[Edaily Starin, Reporter YUN GI BACK ] “There was no reason not to do Season 2. If anything, the real dilemma was ‘what to change and to what extent.’”
The production team behind the SBS audition project “Our Ballad 2” has announced Season 2, which will build on the success formula of Season 1 while emphasizing “new faces and new perspectives.” The core of this season is the “clash of generations,” as contestants with an average age of 17.9 reinterpret classic songs—which have been sung and enjoyed countless times—in their own unique ways.

◇“Will there be new moments of emotion?”… Confidence that “it’s a success” after filming
CP Jeong Ik-seung and PD Ahn Jeong-hyun, who met with E-Daily on the 17th at Simspace in Mapo-gu, Seoul, both agreed that “people” were the starting point for producing Season 2. CP Jeong said, “Viewers fully felt the emotion we wanted to convey through Season 1,” adding, “Why wouldn’t we introduce these beautiful scenes again in 2026?”
However, precisely because it is a sequel to a highly successful season, their deliberations were even more intense. CP Jeong explained, “There were differing opinions within the production team about whether we should make significant changes or keep things similar,” adding, “We believed it was the production team’s duty to retain the elements that made Season 1 so beloved while also showcasing that ‘one special touch’ that makes it stand out.”
The answer the production team found lay not in changing the format, but in the contestants. Producer Ahn said, “Ultimately, the core of an audition program is not the format, but who appears and what songs they sing,” adding, “We pondered how we could present songs that have already been sung and loved so many times in a fresh way, and we put the most effort into finding contestants with their own unique perspectives and stories.”

The average age of Season 2 contestants is 17.9 years old. This is lower than the 18.2 years recorded in Season 1. The youngest contestant is 13 years old. However, selecting young contestants was not the original goal. Producer Ahn explained, “This result came about naturally as we searched for people who could present classic songs from a fresh perspective,” adding, “Magical moments occur when young people—from a generation that the older generation hasn’t experienced—feel and sing songs in their own way.”
CP Jeong also remarked, “There’s a certain friction that arises when a ballad—one that’s been tucked away in my playlist or stored as a single snapshot in my memory—meets someone who is as far removed from that genre as possible,” adding, “I believe the greater the gap, the greater the emotional impact.” He continued, “Even if they sing a bit awkwardly or unfamiliar, as long as it’s infused with their own emotions, it becomes a completely different song.”
The production team for Season 2 was most concerned about whether they could “create a new emotional impact.” Producer Ahn said, “We filmed two episodes, and when I saw the judges gasping in surprise and shedding tears at unexpected moments, I felt we had succeeded.” He added, “I became convinced that we wouldn’t just be repeating the emotional impact from Season 1, but that we could present new perspectives and stories.”

◇Average age of 17.9… “Looking out for them even off-air with the care of an uncle and aunt”
There have also been changes to the judging panel, known as “Top 100 Gwi.” Regarding new member Joo Woo-jae, Producer Jeong explained, “We didn’t cast him thinking of him as the variety show personality Joo Woo-jae. He’s someone with an incredibly deep knowledge of music.” He continued, “He was introduced to music through Yoon Jong-shin’s songs during his teenage years and even hosted his own radio show in the past. “During his first recording, he was so nervous—to the point of stuttering—which was unusual for a seasoned professional broadcaster; that’s how passionate he is about music,” he explained.
Moon Geun-young surprised the production team with her unexpected side as an “audition show enthusiast.” Producer Jeong said, “She watches every single audition show, even the ones we barely remember,” adding, “We needed someone who would look at new people’s stories with curiosity rather than just musical expertise, and Moon Geun-young is fulfilling that role perfectly.”
Roy Kim was selected as the representative figure of “contemporary ballads.” Producer Jeong said, “We needed a different perspective—one that offered a different tone from what Jung Jae-hyung and Jung Seung-hwan could provide,” adding, “Given that he’s an artist who continues to keep his songs on the charts for extended periods, we believed there was a distinct story Roy Kim could tell.”

Given the large number of young contestants, the production team is also putting considerable effort into managing them off-air. Producer Jeong said, “Although personal issues aren’t revealed on air, the production team pays very close attention to them,” adding, “While we don’t have the right to dig into their private lives in detail, we must make sure they fully understand that the moment they appear on TV, they’ll receive far more attention than they could ever imagine—and help them prepare for that.”
He also noted that they are actively drawing on the experience of co-producer SM C&C. “The average age is 17.9, and many of them are still in school wearing uniforms,” CP Jeong explained. “Even if we’re not exactly like their moms and dads, we try to guide and support them with the care of an uncle or aunt. SM C&C’s practical know-how in these areas has been a huge help.”
Regarding the criteria for success in Season 2, Producer Ahn Jeong-hyun cited “new discoveries” over viewership ratings. He said, “All metrics—viewership ratings, OTT buzz, and virality—are important,” but added, “Personally, I’d love it if viewers said, ‘I really saw a brand-new stage this time,’ or ‘I discovered a talent I didn’t know existed.’” He emphasized, “If viewers say, ‘I took the time to watch the show and felt something new, and I discovered someone I didn’t know before,’ that is the kind of success the production team hopes for most.”
“Our Ballad 2” premieres next month on the 5th at 10 p.m.