'The Ballad of Us' returns to rewrite K-ballad history

SBS’s The Ballad of Us 2 is returning in Seoul on Wednesday with a younger lineup of contestants and a larger judging panel. Producer Ahn Jeong-hyeon said the network expanded the premiere to 2 hours and 40 minutes after strong footage and enthusiasm for Season 1. The show will premiere Monday and stream globally on Netflix.

Season 1 drew more than 100 million online views last September, prompting SBS to greenlight a second season.

The Ballad of Us 2 will use a 150-person representative panel of music experts and everyday viewers from across generations as judges.

The season includes returning panelists Jung Jae-hyung, Cha Tae-hyun, Park Kyung-lim and Jung Seung-hwan, along with Moon Geun-young, Joo Woo-jae and Roy Kim.

Roy Kim said he accepted the judging role because the program is about guiding young dreamers through growth rather than choosing a finished artist.

Last season’s winner, Lee Ye-ji, officially debuted with a single released in July, and this season’s winner will also receive structured support for future activities.

Published Sep 30, 2026 5:26 pm KST

Updated Sep 30, 2026 5:26 pm KST

Young contestants give iconic songs a second life

SBS singing competition "The Ballad of Us 2" panelists pose during a press conference for the show at the broadcaster's headquarters in Yangcheon District, Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of SBS

A singing audition show rich with autumn nostalgia is returning for a second season — this time with an even younger lineup of competitors.

SBS’s "The Ballad of Us" revisits timeless ballads woven into Korea's collective memory to find new talent ready to revive the classics. Season 1 generated over 100 million online views last September, so SBS greenlit a second season without hesitation.

In "The Ballad of Us 2," a 150-person representative panel of music experts and everyday viewers across all generations will serve as judges. Contestants select the songs that define their lives and deliver them with brand-new interpretations.

"I considered shortening the runtime, but the footage was simply too good," said producer Ahn Jeong-hyeon during a press conference at SBS headquarters in Yangcheon District, Seoul, Wednesday. "The network loved it so much that they expanded our slot to a massive 2-hour-and-40-minute premiere."

"As we searched for someone who could make famous songs sound completely fresh, the contestants became younger. Those friends understand and sing songs in a way the older generation has never experienced," the producer added.

Scenes from SBS music competition "The Ballad of Us 2" / Courtesy of SBS

This season features Jung Jae-hyung, Cha Tae-hyun, Park Kyung-lim, and Jung Seung-hwan from Season 1 returning as panelists, joined by Moon Geun-young, Joo Woo-jae and Roy Kim, promising a fresh dynamic.

"We brought on Roy Kim, who represents the present of Korean ballads; Joo Woo-jae, a prime example of an analytical personality in entertainment who nonetheless possesses distinct musical taste; and Moon Geun-young, who reached top-star status at a young age and can best empathize with what our young contestants are going through," Ahn explained.

Roy Kim, who made a brilliant debut after winning Mnet's "Superstar K" in 2012, takes a judge's seat for the first time. "I was standing in that exact same spot 14 years ago. I’ve received a few offers to judge auditions over the years, but didn't have courage because I still had my own hands full," he said. "However, I decided to join 'The Ballad of Us' because it isn't about picking a finished artist, but rather guiding young dreamers through their growth process and giving them courage."

Expressing deep affection for the show, he continued, "Watching the contestants grow so rapidly gave me hope that the ballad genre will continue to thrive through them."

Marking her first fixed variety show appearance in seven years, Moon Geun-young said, "Every moment reminded me of my own youth. I was so curious about what thoughts they had as they prepared for the stage, and I felt deep empathy for them. I listened to their songs with a desire to empower them, and I'm watching with warm encouragement as they take on new challenges on the long road ahead."

Park Kyung-lim also noted, "As those who watched Season 1 might have felt, 'The Ballad of Us' is a beginning for someone. Many contestants are singing in front of an audience for the very first time. I'm thrilled to share in the beginning of these young people who have no experience, showing themselves to the world with so many opportunities ahead of them."

Last season's winner, Lee Ye-ji, officially debuted with a single released in July. This season's winner will also receive structured support for future activities. "This season, we are again producing the show alongside one of Korea's top entertainment agencies. We've been planning support packages right from the development stage to offer even more comprehensive, systematic backing than last season," Ahn said.

"The Ballad of Us" aims to captivate viewers with a diverse selection of ballads from the 1980s to the 2020s. Both the production team and cast emphasized the unifying power of music across generations.

"As a fellow singer, I receive a lot of healthy inspiration," Jung Seung-hwan said. "I am confident that seeing them sing will deeply move and inspire many viewers."

"The Ballad of Us 2" will premiere Monday and stream globally on Netflix.

