On the Oct. 28 episode of SBS’ “The Ballad of Us,” Kim Min-a and Kim Yoon-yi faced off one-on-one.
Before the showdown, Kim Min-a admitted that after Round 1 she wondered, “Do I even belong here?” Noting the stacked resumes around her, she added that if she passed this round, she’d even take a leave from school to give it everything she has.
Meanwhile, Kim Yoon-yi ― who trained to be an idol for five years ― shared that her parents were overjoyed at her making it through. “They teared up asking if I was finally going to be on TV. Seeing them that happy made all the hard times fade,” she said.
After choosing Yoon-yi as her opponent, Min-a learned Yoon-yi had spent five years as a trainee at SM Entertainment ― a revelation that explained her mixed emotions heading into the duel.
Min-a took the stage first with Lee Yong’s “The Forgotten Season,” delivering a markedly different spin. Judge Jung Seung-hwan praised her focus on storytelling: “Ballads live and die by their lyrics. I loved how obsessively you chased the words ― it’s a core part of your charm. With clear direction and intent, the song became persuasive, and so did your voice.”
Kwon Jin-ah added, “You might be the most distinctive contestant here. Because we can see your ideas and your world, the performance hit hard.”
Then Yoon-yi answered with 015B’s “From January to June,” unveiling a completely new side that stunned the room. Cheers broke out the moment she finished, and Jung Jae-hyung even rose to his feet in a standing ovation.
“It was genuinely moving,” Jung said. “In Round 1, you seemed so timid, singing only with learned technique. But in the second verse today, you let your own voice rip. Your confidence kicked in mid-song, and I could feel your will to express yourself. It was like you cracked out of your shell ― I was deeply touched.”
Host Park Kyung-lim reflected on Yoon-yi’s journey: “After five years as a trainee without the outcome you wanted, I’m sure you blamed yourself a lot. But today, your voice had this cinematic, East Asian allure that reminded me of hearing Lee Soo-young for the first time ― even a scene from Comrades: Almost a Love Story flashed in my mind. I hope you get to share that voice with as many people as possible.”
By a score of 92 to 57, Yoon-yi upset expectations, defeating Min-a to advance to Round 3. “Thank you so much,” she said. “I’ve been desperate to be on stage, and I’m grateful for another chance ― and for creating a great performance with Min-a.”
MIMI admitted she was “honestly shocked,” adding, “You were a completely different person from Round 1 ― the voice, the self, the way you sang. It felt like a new contestant walked in. I was so absorbed in your story that the feeling lingered all the way through the final vote.”
Even in defeat, Min-a was gracious: “I’m satisfied ― this feels like the right kind of near-miss. Now I hope Yoon-yi unnie goes all the way and wins.”
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Hyo-jung)
