JL of P-pop group PLUUS set to debut in K-pop group AHOF

Out of the 42 trainees, JL, who charmed fans worldwide with his ‘all-round talent and star quality performances’ was the sole contestant to be unanimously chosen by all three ‘team directors’ as their ‘Top Pick,’earning him the nickname ‘3Pick.’

MANILA, Philippines — Another Pinoy in the global K-pop scene!

P-pop boy group PLUUS member JL Gaspar is officially set to make his K-pop idol debut after ranking first in the global boy group audition show “Universe League.”

The 20-year-old performer secured his spot in the multinational group AHOF (All-time Hall of Famer), after his team, Rhythm, emerged victorious at the show’s grand finale yesterday, Jan. 25.

In Universe League, 42 contestants were divided into three teams — Rhythm, Groove and Beat — with 14 members in each, competing in various challenges for three months to win the prestigious PRISM Cup.

Out of the 42 trainees, JL, who charmed fans worldwide with his “all-round talent and star quality performances” was the sole contestant to be unanimously chosen by all three “team directors” as their “Top Pick,” earning him the nickname “3Pick.”

In the show’s final match, Team Rhythm gathered a staggering 4,378,961 online votes, with JL contributing an impressive three million votes in the online polls being a key factor in the group’s win. Groove and Beat, meanwhile, earned 1,239,132 and 965,871 votes, respectively.

All seven members of Rhythm will automatically be part of AHOF, joined by Team Groove and Team Beat’s top finishers, bringing the group’s total members to nine.

JL will debut alongside South Korean members Park Ju Won, Seo Jeong Woo, Park Han and Chang Woong Ki, Chinese member Zhang Shuaibo, Taiwanese member Chi En, Japanese member Daisuke and Australian-Korean member Steven.

AHOF will be managed by F&F Entertainment, the same agency behind girl group UNIS, which includes Filipino members Elisia Parmisano and Gehlee Dangca, and Filipino-Korean Jin Hyeon-ju.

In a video released by his talent management, SBTown, JL extended his gratitude to fans and expressed excitement over meeting his Pinoy supporters soon.

Meanwhile, JL’s fellow PLUUS members extended their warm greetings to their “bunso” for his victorious journey in Universe League. Their labelmate YGIG also sent their well wishes for the soon-to-debut K-pop idol.

Born on April 20, 2004, JL debuted under Filipino boy group PLUUS under SBTown in March 2023.