K-Pop Group AHOF Expands Their Youth Narrative with New Mini Album 'The Passage'

"'When you think of 'youth,' it seems like it should be beautiful. But in reality, it can be shaky and painful. This album embraces that kind of youth and the journey to find oneself.' (Cha Woong-ki)

K-pop group AHOF (Steven, Seo Jeong-woo, Cha Woong-ki, Shuaibo, Park Han, JL, Park Ju-won, Chihen, Daisuke) is expanding their narrative on youth with their second mini-album 'The Passage.' The group held a media showcase on the 4th at Yes24 Live Hall in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, to celebrate the album's release.

'The Passage' comes approximately four months after their debut album released in July. Steven shared, "We first greeted you here four months ago, and we're back quickly. During our debut showcase, I was so nervous that I didn't even realize how time passed. This time, I'm more excited. We'll show you a more mature AHOF than before."

Despite the rapid comeback, the members expressed happiness rather than fatigue. Park Ju-won said, "Meeting fans continuously while preparing for the next album filled me with anticipation and happiness about how to surprise them."

With this album, AHOF takes their youth narrative to the next level. Cha Woong-ki explained, "The keyword for this album is 'rough youth.' While our debut album depicted youth with infinite potential, this album captures the growing pains and unique stories of AHOF as they transition from boys to adults."

The album features five tracks, including the title track 'Pinocchio,' 'AHOF, The Beginning of a Shining Number (Intro) (아홉, 빛나는 숫자의 시작 (Intro)),' 'Run at 1.5x Speed(1.5x의 속도로 달려줘),' 'Never Lose You Again*,' and 'Sleeping Diary (Outro) (잠든 일기장 (Outro)),' expressing the complex emotions of youth.

The members were more involved in the songwriting process. Steven participated in writing 'AHOF, The Beginning of a Shining Number (Intro)' and 'Never Lose You Again*,' while Cha Woong-ki and Park Han contributed to the lyrics of 'Never Lose You Again*,' infusing their genuine feelings into the music. Steven expressed his enthusiasm, "I was thrilled to work on two songs. It was satisfying to fully express my thoughts through music. Next time, I want to write an entire song from start to finish."

Like the narrative in the album, AHOF experienced growing pains while preparing for the new release. Seo Jeong-woo shared, "There was anxiety about showing a more mature side than the last album. My confidence wavered at times, but the encouragement from the members helped me overcome it," hinting at their strong bond.

Member Chihen will not participate in this activity due to health reasons. Seo Jeong-woo stated, "Unfortunately, Chihen won't be joining us this time. He is focusing on recovery to return in good shape. Even during preparations, Chihen sent us many supportive messages and compliments, which motivated us. We've worked hard to fill his absence, so please watch over us kindly."

AHOF held their first fan concert in Manila, Philippines, in August. JL, a member from the Philippines, expressed, "I've wanted to stand on such a big stage since I was young. I'm grateful to stand there with the members, not alone. I want to continue growing and performing together."

Park Ju-won said, "Looking at photos or videos from that day still makes my heart race," while Park Han added, "Standing in the concert hall feels like standing in the middle of the universe. It feels like stars are twinkling. Performing in front of so many people was a dream, and it was the first time I stood in front of such a large audience. It will be a memory for a lifetime."

AHOF aims to meet fans across a broader world. Steven mentioned, "Wherever we go, we find our fans, the 'FOHA.' I want to visit more countries. I'd love to perform in Australia, where I lived." Daisuke added, "I want to visit various countries on a world tour."

AHOF is aiming for a music show 'all-kill' with their second mini-album activities. Steven stated, "I want to achieve an 'all-kill' on music shows. During our debut, we were grateful to win first place three times. This time, I want to win first place on all music shows. We'll show you how much AHOF has grown and changed."

They are also eyeing rookie awards. Cha Woong-ki expressed, "It's the end of the year, so there are many award shows and opportunities to showcase on big stages. Our goal is to bring home many trophies, including the rookie award, in AHOF's name. We've received several awards, and recalling our efforts is moving. We want to do our best at year-end award shows and be remembered as 'the best rookie of 2025.'"

AHOF's second mini-album 'The Passage' will be released at 6 PM today.

Kim Ji-won, TenAsia Reporter one@tenasia.co.kr