{
  "id": 10900766,
  "title": "'The Ballad of Us' returns to rewrite K-ballad history",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/the-ballad-of-us-returns-to-rewrite-k-ballad-history-10900766",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-30T08:57:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/entertainment/shows-dramas/20260930/the-ballad-of-us-returns-to-rewrite-k-ballad-history"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The K-pop ballad series The Ballad of Us is returning for a second season, bringing a fresh, younger batch of contestants to reinterpret timeless classics. SBS's nostalgic show, which garnered over 100 million online views in its inaugural run, has lined up a 150-person panel of music aficionados and viewers of all ages to serve as judges. Contestants will choose songs that hold personal significance and deliver them with innovative interpretations. Producer Ahn Jeong-hyeon expressed delight at the extensive footage, leading to an expanded premiere slot of 2 hours and 40 minutes. The younger contestants brought a new energy to the search for artists capable of breathing new life into beloved tunes.",
  "summary": "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…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "'The Ballad of Us' returns to rewrite K-ballad history",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/the-ballad-of-us-returns-to-rewrite-k-ballad-history",
        "published": "2026-09-30T08:37:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}