'The Ballad of Us 2' Tops Netflix Korea and Melon Charts as New Contestants Prep Debut

SBS's large-scale audition project "The Ballad of Us 2" is gaining momentum across Korean television, streaming platforms, and music charts after just two episodes. Planned by Jung Ik-seung, directed by Ahn Jung-hyun, and written by Mo Eun-seol, has been climbing steadily across multiple metrics since its premiere, making ballads into one of the fall's biggest talking points.

Before the show even aired, its teasers and preview clips garnered more than 10 million views combined. Since the premiere, the show's digital videos have surpassed 36 million total views. On Netflix's Top 10 list in Korea, "The Ballad of Us 2" ranked second in its first week and third in its second week, while ranking No.1 in the variety category as of Oct. 14, 2026.

It also ranked ninth on Good Data Corporation's TV non-drama buzz chart and No.1 in search engagement for non-drama TV and OTT programming. On the music side, songs by contestants Kim So-yeon and Lim Ba-da have remained on Melon's Hot 100 chart for two consecutive weeks. Park Ye-seung, who became the first contestant in "The Ballad of Us 2" history to receive a perfect score of 150 votes, entered the Hot 100 at No. 71 right after her broadcast, based on Oct. 14, 2026 data.

Attention now turns to episode 3, which airs Monday, Oct. 19 at 10 p.m. KST. The lineup includes a student who postponed enrollment at Berklee College of Music to join the show, as well as a returning contestant who auditioned for the previous season.

One of the episode's standout moments comes from a contestant who takes on "Cheonghon" (Marriage Proposal) by Noel, a song expected to turn the studio into a romantic setting. Released in 2004, the track is a wedding-season staple that the four members of Noel once performed six times in a single day at ceremonies. It is known for its harmonies and demanding high notes. Judge Roy Kim called it "a song you shouldn't touch lightly," a line that hints at how hard it is to pull off.

The contestant reportedly delivers the song with a soft, warm tone that won over the audience, known on the show as the "Top 100 Ears." Actress Moon Geun-young, moved by performance, said it was "such a sweet and pure 'Cheonghon.'"

Two more performers also take the stage. One is the Berklee-bound student. The other beat 182-to-1 odds to get into a college applied music program. The latter will reveal why she reached the finals of the previous season but never got the chance to perform, a revelation that surprises everyone in the room.

The contestant who delayed Berklee impresses with a polished style that feels straight out of a major label. Roy Kim went as far as to compare her to Rosé of BLACKPINK, setting up high expectations for what both newcomers will bring to the stage.

Episode 3 of "The Ballad of Us 2" airs Monday, Oct. 19 at 10 p.m. KST on SBS.