SBS’s supersized music competition "The Ballad of Us" is already buzzing: its promotional pop-up booth wrapped to enthusiastic crowds ahead of the show’s debut.
The activation ran Sept. 19-21 at Seoul Forest during the Seoul Forest Jazz Festival 2025, building momentum for the series premiere on Sept. 23.
On site, fans got an early taste of "The Ballad of Us" with a slate of teaser content that spotlighted the nine “Top Ears” ambassadors―Jung Jae-hyung, Choo Sung-hoon, Cha Tae-hyun, Jun Hyun-moo, Park Kyung-lim, Danny Koo, Crush, MIMI, and Jung Seung-hwan. Handwritten notes and autographed displays added to the intrigue.
Interactive stations and limited-edition merch amped up the fun. Every visitor received a kit featuring a postcard printed with lyrics from classic ballads set to appear on the show, stamp stickers, and a compact mirror. Many lingered to read through all 15 postcard designs and hopped into a free photo booth to capture keepsakes with friends, dates, and family.
Pop-up attendees also scored an exclusive perk: a lottery for a chance to join the Round 4 “Top Ears” panel. Demand was intense―more than 500 people entered, and the event closed early. Producers will randomly select winners to be invited as Round 4 “Top Ears.”
"The Ballad of Us" is a new audition series that revisits the ballads that scored our lives and searches for fresh 2025 voices to reimagine those beloved songs. A 150-member “Top Ears” panel of ballad lovers drives the discovery process, tapping collective wisdom to unearth hidden gems―a twist on the traditional talent show format.
"The Ballad of Us" premieres Sept. 23 at 9 p.m. KST with an extended, 160-minute first episode.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)