SBS 'The Ballad of Us' TOP6 will take the long-awaited final stage.
On the 2nd, the country's first music audition program SBS 'The Ballad of Us' will hold the live final broadcast that will cap the show. Viewers' keen interest is focused on the last stage that the final six — Lee Ji-hoon, Hong Seung-min, Song Ji-woo, Cheon Beom-seok, Lee Ye-ji and Choi Eun-bin — will present.
With the birth of the inaugural winner who will open a new era for the ballad genre imminent, we looked back at the best stages of the TOP6 members who filled living rooms with emotion this fall.
The essence of a persuasive, deep voice 'Lee Ji-hoon'
Lee Ji-hoon's performance of Lee Moon-se's
From the initial introduction as a 'Kim Kwang-seok superfan' who went to his alma mater out of respect for Kim Kwang-seok to reaching first place in the semifinals, Lee Ji-hoon's delicate sensibility has drawn deep sympathy from audiences at every stage and earned him great love.
A perfect harmony of solid vocal technique and stormy power 'Hong Seung-min'
Hong Seung-min, who offers 'ear healing' with trendy sensibility and clean high notes, chose Sung Si-kyung's 'Forever' in round 2. Overcoming judges' concerns that
In every round Hong Seung-min showed how he absorbs various classic songs perfectly in his own color based on solid fundamentals and rich vocalization. He freely displayed the singing skills he honed over a long time to pursue his dream of becoming a ballad singer, a dream nurtured secretly in a classical household, earning him a place in the next-generation 'ear boyfriend' lineup.
The queen of mesmerizing, dreamy tone you can't help but fall into 'Song Ji-woo'
Song Ji-woo's confident first-round declaration with Lee Eun-ha's 'Like the way you smiled as you sent me away' enchanted not only the venue but also viewers at home from the very first note with a clear yet mysterious tone. She surpassed 100 votes before the first verse ended and secured an early pass, ultimately receiving 143 out of 150 votes, nearly unanimous.
Having overcome stage fright to rise to third place in the semifinals, Song Ji-woo has earned expectations from many for her steady, step-by-step growth. Known for conveying warm comfort through her tone alone, curiosity grows about what new music and emotion she will present on the live stage she has dreamed of.
Owner of a weighty resonance that moves from delicate to powerful 'Cheon Beom-seok'
Cheon Beom-seok proved his heavy yet finely textured voice by performing Lim Young-woong's 'Can we meet again' as his round 2 competition song. While maintaining his characteristic soft emotional line, he delivered dramatic immersion with powerful high notes that surged in the latter part of the song, completely overwhelming the atmosphere at the venue.
His expression, which conveyed deep emotion in a calm manner, drew judges' praise such as
The raw charm, the husky-voiced ultimate 'Lee Ye-ji'
Lee Ye-ji left a strong impression with her round 1 performance of Lim Jae-beom's 'For you.' Despite being a difficult song for a female vocalist, she delivered a heavy resonance by bringing her characteristic husky tone and a rough yet warm emotional line to life.
Lee Ye-ji's stage, which freely moves between delicate emotional tremors and explosive vocal power, conveyed her deep affection for the father who raised her alone in Jeju and received strong support from viewers. Expectations are high for which song she will use to reach another emotional peak in the long-awaited final.
Icon of delicacy, a whirlwind of emotional vocal power 'Choi Eun-bin'
In round 2 Choi Eun-bin's performance of Lee Seung-hwan's 'How can love be like that' showcased the true value of delicate emotional vocalism. Beginning with restrained breathing and gradually building emotion, Choi Eun-bin's interpretation formed a different narrative from the original, and the persuasive high notes that exploded at the climax drew the audience's praise.
With a clear and pure tone, Choi Eun-bin conveyed emotion in every line of lyrics and demonstrated expression that moved listeners' hearts, revealing stable technique and musical interpretive ability in each performance and raising expectations for her future activities. Attention is focused on how Choi Eun-bin's distinctive sensibility and dramatic development will unfold on the final live stage.
The six who made the TOP6 — Lee Ji-hoon, Hong Seung-min, Song Ji-woo, Cheon Beom-seok, Lee Ye-ji and Choi Eun-bin — now have only the final live broadcast left. Having taken responsibility for Tuesday evenings with six distinct charms, viewers who have accompanied them on the long journey have high expectations for the stages they will show in the finale.
The 'The Ballad of Us' nationwide tour concert, for which tickets went on sale on the 1st, the day before the live broadcast competition, proved explosive popularity again as all seats for all shows in three cities — Seongnam, Daegu and Seoul — sold out as soon as tickets opened. The 12 semifinalists, including the TOP6 members, will, with the fervent support of fans, put on even more spectacular stages and color the start of 2026 with deep emotion.
The 'The Ballad of Us' final live broadcast will air at 9 p.m. on the 2nd.
[Photo] SBS 'The Ballad of Us' broadcast capture
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