Episode 2 of SBS’s music audition series "The Ballad of Us" will air Tuesday, Sept. 30 at 9 p.m. KST and has been extended to a 140-minute block. Riding the momentum from its premiere, the show locked in a second consecutive special-length installment to showcase more tightly curated performances.
Director Jung Ik-seung said, “What stuck with me right after the premiere were the comments under the performance clips―people leaving pieces of their own memories. Hearing these kids sing brought back times we can’t return to and the names of people we miss. That’s the power of ballads.” He added, “When handled with care, these stories become even more special. We secured an unusual two-episode run at this length so we can honor more of the kids’ stages, and we hope you’ll tune in again.”
The Sept. 23 premiere’s Part 2 averaged 4.7% and peaked at 5.2% in the Seoul Capital Area, ranking No. 1 in its time slot. It also led its slot in the 20-49 demo with a 1.1% rating, underscoring strong curiosity about the 150-member panel audition format.
On Netflix Korea’s Today’s Series chart, the show debuted in the Top 5 on day one and climbed to the Top 3 on day two, signaling explosive interest. Despite a supersized 160-minute premiere, the contestants―whose average age is 18.2―and the show’s immersive pacing kept OTT viewers hooked. On Wavve, it shot to No. 1 in the variety category immediately after broadcast.
The heat is carrying over to digital. “Jeju Girl” Lee Ye-ji’s clip of “For You” dominated YouTube, Reels, and TikTok, surpassing 3 million combined views in just two days and signaling a breakout star in the making.
Post-premiere reactions online have been warm: “The purity of these kids’ voices hits hard,” and “Just hearing the songs takes me back to that distant time I can’t return to,” read representative comments. Anticipation is high to see who takes the stage in the 140-minute second episode.
"The Ballad of Us" airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. KST; tomorrow’s Sept. 30 episode will run a supersized 140 minutes.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)