Set to premiere this September, 'The Ballad of Us' is a music audition program that aims to rediscover the ballads that have been the soundtrack to our lives, sharing those timeless tunes and finding the fresh voices of 2025 to bring them back to life. The show has garnered attention with the collaboration of Jung Ik-seung PD, known for directing major SBS audition and music shows like 'K-pop Star', 'The Fan', and 'Gayo Daejeon', and Mo Eun-seol, who showcased her talent with the 2024 Netflix global hit 'Culinary Class Wars'.
What sets 'The Ballad of Us' apart from previous audition programs is that it's not just music experts who serve as judges, but everyone. A diverse group of 'Top Ear Ballad Enthusiasts', known for their keen ability to spot hits and rising stars, will join the 9 top ear judges in a collective audition to unearth the next big voice.
The top ear judges include Jung Jae-hyung, Cha Tae-hyun, Choo Sung-hoon, Jun Hyun-moo, Park Kyung-lim, Danny Koo, Crush, Jung Seung-hwan, and MIMI, all set to make their mark.
The anticipation is high to see who producer Jung Jae-hyung, creator of the historic ballad 'Gather My Tears', and actor Cha Tae-hyun, always present in beloved Korean soundtrack scenes, will choose.
Park Kyung-lim, a long-standing radio host and music show MC discovered by ballad emperor Lee Moon-se, and Jun Hyun-moo, who has seen countless gems through Korea's numerous music auditions, will showcase their sharp foresight as top ear judges, not as MCs.
Additionally, fighter Choo Sung-hoon, who touched Korea with his sincere voice and emotion in 'One Love', crossover classical idol violinist Danny Koo, who learned Korean through songs by Kim Kwang-seok, Yoo Jae-ha, and god, join the panel, promising a rich auditory experience.
Musicians Crush, straddling the line between R&B, hip-hop, and ballads with support from both sides, Jung Seung-hwan, a sentimentalist discovered by SBS's 'K-pop Star', and K-pop musician MIMI from OH MY GIRL, who resonates closely with the current generation's playlist, are also in the spotlight for their professional insights.
This unique 'collective audition', judged by the 9 judges along with 150 top ears, marks 'The Ballad of Us' as a major audition project by SBS, setting K-pop standards globally and leading popular music, in collaboration with SM Entertainment and Korea's top content company and management agency, SM C&C.
'The Ballad of Us' is currently recruiting men and women of all ages to join the 'Top Ears' on set and help select the new voice of the generation. Anyone over 17 with a love for emotive pop music can apply through the SBS official website until 11:59 PM on the 10th (Sunday).
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)