SBS选秀节目《我们俩的抒情诗2》将于周三在首尔回归，参赛选手阵容更加年轻，评委阵容也更加强大。制作人安正铉表示，鉴于第一季播出后反响热烈，电视台决定将首播集的时长延长至2小时40分钟。该节目将于周一在Netflix全球首播。

第一季在去年九月获得了超过 1 亿次的网络观看量，促使 SBS 电视台批准制作第二季。

《我们俩的民谣2》将邀请150名来自不同年龄段的音乐专家和普通观众组成代表小组担任评委。

本季节目嘉宾包括回归的郑宰亨、车太铉、朴京林和郑承焕，以及文根英、朱宇宰和罗伊·金。

Roy Kim表示，他接受评委角色是因为该节目旨在引导年轻的追梦者成长，而不是选择一位已经成名的艺术家。

上一季的冠军李艺智于7月发行单曲正式出道，本季的冠军也将获得系统性的支持，以开展未来的活动。

发布于2026年9月30日下午5:26（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年9月30日下午5:26（韩国标准时间）

年轻选手们赋予经典歌曲第二次生命

周三，SBS歌唱比赛节目《我们的民谣2》的评委们在首尔阳川区SBS电视台总部举行的节目新闻发布会上合影。图片由SBS提供。

一档充满秋日怀旧气息的歌唱选秀节目即将回归第二季——这一次，参赛选手阵容更加年轻。

SBS的《我们俩的民谣》节目重温韩国民众记忆中那些经久不衰的经典民谣，寻找能够重新演绎这些经典之作的新人。第一季去年9月在网上获得了超过1亿的点击量，因此SBS毫不犹豫地宣布制作第二季。

在《我们俩的民谣2》中，由150名来自各个年龄段的音乐专家和普通观众组成的评审团将担任评委。参赛者将选择那些定义他们人生的歌曲，并以全新的方式重新演绎。

“我考虑过缩短片长，但素材实在太好了，”制片人安正铉周三在首尔阳川区SBS总部举行的新闻发布会上说。“电视台非常喜欢这部影片，所以把我们的首播时长延长到了2小时40分钟。”

“为了找到能够让经典歌曲焕然一新的人，参赛者变得越来越年轻。这些老朋友理解并演唱歌曲的方式，是老一辈人从未体验过的，”制作人补充道。

SBS音乐比赛节目《我们俩的民谣2》剧照 / 图片由SBS提供

本季节目中，第一季的郑宰亨、车太铉、朴京林和郑承焕将回归担任评委，同时还有文根英、朱宇宰和罗伊·金加入，有望带来全新的活力。

安解释说：“我们请来了代表韩国抒情歌曲现状的 Roy Kim；Joo Woo-jae，他是娱乐圈中分析能力极强且拥有独特音乐品味的典范；以及 Moon Geun-young，她年纪轻轻就达到了顶级明星的地位，能够最感同身受地理解我们年轻选手们正在经历的事情。”

2012年赢得Mnet《Superstar K》冠军后惊艳出道的Roy Kim，首次担任评委。“14年前，我就站在同一个位置。这些年来，我收到过不少选秀评委的邀请，但因为自己当时忙得不可开交，所以一直没勇气答应。”他说道，“不过，我最终决定加入《The Ballad of Us》，因为这档节目并非旨在挑选一位已经成名的艺人，而是引导年轻的追梦者成长，给予他们勇气。”

他表达了对该节目的深厚感情，并继续说道：“看到参赛选手们成长如此迅速，让我相信民谣音乐类型会通过他们继续蓬勃发展。”

这是文根英七年来首次出演固定综艺节目。她表示：“每一刻都让我想起了自己的青春岁月。我很好奇他们在准备舞台时都在想些什么，也深深地为他们感到难过。我带着鼓励的心情聆听他们的歌曲，也满怀热情地支持他们迎接未来漫长道路上的新挑战。”

朴京林也表示：“看过第一季的观众或许会感受到，《我们的民谣》对某些人来说是一个全新的开始。很多参赛选手都是第一次在观众面前唱歌。我很高兴能见证这些毫无经验的年轻人开启人生新篇章，向世界展现自我，他们未来拥有无限的机遇。”

上一季的冠军李艺智已于7月发行单曲正式出道。本季的冠军也将获得系统性的未来活动支持。“本季我们再次与韩国顶尖娱乐公司之一合作制作节目。从节目筹备阶段开始，我们就一直在规划支持方案，力求提供比上一季更加全面、系统的支持。”安表示。

《我们的民谣》旨在通过精选 20 世纪 80 年代至 21 世纪 20 年代的各式民谣来吸引观众。制作团队和演员都强调了音乐跨越世代的凝聚力。

郑承焕表示：“作为一名歌手，我从他们身上汲取了很多有益的灵感。我相信他们的歌声会深深打动并激励许多观众。”

《我们俩的民谣2》将于周一首播，并在Netflix全球上线。