FROM making history as the first P-pop boy group to perform at the prestigious Seoul Music Awards, 1st One will set its foot again on the international stage to represent the Philippines at the ASEAN-Korea Music Festival 2025.
The six-piece Filipino act—composed of Ace, Alpha, J, Jayson, Joker, and Max—proudly announced its participation at the event, also known as the ROUND Festival.
The members will share the stage with other Asian artists like girl group DOLLA from Malaysia, rapper and singer Tep Boprek from Cambodia, singer-songwriter He’ Lay from Myanmar, and singer Yan Josua from Indonesia.
“It is such a blessing and a dream come true to be able to represent our country in this year’s ASEAN-KOREA Round Music Festival,” 1st One said in a Facebook post.
On Instagram, the ROUND Festival organizers described 1st One as a group known for its “captivating and energetic performances that have resonated both domestically and internationally.”
They highlighted the 1st One’s milestones, including topping the US Billboard Hot Trending Songs chart in 2022 with its single “Shout Out” and being the first P-pop boy group to perform at the Seoul Music Awards 2020, attended by several well-known K-pop groups like Red Velvet, NCT, and Twice.
The ROUND Festival will be held from June 21 to 22 at Zepp Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Last year, the Philippines was represented by Josh Cullen of the P-pop powerhouse SB19 and Gen Z singer-songwriter Zack Tabudlo at the 2024 ROUND Festival.
1st One updates
1st One officially debuted in the local music scene in 2020 with its single “You Are The One (Ttak Maja Nuh),” after training in South Korea and the Philippines.
In February 2025, the group released a soul version of its latest single, “Wala Ng Iba,” which speaks about love, devotion, and happiness. This was 1st One’s way to express its gratitude and love to its fans, collectively known as For Ones, for their continuous support.
1st One is now gearing up for its long-awaited debut extended play (EP), releasing its first single, “Alam Mo Ba,” in March 2025. The song expresses the complexities of a “situationship,” or a romantic relationship between two individuals without a formal label.
The members also collaborated with Filipino fashion designer Jobert Cristobal, who will exclusively design their wardrobes and costumes for their upcoming events and performances. Cristobal made the members’ “Alam Mo Ba”-inspired bomber jackets for their recent Wish Bus performance.
