AHOF

For a group still in the earliest stretch of their career, AHOF carry a name that looks far beyond the present. ‘All-time Hall Of Famer’ is not a title that suggests patience or anonymity – it implies endurance, consistency, and a long view in an industry that rarely slows down. Yet for AHOF, that weight functions as a kind of internal promise: a reminder that how they train, perform, and show up to each other matters from the very beginning.

That sense of responsibility runs through the group’s reflections. Since debut, AHOF have moved with unusual momentum – strong sales, early music show wins, and a comeback later in the year that quickly surpassed their own debut performance. Introduced through their first EP Who We Are and its title track “Rendezvous,” the group arrived with a sound rooted in longing, and emotional forward motion. Still, those quick commercial achievements did not register as a finish line. Rather than disbelief or celebration alone, the members describe a shift in awareness: moments where such success stopped feeling abstract and began to feel tied to people, to expectation, and to presence. Hearing their name called by fans, standing on stage together, and seeing faces respond in real time reframed success as something shared rather than counted.

It is telling, then, that when the conversation moves away from records and headlines, AHOF returns repeatedly to ideas of alignment and connection. Progress, for them, is not only visible in performances but felt in off-stage spaces; rehearsals where movement synchronises without instruction; in growing attentiveness to one another; in learning how to move as a unit, rather than as individuals assembled by circumstance. Teamwork is something earned through time.

The group’s internal dynamic is shaped in part by the fact that its members are at different stages of life, and that range has widened the emotional register of the group. Older members speak in terms of steadiness and continuity, while younger members describe learning patience, confidence, and how to enjoy the stage rather than fear it. The result is a balance that feels communal – closer to shared responsibility than instruction.

Fans, too, are woven into this structure early on. AHOF’s first major overseas fan concert in Manila, which sold out quickly, is recalled not as a milestone achieved but as a moment of recognition: proof that their work had already travelled further than expected. Support is felt most clearly through presence – in showcases, fan concerts, and the simple act of being seen and answered back.

When asked about the future, AHOF do not rush to define it in trophies or scale. Living up to their name, they suggest, will be less about domination than about consistency: continuing to show up with intention, staying connected to the people who gather around their music, and remaining a group that feels real to each other long after novelty fades. For now, that reality is found in daily rituals – greetings spoken together, conversations in practice rooms, and the certainty of moving toward the same goal.

What follows is a conversation with a group thinking not just about where they are, but how they intend to stay.

AHOF means All-time Hall Of Famer. It is a strong name for a newly debuted group. How do you feel about carrying that name from the start of your debut?

STEVEN It feels like a promise we made from day one. A reminder to act, train, and perform like our time here matters.

WOONGKI It carries the ambition of making it into the K-pop Hall of Fame. We want to build performances step by step that truly live up to this name.

When people first hear the name AHOF, what do you hope they think about you – and what do you hope they do not think?

HAN I hope people think of us as “a group with great songs.” On the other hand, some might assume that we’ll struggle a lot because we’re rookies, but that’s not the case for us. I hope people won’t see us that way.

JL I hope they will think that we are also good people! Aside from being a good artist, I want them to feel the comfort and warmth. I hope they can relate to us. And to be honest, I don’t think I have something in mind that I hope they will not think of us.

Your debut brought a lot of attention, including strong sales and early music show wins. When did those results start to feel real to you?

STEVEN It feels real when these achievements were no longer viewed merely as milestones, but as a weight of responsibility.

WOONGKI At a recent Fan Concert, seeing fans loudly call out our name really made me realize that we’re receiving more love than we deserve.

JL From the first time we experienced it. We really worked hard for our debut album but receiving those kinds of good things at such an early stage feels very fulfilling.

Alongside records and first-week results, what kind of progress inside the group are you most proud of that people do not usually see?

JEONGWOO I feel we’ve grown the most when everything just clicks—like when our movements align perfectly without having to say anything to each other.

