SBS audition project "The Ballad of Us Season 2" has successfully completed its first step for its second season.

Set to premiere in October, "The Ballad of Us Season 2" finalized its lineup of eight judges known as the top 100 ears—featuring Jun Hyun-moo, Jung Jae-hyung, Cha Tae-hyun, Park Kyung-rim, Moon Geun-young, Joo Woo-jae, Roy Kim, and Jung Seung-hwan—and completed its first recording on August 8 and 9.

Following a major craze last year that ranked number one in 20-49 viewership ratings across all episodes and surpassed 100 million cumulative online views, "The Ballad of Us" is returning for an even more powerful second season. During the first recording held on August 8 and 9, young contestants with an average age of 17.9 performed masterpieces from popular music history, and one contestant's performance brought all the judges to a standing ovation.

Notably, actor Moon Geun-young returned to fixed variety programming for the first time in seven years, joining as the first female judge to enthusiastic cheers from the set. Moon disarmed Jun Hyun-moo, Jung Jae-hyung, and Cha Tae-hyun with her delicate evaluations and unexpected charms, raising anticipation.

Self-proclaimed "ballad kid" Joo Woo-jae threatened existing music team members like Jung Jae-hyung and Jung Seung-hwan with his extensive knowledge of popular music while serving as a mood maker on set with his unique energy.

Roy Kim, a winner of an audition program himself, offered heartfelt advice to contestants who chose him as their role model while showing delightful chemistry with "K-Pop Star 4" runner-up Jung Seung-hwan, warming up the set.

Signaling another syndrome from the very first recording with the performances of the three new faces and touching stages, "The Ballad of Us Season 2" is scheduled to premiere in October. 

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)