AHOF Returns with 'Rough Youth' Concept for 'The Passage' Mini-Album

K-pop group AHOF has made their comeback with their second mini-album, 'The Passage.'

The showcase for the album was held on November 4th at the Yes24 Live Hall in Seoul, where the group premiered their title track, ‘Pinocchio Hates Lies.’

"It feels like we quickly returned with a new album just four months after our debut showcase," the members shared. "We were so nervous last time, but this time we're really looking forward to showing you our activities and performances." They added, "Through this album, we aim to present a more polished and grown version of AHOF compared to our previous release."

Reflecting on their preparation, the members admitted to having anxieties about showing further growth. "We worried about not being good enough or not reaching the expected level," they confessed. "But we were able to overcome these challenges and prepare thanks to the constant support and encouragement from each other."

'The Passage,' released four months after their debut album 'Who We Are' in July, delves into the narrative of 'rough youth' – the journey of boys navigating the transition to adulthood, marked by growing pains that forge them into stronger individuals.

Inspired by the fairy tale 'Pinocchio,' the album sees the members projecting themselves onto Pinocchio's quest to become human, symbolizing their own growth from boys to young men. 'The Passage' is not just a record of growth but a turning point in finding their true selves.

The album captures the complex emotions of youth, acknowledging that the process of growing up isn't always beautiful. It includes moments of pain, hardship, and frustration, showcasing the multifaceted emotional journey of AHOF's 'rough youth.' The tracks explore feelings ranging from the excitement of running forward with a smile to the honesty of confessing true feelings amidst anxiety, the determination to hold on, and the continuation of their story like an unfolding diary.

Explaining the 'rough youth' keyword, AHOF stated, "When you think of youth, it often seems beautiful and heartwarming. However, we believe youth also entails many difficult and painful times. 'Rough youth' means accepting these unstable periods of youth and finding one's true self." They continued, "It feels like our story, continuing to grow one step at a time since our debut album."

The title track, ‘Pinocchio Hates Lies,’ is a band-driven song that uses the 'Pinocchio' tale as a motif. It expresses the desire to be honest with 'you' amidst fickle emotions and uncertainties, interpreted with AHOF's unique sensibility. The members visualize their journey from boyhood to young adulthood by relating to Pinocchio's path to becoming human.

Other tracks on the album, including ‘AHOF, The Beginning of a Shining Number (Intro),’ ‘Run at 1.5x Speed,’ ‘So I Won’t Lose You Again,’ and ‘Sleeping Diary (Outro),’ further explore the complex emotions of youth. The members revealed, "The first track is an arrangement of 'AHOF, We Are the Shining Number,' our previous album's outro. It captures our determination towards a bright beginning. We participated in writing the lyrics to express our sincere feelings." Regarding ‘So I Won’t Lose You Again,’ they shared, "It's a fan song written by me, Steven, and Woong-gi. It contains our love for POHa (official fandom name) and our promise to stay together until the end."

Due to member ZUAN's temporary hiatus, AHOF will be promoting 'The Passage' as an eight-member group. Their agency, F&F Entertainment, previously announced ZUAN's break, stating, "ZUAN recently received medical advice recommending absolute rest and ample recovery time. He has decided to focus on his health." The agency added, "While the artist expressed a desire to continue promotions to keep promises with fans, his health was deemed the top priority."

Seo Jung-woo commented on ZUAN's absence: "It's regrettable that ZUAN cannot join us for this promotion, but he is focusing on recovery to return with a good image. We drew great strength from all the supportive messages and encouragements, which helped us prepare. We've worked really hard to fill his place."

AHOF has set their sights on winning first place on music shows ('all-kill') and securing a rookie award for this comeback. Steven expressed, "Our goal is to achieve an 'all-kill' on music shows. We thankfully won first place three times during our debut activities, but this time, we want to win on every music show. We want to show how much we've grown on stage through this promotion."

Cha Woong-gi added, "As the year-end approaches, there are many award ceremonies and opportunities to perform on big stages. Winning a rookie award and many other trophies is our goal." He continued, "After our debut, we were fortunate to receive several awards under the name AHOF, and it makes us reflect on our efforts. We want to set this as our goal and be remembered as the best rookie group of 2025."

Fans expressed excitement for AHOF's comeback, commenting, "AHOF is finally back!" and "The Pinocchio concept is so unique." Many anticipated the album's success, with comments like, "This album seems like it will be really good." While some expressed sadness over ZUAN's absence, they offered support for the eight-member promotion, stating, "It's a shame ZUAN can't be here, but we'll support the 8-member activities." The goal of winning a rookie award was met with encouragement, "Let's win that rookie award!"