JUWON I think the growth in our teamwork is what I’m most proud of. We’ve reached a point where we understand what each member wants even without saying anything, and we’re much more considerate of one another. I also feel that our teamwork has improved tremendously in terms of performance.

People often call AHOF “monster rookies.” Does this label give you energy, or does it also create pressure?

WOONGKI I take it as a sign that so many people have high expectations for us, and it gives me even more energy to work harder!

HAN It feels great! I want us to become a group that truly lives up to those descriptions, and it doesn’t feel like pressure at all.

AHOF held its first major overseas fan concert in Manila, and it sold out quickly. Were you ready for that level of international support so early in your career?

JL Even just thinking about it, it’s hard to believe that we received that amount of love and support from the people at such an early stage. We really didn’t expect anything, but we are grateful for everything. Receiving this amount of love and energy from the people this early makes us want to work harder to repay them.

DAISUKE I’m truly happy that more people than I ever imagined have shown interest in us.

AHOF includes members at different stages of life. How has this difference influenced the mood and relationships within the group?

JEONGWOO As we exchanged different thoughts and viewpoints, we gradually learned how to bring together and embrace a wider range of opinions.

SHUAIBO It showed us that we can live together like one big family.

To the younger members: When you hear about the older members’ past experiences in the industry, what is the most important thing you have learned from them so far?

HAN Rather than an industry experience, I think it’s about my long time as a trainee and never giving up because I wanted it so badly. That desperation is what led me to achieve my dream. That’s why I want to tell everyone that if you truly give something your all, you can make it come true.

JL Patience. It took a lot of patience to achieve something. Whether it’s big or small.

JUWON Thanks to the older members, I’ve tried to enjoy the stage rather than be afraid of it.

DAISUKE I learned that first impressions are important, so I always try to greet people with my very best.

To the older members: From your own past experiences, what is something you feel most important to pass on to the younger members?

STEVEN Consistency. Talent opens doors, but attitude keeps you inside the room.

JEONGWOO Take good care of your skin before it’s too late… and make sure to always wear sunscreen.

WOONGKI Positive! Don’t think negatively!

SHUAIBO Always take care of your health. When the weather gets cold, make sure to dress warmly! Otherwise, it’ll really catch up with you later…

STEVEN, as the leader, how do you guide the group while also allowing each member to grow in their own way?

STEVEN I focus on direction, not control. Everyone grows differently, but we move forward together.

From fan-voted stages to overseas support, fans have played an important role in AHOF’s journey. When was the first moment you clearly felt that support?

HAN I felt strongly on the day of our first Fan Concert.

JUWON I say, our debut Showcase. Lots of FOHAs came to congratulate us and see our debut, and just by looking at that scene, I could clearly feel their support.

DAISUKE The first Fan Concert at Manila is when I felt FOHA’s love and support lively live and in-person.

Before debut, what did you think “success” would feel like? How has that feeling changed since performing on stage as AHOF?

WOONGKI I felt like debuting itself was already a success. Being able to share those moments with our fans and stand on stage together with my members makes me feel like I’ve already succeeded.

SHUAIBO I always was sure that we'd be successful because I fully trust my members.

JL I think the meaning of success for me is still the same. It’s when I don’t have to worry about everything, and when I see everyone being connected by our music no matter where they are from, what languages they speak, and seeing them gather in one place because of our music.

Right now, in your daily life, what part of being in AHOF feels the most real or meaningful to you?

STEVEN When I hear FOHA call our name, that’s when everything becomes real.

JEONGWOO Because we’re doing everything under the name “AHOF”, every single moment always feels real and meaningful.

WOONGKI When we’re all talking together in the practice room or at the dorm, that’s when I really feel that I’m a member of this team.

SHUAIBO When everyone is working together toward a single goal.

HAN When we do our greeting, “Hello, we are AHOF.”

JL I think it's the fact that I got to meet a new family in my life.

JUWON I feel it every single day—whether I’m communicating with FOHA, standing on stage, or being in the practice room. I think it’s probably because FOHA is always around me.

DAISUKE I feel most like a member of AHOF when we’re practicing choreography together as a group.