Kim Yoon-yi, Choi Eunbin, Cheon Beom-seok, Lee Ye-ji and 12 Others Advance to the Semifinals... 'The Ballad of Us'

[Financial News] The music audition program 'The Ballad of Us' on Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS) has completed its third round duet battles, confirming 12 contestants advancing to the semifinals: Kim Yoon-yi, Choi Eunbin, Cheon Beom-seok, Jiwoong Jeong, Lee Ye-ji, Hong Seungmin, Jisung Lim, Song Ji-woo, Lee Ji-hoon, Lee Jun-seok, Min Suhyun, and Jeremy.


The eighth episode of 'The Ballad of Us' (directed by Jeong Ik-seung, Ahn Jeong-hyun, Han Ye-seul, and Jiyeon Go), which aired on the 11th, recorded a 2.1% viewership rating among the 2049 demographic (Nielsen Korea, Seoul metropolitan area, part 2), showing an increase from the previous week. The broadcast ranked first among all programs aired on Tuesday, across all genres including variety, drama, documentary, and news. It also maintained its position as the top Tuesday variety show for eight consecutive weeks. The household rating also reached 5.3%.
The third round duet battles, which showcased a variety of harmonies, concluded in this episode. As a result, Kim Yoon-yi, Choi Eunbin, Cheon Beom-seok, Jiwoong Jeong, Lee Ye-ji, Hong Seungmin, Jisung Lim, Song Ji-woo, Lee Ji-hoon, Lee Jun-seok, Min Suhyun, and Jeremy earned their spots in the semifinals.
The third round opened with a match between the teams of Lee Jun-seok & Kwon Mina and Jiwoong Jeong & Cheon Beom-seok. Each team selected a song from the Top 100 Ballads Loved by Koreans: Kim Gun-mo’s 'Beautiful Farewell' (ranked 76th) and Lee Moon-sae’s 'When Love Passes By' (ranked 64th), delivering emotional performances. Jun Hyun-moo praised Jiwoong Jeong & Cheon Beom-seok as 'the two voices representing The Ballad of Us,' while Jung Jae-hyung commented, 'It felt less like listening to a song and more like reliving my memories.' The duo received 119 votes, securing their tickets to the semifinals.
In the next match, Choe Hyena & Min Suhyun faced Lee Ye-ji & Hong Seungmin. Choe Hyena & Min Suhyun reinterpreted 'Don’t Say Goodbye' with warm emotion and two pianos, while Lee Ye-ji & Hong Seungmin, who had narrowly advanced to the third round, showcased a perfect blend of contrasting tones with 'Back to You Again.' Jun Hyun-moo called it 'the freshest duet performance I’ve seen so far,' and Crush praised, 'I look forward to their musical future.' Ultimately, Lee Ye-ji & Hong Seungmin advanced to the semifinals with 104 votes.
The final match of the third round featured the team of Jisung Lim & Song Ji-woo and the only trio, Jeremy, Park Seojeong, and Lee Min-ji. Jisung Lim & Song Ji-woo delivered an emotional performance of Hyukoh’s 'For Lovers Who Hesitate.' Mimi praised Song Ji-woo’s tone, saying, 'It’s a dopamine rush,' while Jung Jae-hyung noted, 'I saw a new side of Jisung,' complimenting their synergy.
Meanwhile, Jeremy, Park Seojeong, and Lee Min-ji rearranged Exhibition’s 'Drunken Truth' as a mixed-gender trio, earning an enthusiastic response. The Top 150 Panel commended their teamwork, saying, 'They complemented each other’s vocal ranges and achieved perfect harmony.' In a fierce contest, Jisung Lim & Song Ji-woo’s team won by just five votes.


However, eliminated contestants were given a second chance. Through an additional vote by the 150-member Top 150 Panel, one contestant from each losing team was revived, allowing Lee Ji-hoon, Lee Jun-seok, Min Suhyun, and Jeremy to dramatically join the semifinals.
The fourth round semifinals, the final gateway to the finals, will be broadcast at 9 p.m. on the 18th on SBS’s 'The Ballad of Us.'

jashin@fnnews.com Shin Jin-ah Reporter