SBS's 'Our Ballad' Soars in Ratings with Heartfelt Performances

Jeon Hyun-moo, known for his active participation in 15 programs including 'I Live Alone', 'Brain Academy', and 'Reasonable Architecture - Space Traveler', has achieved remarkable success on SBS's new variety show.

The second episode of SBS's music audition show 'Our Ballad', aired on Tuesday, September 30th, saw its ratings soar to 6.4%, setting a new personal best and securing the top spot in its time slot for two consecutive weeks. The peak minute rating reached an impressive 7.6%, reflecting its hot popularity. The 2049 demographic rating for the second part was 2.3%, making it the number one program across all genres aired on Tuesday, including entertainment, drama, culture, and news. (Based on Nielsen Korea's metropolitan area data)

The episode featured performances by contestants with an average age of 18.2, evoking nostalgia among viewers. In the second round, contestants Choi Eun-bin, Kang Ji-yeon, Lim Ji-sung, Lee Min-ji, Kim Min-ah, Jeremy, and Kim Jae-jun advanced.

During the first round of the finals, themed 'My First Ballad', Choi Eun-bin received the highest number of votes with 142. Choi Eun-bin, who had previously garnered 6 million views for her rendition of Monday Kiz's 'Even If You Say Love Has Cooled', shared her story of overcoming a slump caused by negative comments and participating in the show to fulfill her father's wish to see her sing after he was diagnosed with a cerebral hemorrhage.

Choi Eun-bin delivered a powerful and emotional performance of Boohwal's 'Never Ending Story', moving the audience to tears. Park Kyung-lim expressed her emotions, saying she was touched by the lights of the audience supporting Choi Eun-bin, likening them to guiding lights. Crush praised Choi Eun-bin's talent, predicting a bright future ahead, while Jung Jae-hyung compared her to figure skater Kim Yuna, expressing admiration for her soaring performance.

High school senior Kang Ji-yeon, despite her petite frame of 34kg, impressed with her full-sized guitar performance of Kim Yoon-ah's 'Going Home', offering comfort to fellow students preparing for college entrance exams. Kang Ji-yeon, who advanced with 141 votes, received high praise from Crush, who called her the most skilled musician he had seen recently, and Danny Koo, who expressed interest in a future duet with her.

Lim Ji-sung, who performed Hwang Chi-hoon's 'You in My Memories', advanced with a pure and innocent stage presence, though he did not escape the keen eye of audition enthusiast Cha Tae-hyun, who noted a significant change in Lim Ji-sung's demeanor before and after the performance. Jung Jae-hyung and Crush also offered affectionate advice.

Lee Min-ji, who shares a music streaming account with her mother, showcased her untainted voice and stable vocals with As One's 'Want and Resent', advancing to the next round. Meanwhile, Kim Min-ah delivered a calm yet profound rendition of Kim Hyun-sik's 'My Love Beside Me', earning her a spot in the next stage.

Kim Jae-jun, who performed Kim Min-woo's 'On the Enlistment Train', and Jeremy, who sang Baek Yerin's 'It's Probably Not Our Fault', captivated with their charming characters. However, elementary school powerhouse vocalist Kim Tae-jun, despite his performance of Lim Han-byul's 'Because I Didn't Love', did not secure enough votes to advance.