On March 25, 2026, the K-pop industry was met with a significant development regarding the future of the burgeoning boy group AHOF.
F&F Entertainment, the agency managing the group, released an official statement addressing the viral reports that all nine members- Steven, Seo Jeong-woo, Cha Woong-ki, Zhang Shuaibo, Park Han, JL, Park Ju-won, Zeeon, and Daisuke- are currently in the process of formalizing a massive contract extension.
This news is particularly noteworthy because AHOF was birthed from the survival audition program Universe League, a format that traditionally produces project groups with strictly limited, temporary activity periods.
If these negotiations reach a successful conclusion, AHOF will become a trailblazer, effectively transitioning from a “project” team into a permanent fixture within the global music market.
Strategic Negotiations for a Permanent Group Identity
The catalyst for the agency’s public response was a series of investigative reports claiming that the group’s initial four-year contract was being restructured.
According to industry insiders, the members and their respective original labels are looking to add an additional three years to their tenure, bringing the total commitment to seven years.
This specific duration is highly symbolic in South Korea, as seven years is the standard maximum length for a permanent idol group’s initial contract.
By aiming for this number, AHOF is signaling a desire to shed the “temporary” label that often hinders the long-term growth and brand partnerships of survival-born teams.
In their official briefing, F&F Entertainment confirmed the legitimacy of these high-level discussions:
“Hello. This is F&F Entertainment. We are delivering our position regarding the extension of the exclusive contract for group AHOF.
We are currently holding positive discussions with the members and each agency regarding the extension of the group’s activities.
We will provide detailed information as soon as it is finalized. Thank you.”
The use of the phrase “positive discussions” is a strong indicator that the various stakeholders- which include multiple parent agencies- are aligned in their vision for the group’s future.
Since their explosive debut in July 2025 with the mini-album WHO WE ARE, AHOF has defied the typical trajectory of survival groups by maintaining a steady upward climb in both domestic and international charts.
Their most recent release, The Passage, surpassed nearly 400,000 copies in sales, proving that their fandom, known as FOHA, is both large and loyal.
This commercial viability has made the prospect of a long-term extension a “win-win” scenario for everyone involved.
Pioneering a New Standard for Survival Audition Groups
AHOF’s potential seven-year renewal is being hailed as a historic “turning point” for the televised audition model.
Historically, groups formed through shows like Produce 101 or Girls Planet 999 have struggled to maintain their momentum after their initial contracts expired, primarily because the various agencies involved had conflicting plans for their trainees.
While groups like Kep1er have recently experimented with partial extensions or unit-based continuations, AHOF is the first modern survival group to attempt a full-group, long-term transition into a standard seven-year regular contract.
This move provides the members with a level of career security that is exceedingly rare in their specific niche of the industry. As the agency elaborated on the breadth of these talks:
“We are currently continuing positive discussions with the members and each agency about extending group activities.
We will inform you of specific details as soon as they are confirmed.”
By securing a seven-year commitment, F&F Entertainment can invest more heavily in the group’s global infrastructure, such as multi-city world tours and high-budget production, without the looming fear of an “expiration date.”
For the members themselves, the extension allows them to continue building on the group’s unique chemistry, which has been a cornerstone of their popularity.
Fans have responded to the news with overwhelming excitement, as the “seven-year curse” is a common fear in K-pop; seeing a group actively fight to stay together before their original time is even halfway up is a heartening sign of unity.
As AHOF continues to prepare for their next musical era, the finalization of this contract would solidify their position as a permanent and formidable force in the fifth generation of K-pop.
It would also serve as a blueprint for future survival shows, proving that if the talent and the fan support are strong enough, a “temporary” group can truly become a lifelong career. All eyes are now on F&F Entertainment for the final confirmation of this landmark agreement.
