Rookie idol JL of the group AHOF has pointed to BTS’s Kim Taehyung (V) as his personal role model, calling him a “legendary idol and a good person.” The statement was made during a new interview with KMCHART following AHOF’s Best Rookie award win. Fans of both artists quickly reacted online, celebrating the moment as proof of Taehyung’s respected status as an “idol of idols” within the K-pop industry.
Details from the KMCHART Interview with AHOF
The interview, released on January 7, 2026, on KMCHART’s official YouTube channel, featured the nine-member boy group after their recent success at the KM Chart 2025 Season Best Autumn Awards. When discussing their inspirations, member JL specifically named BTS’s V. He explained his admiration goes beyond typical idol traits.
“BTS’s V, he sings well, is handsome, and dances well but more than that, he seems like a good person, so since then I wanted to become an idol.”
JL’s comments highlight a trend among newer artists who see BTS members as benchmarks for both professional skill and personal character. The group AHOF has cited BTS as a key inspiration before, with member Steven previously calling them seniors who “truly belong in K-pop’s hall of fame”.
Fan Reactions to JL Citing BTS’s V as Inspiration
The clip from the interview spread rapidly across social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. Fans expressed pride and agreement with JL’s perspective on Taehyung. One popular fan comment that trended stated, “Kim Taehyung, Idol of Idols for a reason”. This phrase was widely shared, capturing the sentiment that Taehyung’s influence extends deeply within the industry itself.
Other fans noted that JL’s admiration is not new. They pointed out he has mentioned V in multiple past interviews, even before his official debut through the survival show Universe League. This long-standing fandom led some to humorously describe JL as a “real taehyung stan”. The reaction was overwhelmingly positive, with fans of AHOF and BTS appreciating the public display of respect between generations of artists.
Background on AHOF and JL’s Career
AHOF, which stands for All-time Hall Of Famer, is a nine-member South Korean boy band formed through the SBS reality competition program Universe League. The group officially debuted on July 1, 2025, with their first EP Who We Are. Member JL, whose full name is Jay Lawrence Gaspar, is a Filipino singer and performer who emerged as a winner on Universe League.
Despite being a rookie, AHOF has already gathered notable accolades. Their awards include Best New Artist at the 2025 Asia Artist Awards and the Best Rookie award that prompted this recent interview. In other interviews, JL has listed a diverse set of role models including Stray Kids’ Hyunjin, EXO’s D.O., and NCT’s Ten, showcasing his broad appreciation for talented performers.
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BTS’s Ongoing Activities and Influence
As a senior artist, BTS’s Taehyung continues to be active in various projects. Around the time of this interview, teasers were released for his feature in GQ Korea’s February 2026 issue, a 26-page editorial created in collaboration with Cartier. More significantly, BTS as a group is preparing for a major comeback.
The group has announced their first studio album in nearly three years and nine months. Pre-orders for the album begin on January 16, 2026, with the official global release set for March 20, 2026. This highly anticipated return keeps BTS at the forefront of the global music conversation, reinforcing their status as inspirations for newer groups like AHOF.
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