Premiering Tuesday, Sept. 23, the show hunts for the fresh voices of 2025 to reimagine the life-defining ballads that have soundtracked our memories. Tapping the wisdom of the crowd, a 150-member “Top Ears” jury ― led by celebrity reps Jung Jae-hyung, Cha Tae-hyun, Choo Sung-hoon, Jun Hyun-moo, Park Kyung-lim, Danny Koo, Crush, Jung Seung-hwan, and MIMI of OH MY GIRL ― will sift through contestants whose average age is 18.2 to uncover raw gems.
A second teaser, released Sept. 4 on the show’s official YouTube channel, captures downtime during Round 1 taping ― and the spontaneous vocals that followed.
Spotting the set from the stage, Jung Jae-hyung muses that the seating looks like a treble clef, while Park Kyung-lim notes how everyone is “linked on one line,” hinting at the show’s collective-audition format with its 150 jurors pressing buttons in unison.
When Jun Hyun-moo quizzes the crowd on songs Jung Jae-hyung composed, one cheeky answer rises above the rest: “Sunjung Macho.” Coaxed by Jun, Jung bursts into a throwback rendition ― and cracks up mid-verse ― prompting Jun to deadpan, “See, this is when you do not hit the button. That’s a pass… to elimination.” Moments later, Crush belts “Sometimes,” instantly owning the room. Jun doesn’t miss a beat: “Now that’s when you slam the button.”
Introduced as the man behind another fan-favorite, Cha Tae-hyun channels his "Highway Star" era with “Two-Lane Bridge,” drawing big sing-alongs with veteran ease. Balladeer Jung Seung-hwan lifts the mood with “The Fool,” and MMA star Choo Sung-hoon keeps it going with a 2025 spin on “One Love,” earning roaring applause.
Feeling the heat, Jung Jae-hyung jumps back in ― “Let me redo it; I phoned it in earlier” ― and launches into “Sunjung Macho” again, only for Jun Hyun-moo to volley back, “And how is that different?” It’s a playful, bicker-and-bond moment that previews the panel’s chemistry coming to "The Ballad of Us"’ premiere.
From EP Park Sung-hoon and PD Jung Ik-seung of "K-pop Star," writer Mo Eun-seol of Netflix’s 2024 global hit "Culinary Class Wars," and PD Ahn Jung-hyun of "My Little Old Boy," "The Ballad of Us" teams SBS with SM Entertainment and SM C&C for a large-scale audition format. The series premieres Sept. 23 (Tue) at 9 p.m. KST on SBS.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)