In March 2023, JL made his debut as a member of the Philippine boy group Pluus.[17]

2025–present: Debut with Who We Are, and The Passage

[edit]

Following the group's formation on January 24, F&F Entertainment announced that AHOF members would take a short break before beginning preparations for their official debut, initially scheduled for the first half of 2025.[18] The agency later confirmed that the group would debut on July 1 with their first EP, Who We Are, which features six tracks produced by Universe League mentor El Capitxn.[19][20] The title track, "Rendezvous", is a pop rock song with guitar and drum instrumentation and a dreamlike arrangement.[21][22] Lyrically, it conveys themes of anxiety, nostalgia, and emotional longing tied to the pursuit of a dream,[22][23] with member Cha Woong-ki credited as one of the lyricists.[20] AHOF held a showcase at the YES24 Live Hall in Gwangjin District, Seoul to commemorate their debut and the EP's release.[24]

Who We Are sold 369,850 copies in its first week, marking the highest first-week sales for a debut boy group in 2025. It also ranked fifth overall among all boy group debut-week sales in South Korea.[25] Meanwhile, "Rendezvous" earned AHOF their first music show trophy on July 8 through SBS funE's The Show, followed by additional wins on MBC M's Show Champion on July 9 and KBS2's Music Bank on July 12, completing a "triple crown" within 10 days of their debut, marking a significant early milestone in the group's career.[26][27] These achievements led media outlets to describe them as "monster rookies." Their debut also prompted renewed discourse on the viability of idol audition programs, suggesting that such formats may remain effective when supported by strong fan engagement.[3][28]

Ahead of their debut album release, AHOF made their first public stage appearance as a full group at the 2025 MyK Festa on June 19.[29][30] They performed newly arranged versions of three songs from Universe League: "Ignition", "Butterfly", and "Mamma Mia". The setlist was selected through a global fan poll asking which songs audiences most wanted to hear from AHOF.[30] On June 25, the group was also announced as part of the lineup for the 2025 SBS Gayo Daejeon Summer Festival, scheduled for July 26. Their participation was confirmed before their official debut, an inclusion considered unusual given that the event typically invites K-pop artists who already debuted.[31]

After their debut, AHOF conducted a series of release events across Osaka and Tokyo in early August, marking their first overseas promotional tour and signaling early expansion into the Japanese market.[32] They next appeared on their first festival appearance through MBC's Show! Music Core 2025 Ulsan Summer Festival Special, where they performed the title track "Rendezvous" from their debut EP, introducing them to a broader domestic audience.[33][34] Later that month, the group held their first fan concert, Rendezvous in Manila, at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Philippines, on August 30.[35] It was reported that tickets sold out within 30 minutes, and the show, attended by about 10,000 fans,[33] was covered by South Korean and Philippine media as AHOF's first large-scale overseas appearance, reflecting the group's strong support in the Philippines and increasing international attention.[36][37]

On September 16, F&F Entertainment announced that AHOF member Chih En would be taking a temporary hiatus from group activities due to health concerns. The agency stated that the decision was made with the artist’s health and well-being as the foremost priority. AHOF will continue its activities and promotions as an eight-member group.[38]

On October 14, it was announced that the group's second EP The Passage would be released on November 4, signifying their first comeback since debut.[39]

Artistry

[edit]

AHOF has described their artistic direction as focused on continuous growth and experimentation, identifying BTS as a key influence for their versatility in musical styles and concepts. The group has expressed a long-term goal of achieving recognition within K-pop's legacy, aspiring to be among the acts associated with a conceptual "hall of fame".[2][22][40]

Members

[edit]
  • Steven (스티븐) – leader[41][42]
  • Seo Jeong-woo (서정우)
  • Cha Woong-ki (차웅기)
  • Zhang Shuaibo (장슈아이보)
  • Park Han (박한)
  • JL (제이엘)
  • Park Ju-won (박주원)
  • Chih En (즈언)
  • Daisuke (다이스케)

Timeline

[edit]

Discography

[edit]

Extended plays

[edit]
List of extended plays, showing selected details, selected chart positions, and sales figures
Title Details Peak chart positions Sales
KOR
[43]
Who We Are 3
The Passage
  • Released: November 4, 2025[39]
  • Label: F&F Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
2

Singles

[edit]
List of singles, showing year released, selected chart positions, and name of the album
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
KOR
[45]
KOR
DL

[46]
"Rendezvous" (그곳에서 다시 만나기로 해) 2025 114 2 Who We Are
"Pinocchio" (피노키오는 거짓말을 싫어해) 2025 103 4 The Passage

Other charted songs

[edit]
List of other charted songs, showing year released, selected chart positions, and name of the album
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
KOR
DL

[47]
"The Little Star" (소년, 무대 위로 넘어지다) 2025 82 Who We Are
"The Universe" (파랑 학교, 초록 잔디, 빨간 운동화) 80
"Incompleted" (미완성은 아닐거야) 78
"Cosmic Underdog" (우주 최고의 꼴찌) 79
"AHOF" (아홉, 우리가 빛나는 숫자) 94
"Everything is Love" (아홉, 빛나는 숫자의 시작) 150 The Passage
"Run at 1.5x Speed" (1.5x의 속도로 달려줘) 153
"Never Lose You" (다신 너를 잃지 않게) 150
"The Sleeping Diary" (잠든 일기장) 158

