The episode spotlighted sixth-place finisher Song Jiwoo, the show’s resident “tone queen,” whose crystalline, otherworldly vocals shone across her standout moments. From a shaky first round to a confident final-stage closer, her journey delivered a genuine glow-up that left viewers smiling.
In fifth, classically trained standout Hong Seungmin moved audiences with pristine high notes and a singular sense of feeling. He reflected that the show changed how he approaches singing―an honest confession that landed with real weight as he edged closer to a long-held dream of owning the ballad stage.
Fourth-place Choi Eunbin clawed her way out of a slump through relentless work, holding tight to her dream. Performances like "Never Ending Story," "How Love Is" and "You’re Just a Little Higher than Me" turned each round into a tearful, cathartic moment―raw, urgent and resonant.
Third-place finisher Cheon Beomseok brought a “feel-every-note” finale with a voice far sturdier than his four years of training would suggest. Add in his unadorned, just-right piano lines, and the results felt cinematic―polished, moving and big-screen in scope.
Runner-up Lee Jihoon―who idolizes the late Kim Kwang-seok and even enrolled at the singer’s alma mater―kept delivering goosebumps. At just 17, his rich tone and instinctive phrasing powered him from his memorable introduction to a semifinal win and, ultimately, second place. “'The Ballad of Us' is like my table of contents―there’s so much more to write,” he said, cementing his status as the show’s breakout star.
Champion Lee Yeji sealed the season with a husky tone and a gritty-warm emotional arc that sent chills. Her tribute to her father was raw in the best way, weaving delicate feeling with full-throttle power―proof of why she rose beyond the Top 6 to claim the crown.
As the inaugural winner discovered by "The Ballad of Us", Lee Yeji’s fearless growth and singular voice glowed even brighter in the epilogue, leaving a lasting echo with viewers.
Next up: a 2026 "The Ballad of Us" National Tour. The 12-artist lineup―winner Lee Yeji; Top 6 members Song Jiwoo, Lee Jihoon, Cheon Beomseok, Choi Eunbin and Hong Seungmin; plus semifinalists Kim Yooni, Min Suhyun, Lee Junseok, Lim Jisung, Jeremy and Jeong Jiwoong―will hit cities across Korea. Dates include Jan. 10 at Seongnam Arts Center Opera House, Jan. 24 at Daegu EXCO Auditorium, Feb. 7-8 at Kyung Hee University’s Grand Peace Hall in Seoul and Feb. 28 at KBS Busan Hall, bringing the show’s emotion back to the stage in living, breathing live performances.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)