The deep emotions of ballads, which have long anchored Korean popular music, and the raw, moving moments delivered by young, undiscovered gems are returning to living rooms once again this autumn. Chief Producer (CP) Jung Ik-seung and Producer (PD) Ahn Jung-hyun of SBS' flagship music audition show 'The Ballad of Us 2' expressed their reinforced confidence after wrapping up two recording sessions.
▲ "There Was No Reason Not to Do It Again"... The Duty of an Authentic Audition Show Arriving in Autumn
During its first season, 'The Ballad of Us' achieved remarkable milestones, including ranking first in the 20-49 demographic viewership across all episodes, entering Netflix's Top 10 series in South Korea, surpassing 100 million cumulative online views, and winning Best Entertainment TV Program at the 39th Korea Broadcasting Awards. Propelled by such immense popularity, the production of Season 2 was greenlit early on.
CP Jung Ik-seung reflected on launching the second season, sharing, "It had been a long time since SBS produced what could be called an authentic audition show. Young participants without established backgrounds take the stage to sing widely beloved popular songs, and the raw emotion born from that is the very essence of an authentic audition." He continued, "We had many worries during Season 1, but thankfully viewers resonated deeply with the emotion we aimed to convey. That was why, during last year's finale, I already promised that 'we would return.' There was no reason not to introduce these beautiful moments once more in 2026, and taking this on felt like a sense of duty."
Season 2 will similarly focus on the ballad genre itself and the distinct individuality of each contestant, rather than flamboyant vocal techniques or acrobatic tricks.
Jung candidly shared the pressure he felt, saying, "Even after the cue 'cameras rolling' was called on set, I kept agonizing over whether we should drastically change the format or how to ensure it wouldn't feel repetitive." He went on, "During a break in the first shoot, I ran over to ask Jung Jae-hyung, one of the eight 'Top 100 Ear' panelists who watch the performances from the closest vantage point. After watching just three contestants, his immediate response was, 'Where did you find such kids? This is definitely worth doing.' I know well the weight of words coming from someone who speaks candidly and precisely about music. The confidence he showed after seeing merely three contestants gave me the conviction: 'All we have to do now is run hard once again.'"
The show continues its accessible, welcoming format where contestants pour their personal stories into ballads that evoke memories like an old photo album, while the 'Top 100 Ear' panel interprets the music from the audience's perspective. Jung emphasized, "Ballads hold the power to naturally summon the songs you cherished back then, the air and temperature of those days, and even how you felt. Rather than sharp critique from music professionals, this will be an audition show brimming with warmth that interprets the stage in everyday language alongside viewers."
The broadcast schedule was also locked in for autumn on Monday nights at 10 p.m. to suit the genre's sentimental tone. Jung explained, "It is a genre best experienced when opening the window just as the night air turns dark. In our editing previews, there is an unspoken consensus among the production team on the time it takes before a contestant's story prompts a genuine 'wow.' To fully convey each contestant's complete narrative arc, this season will also greet viewers with a generous running time."
▲ Joo Woo-jae, Moon Geun-young, Roy Kim... A New 'Top 100 Ear' Panel Bound by 'Sincerity'
The presence of the three newly joined panelists on the 'Top 100 Ear' committee is another major highlight. Jung expressed his deep gratitude, saying, "All three approached the recordings with genuine sincerity."
Jung first recounted the casting story behind Joo Woo-jae. "We invited Joo Woo-jae not simply as an entertainer, but because of his extensive knowledge and love for popular music. Having fallen for music during his adolescence through Yoon Jong-shin's songs, he even hosted his own Winamp broadcasts and personal concerts, making him someone who lived right through the heart of popular music culture bridging the turn of the century and the 2000s," Jung evaluated. He added, "During our pre-meeting, he confidently introduced himself as 'the Lim Jin-mo of the modeling world,' but when he held the mic at the first recording, he showed an endearing, nervous side, trembling and stumbling over words. Seeing someone who effortlessly commands the room on other variety shows undergo such a mindset shift when stepping into a space he genuinely loves highlighted his pure sincerity."
High praise was also directed at actor Moon Geun-young. Jung recalled, "My first meeting with Moon Geun-young was as surprising as meeting a 'female Cha Tae-hyun.' She is an avid fan of audition programs, even reciting past stages and critiques in detail that our own production crew could barely remember." He further noted, "It was truly moving to see how she listened open-mindedly to new contestants' stories and reacted with heartfelt emotion to every single stage. In particular, when the camera focused on her in silence on set, an extraordinary narrative and energy radiated from her gaze alone," expressing high expectations.
Turning to Roy Kim, Jung revealed, "He was considered during Season 1 as well, but casting did not materialize then in order to balance the panel's musical weight. Instead, he was the very first person we contacted as our top priority this season." Jung expressed strong faith in the panel's diverse chemistry, stating, "Roy Kim represents the present of today's ballads, having remained on the charts for 100 consecutive weeks. Beyond being an audition winner, as an artist who has consistently held the charts, he brings stories with a distinct warmth apart from Jung Jae-hyung and Jung Seung-hwan. His insightful remarks add a cool tension and deep engagement to the studio."
▲ Average Age of 17.9, Youngest at 13... "Magical Moments Created by Unfamiliar Perspectives"
The average age of this season's contestants stands at 17.9 years, even younger than Season 1's 18.2 years. PD Ahn Jung-hyun explained, "Due to the success of Season 1, many technically gifted applicants auditioned, presenting a welcome challenge. Yet what we weighed until the end was selecting people who could 'sing ballads with fresh perspectives and stories of their own that make the songs worth rediscovering.'" He added, "We realized how the youth of this generation perceive and express the world differently from what our generation experienced. While not intentional, seeking voices that could reinterpret well-known songs naturally brought down the average age of the participants."
Jung echoed this sentiment, remarking, "The unpolished and unfamiliar voices of young participants who have never attended a music academy and do not even know standard vocal projection techniques paradoxically brought powerful resonance and emotion to the set. Ten contestants offer ten completely different colors. Crafting stages outside conventional molds is the greatest charm of this season's contestants."
The performance by the youngest participant, aged 13, left the set in awe. Ahn recalled the moment: "When a 13-year-old child with a youthful face stepped onto the stage and delivered the very first line, everyone was stunned in disbelief, wondering, 'How can someone sing like that?' and 'What kind of depth do they carry in their heart?' It was truly a magical moment."
Jung also shared an unforgettable experience during filming. "Back on 'K-Pop Star 4,' after Jung Seung-hwan sang and a hush fell over the room, Jinyoung remarked, 'Because a voice like this does not exist anywhere else, it must be shared with the world.' That was beyond electrifying; it was an immense shock. I felt that exact same shock again for the first time in 10 years during our Round 2 recording," he teased regarding one performance. He added, "I resolved to gather the storm of emotions before they faded and convey them intact to our viewers. We will be able to share that performance on broadcast in two weeks," urging audiences to tune in.
Beyond simple ratings or streaming chart figures, 'The Ballad of Us 2' embodies the production team's sincere wish: "We hope viewers watch this show and feel inspired, thinking 'I have witnessed such a fresh stage' and 'there are people who see the world from such a novel perspective.'" The program is scheduled to premiere on October 5 at 10 p.m.
Reporter Kang Seon-ae
(SBS Entertainment News | Reporter Kang Seon-ae)
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