Yet another Filipino prevailed in Korea for his impeccable performance skills and captivating charm. JL Gaspar, a contestant of the boy group survival show Universe League, placed first in the competition to earn a spot in the debut group AHOF (All-Time Hall Of Famer).
The results were announced on Friday, January 24, through a live broadcast on the Korean network SBS. JL will be joined by eight other winners also hailing from different countries to form a diverse group that aims to appeal to both the Korean and global market. The final AHOF lineup includes JL, Steven, Seo Jeong Woo, Cha Woong Ki, Zhang Shuai Bo, Park Han, Park Ju Won, Chih En, and Daisuke.
As an early favorite on the show, JL’s sure to win even more hearts from here, and we’re excited to see him flourish in the K-Pop scene soon. Before anything else though, let’s get to meet the rising idol below.
10 Things to Know About JL Gaspar
1. He’s a Taurus
Full name Jay Lawrence Gaspar, JL was born in Muntinlupa, Manila on April 21, 2004. It makes total sense that he’s a Taurus after seeing his dependable and determined personality shine on Universe League.
2. He’s an ENFP
In his contestant profile for Universe League, JL wrote down that he’s an ENFP, which stands for Extraverted, Intuitive, Feeling, and Perceiving. According to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), those with this personality type have a vibrant energy, are outgoing, openhearted, and open-minded.
3. He already debuted in a P-POP group
Prior to chasing his dreams in Korea, JL had already debuted in the P-Pop group PLUUS under SBTown as their youngest member. The group was launched on March 31, 2023 with their first EP, PLUUS +.Y.M.. In the same year, they won the Top Rising Group of the Year Award at the 8th PPOP Awards. The members of PLUUS have consistently shown their support for JL’s success on social media.
They also sent him a heartfelt message on Instagram after making it to the AHOF debut lineup. Their post's caption read, "JL, nangyari na ‘yung malaking pangarap mo. magkasama man o hindi tayong magpapatuloy sa mga buhay natin, salamat dahil nakilala ka namin. see you soon!!"
4. He’s the third Filipino to top an idol survival show
Filipinos have been dominating international idol shows as of late. JL placed first on Universe League with 3,168,841 votes, making him the third Pinoy to top a Korean-produced survival program. He followed the steps of UNIS member Elisia Parmisano from Universe Ticket and KATSEYE leader Sophia Laforteza on The Debut: Dream Academy.
5. He’s been a longtime K-pop fan
JL explained that he pursued the audition process for Universe League thanks to his love for music and K-pop, which he’s been a fan of from an early age. During the show’s first episode, he went viral for his impressive delivery of the EXO song Growl. He also shared that NCT member Ten, his mentor on the show, has been a longtime inspiration of his, particularly when it comes to dance.
6. He looks up to both Korean and Western artists
Speaking of his inspirations, JL is also a huge fan of the K-pop group Stray Kids. Videos of him dancing to their songs can be seen online, including the tracks Chk Chk Boom and Back Door. On the Western end, he also mentioned his love for Avril Lavigne and Ruel.
7. He was part of a dance troupe
JL’s a natural performer. Before his trainee days, he had already begun honing his talent in a Muntinlupa City Dance Troupe, which taught him to dance in different genres.
8. He enjoys cooking and photography
At just 20 years old, JL’s already a man of many talents. Apart from singing and dancing, he also enjoys cooking and photography, as stated in his official SB Talent Camp profile.
9. He’s a Twi-Hard
Another fun fact mentioned on his trainee profile? He loves Twilight! For his favorite movie in particular, he listed down The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2.
10. He’s been a background dancer for Psy
ICYMI, Solaire recently tapped K-pop sensation Psy to be their brand ambassador. He released a song and video for the resort titled I Like it There, and if you watch closely, you can find JL as one of his background dancers. From the looks of it, he’s definitely holding his own behind the iconic performer.
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