Videography

[edit]

Music videos

[edit]
List of music videos, showing year released, and name of the director(s)
Title Year Director(s) Ref.
"Rendezvous" (그곳에서 다시 만나기로 해) 2025 Jan Lee (Ambience) [48]
"The Universe" (파랑 학교, 초록 잔디, 빨간 운동화) Guzza (Kudo) [49]
"Pinocchio" (피노키오는 거짓말을 싫어해) Jan Lee (AEDIASTUDIO) [50]

Filmography

[edit]

Reality shows

[edit]
Reality shows appearances
Year Title Notes Ref.
2024–25 Universe League Reality competition show determining AHOF's members [1]

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination
Award ceremony Year Category Nominee / Work Result Ref.
Asia Artist Awards 2025 Best New Artist AHOF Won [51]
Popularity Award – Group Nominated [52]
Golden Disc Awards 2025 Rookie Artist of the Year AHOF Pending [53]
Korea Social Contribution Awards 2025 Global K-Icon (K-POP Artist) AHOF Pending [citation needed]
K-World Dream Awards 2025 Super Rookie Award AHOF Won [54]
Korea Grand Music Awards 2025 Best Artist 10 AHOF Nominated [55]
Best Dance Performance Rendezvous Won [56]
Best Popularity - Music Day AHOF Nominated [57]
BIGC Global Star Award Nominated [58]
IS Rookie Won [59]
MAMA Awards 2025 Artist of the Year AHOF Nominated [60]
Best New Artist Nominated
Fans' Choice Male Nominated
Newsis K-Expo Cultural Awards 2025 Global Netizen Award (Next Icon) AHOF Won [61]
The Fact Music Awards 2025 Hottest Award AHOF Won [62]

References

[edit]
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  2. ^ a b Pyo, Kyung-min (July 1, 2025). "New K-pop boy band AHOF steps into spotlight with big dreams, global roots". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on July 5, 2025. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
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  21. ^ AHOF、1stミニアルバムWHO WE AREトラックリストを公開...タイトル曲はそこでまた会おう [AHOF unveils tracklist for 1st mini album Who We Are ... Title track is "Let's Meet There Again"]. Kstyle (in Japanese). June 26, 2025. Archived from the original on June 26, 2025. Retrieved June 26, 2025 – via Yahoo! Japan.
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  27. ^ Kim, Sun-woo (July 12, 2025). '괴물신인' 아홉, 무서운 기세...음방 3관왕 기록 ["Monster rookie" AHOF, unstoppable momentum... achieves triple crown on music shows] (in Korean). JTBC. Archived from the original on July 14, 2025. Retrieved July 14, 2025 – via Naver News.
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  29. ^ Park, Ga-young (May 1, 2024). "Seoul to host inaugural MyK Festa in June, showcasing full spectrum of hallyu". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on May 2, 2025. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
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  31. ^ Park, So-jin (June 25, 2025). 아홉(AHOF), 'MyK FESTA'→'가요대전' 굵직한 무대 연이어 출격 [AHOF, from MyK Festa to Gayo Daejeon: Set to take the stage at major events in succession] (in Korean). Maeil Broadcasting Network. Archived from the original on June 26, 2025. Retrieved June 26, 2025 – via Naver News.
  32. ^ AHOF、デビュー後初となる来日イベントを8月に東京&大阪で開催!ステージに高まる期待 [AHOF to hold their first-ever Japan event since debut this August in Tokyo and Osaka! Excitement builds for their stage appearance] (in Japanese). KStyle. July 4, 2025. Archived from the original on July 5, 2025 – via Yahoo Japan News.
  33. ^ a b Kim, Hye-young (August 9, 2025). ‘쇼! 음악중심’ 아홉, 울산 장악한 괴물 신인 [Show! Music Core AHOF, the monster rookies who took over Ulsan] (in Korean). MBC Entertainment. Archived from the original on October 18, 2025. Retrieved October 19, 2025 – via Naver News.
  34. ^ Shin, Yu-geon (August 9, 2025). “아홉 빛깔 청춘 터졌다”…아홉, ‘쇼! 음악중심’ 울산 특집→뮤지컬 무대 장악 [AHOF's vibrant youthful energy burst forth... AHOF domiantes the musical stage in the Ulsan special of Show! Music Core]. Top Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 18, 2025. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
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  40. ^ Lee, Seung-rok (July 3, 2025). 왜 보이그룹 '아홉'은 '하나'를 비워뒀을까 [Why did boy group AHOF leave out the "one"?] (in Korean). Sports Seoul. Archived from the original on July 3, 2025. Retrieved July 4, 2025 – via Naver News.
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  43. ^ Peak chart positions on the Circle Album Chart:
  44. ^ Cumulative Sales of The Passage:
  45. ^ Peak chart positions on the Circle Digital Chart:
  46. ^ Peak chart positions on the Circle Download Chart:
  47. ^ Peak chart positions on the Circle Download Chart:
  48. ^ AHOF 그곳에서 다시 만나기로 해 MV. Ambience. July 1, 2025. Retrieved July 5, 2025 – via Instagram.
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