AHOF’s Steven goes viral for calling instant noodles ‘Philippine ramen’
Photo from kbskpop/YouTube
A fresh wave in the K-pop scene has officially arrived as a promising new K-pop group, AHOF (All Time Hall of Famer), made their official debut on July 1, and they’re already making waves beyond the stage.
Composed of multinational members – including Filipino idol JL Gaspar – the group emerged from the intense survival show “Universe League.”
Only a week since debut, AHOF has begun their idol journey with remarkable traction. Their debut track “Rendezvous” has garnered over 25 million views on YouTube and the group has already reached impressive numbers in both album and digital sales. But it wasn’t just their music that had fans buzzing.
Steven Kim, AHOF’s Korean Australian member and the leader of the group, unexpectedly stole the internet’s attention with a lighthearted moment on the variety show “Ultimate Energy Clash.”
In the show’s 28th episode, hosted by ILLIT’s Minju, Steven and fellow member Woongki revealed the contents of their bags. When Steven pulled out a pack of instant noodles, he casually, and hilariously, called it “Philippine ramen,” instantly sparking fan excitement and online chatter, with over 255,000 reactions on Facebook alone.
The noodles in question? A chilimansi-flavored pack or the chilimansi pancit canton, a go-to comfort food in the Philippines known for its sweet, sour and spicy twist. Steven explained in Korean that the flavor reminded him of a snack he used to enjoy back in Australia, thanks to the familiar lemon-chili mix.
He also credited JL for introducing Filipino snacks to the group, saying it has since become a favorite among the members.
Fans flooded the comments with laughter and love. One joked, “Me sa tindahan: ‘Pabili nga pong Philippine ramen?’” while another quipped, “Shyt, ginawa niyang expensive yung pancit canton,” referring to the snack’s sudden “upgrade” in status.
Others couldn’t help but gush over Steven’s adorable reaction and visuals, praising his charm for making even a simple noodle pack go viral.
And as their mini-album “Who We Are” continues to resonate with fans globally, it seems “Philippine ramen” might just be the group’s unofficial dorm snack.
