[Exclusive] From Philippine Idol to K-pop Star: AHOF's JL Says "It Felt Impossible"

JL of K-pop boy group AHOF has opened up about why he decided to pursue a career as a K-pop idol in South Korea after already debuting as a singer in the Philippines.

JL recently spoke about his journey to becoming a K-pop idol and what it meant to perform in his home country during an interview with K-POPIT at F&F Entertainment's headquarters.

Before joining AHOF, JL had already debuted in a P-pop group in the Philippines. "Even before I debuted in the Philippines, I wanted to be a K-pop idol," he said. "But back then, I thought it was too ambitious a goal. It felt impossible."

"So I decided to give it a try in the Philippines first," he continued. "Then I got the chance to join a survival show. That's when I started thinking that becoming a K-pop idol might not be impossible after all."

JL went on to finish No. 1 in the final ranking of "Universe League," an audition program on South Korean broadcaster SBS, before debuting with AHOF. The group's first Asia tour later brought him back to perform at a large venue in his home country.

AHOF debuted in July 2025 and held its first fan concert about two months later at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Manila, a venue with a capacity of around 15,000. Tickets sold out within 30 minutes of going on sale, and about 10,000 fans attended the concert. In July 2026, the group returned to Manila for two shows at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, drawing a combined audience of 10,000.

JL's family and friends were among those who attended the hometown performances. "My parents and friends were so proud of me that they kept crying," he said. "Seeing them like that, I wiped away tears, too."

"It felt incredible. I can't put the feeling into words," he added. "I hope the members and I can perform at big venues not just in the Philippines, but all over the world."

Asked why AHOF has received so much love in the Philippines, JL pointed to the different personalities of his fellow members.

"All the members have their own charm," he said. "I think people especially like that each of us has a distinct personality and that so many different personalities have come together in one group."

He added, "A lot of people in the Philippines are interested in Korean culture, including K-pop and K-dramas. I also think our songs have the kind of sound and style that Filipino listeners enjoy."

Meanwhile, AHOF released its third mini album, "RUN TO YOU," in July and earned a music show win with the title track of the same name. The group also completed its first Asia tour, "THE FIRST SPARK," across eight cities, starting in Seoul. More recently, AHOF has performed at university festivals, music festivals and other events. JL and fellow member Park Han have also expanded their activities beyond the group, releasing "Focus On You," a soundtrack song for the webtoon "Operation: True Love."