SBS 'Our Ballad' Launches New Talent Search, Kim Na-young & My Q Wed

SBS's new music audition program "Our Ballad" (Uri-deul-ui Ballad) has been generating significant buzz among K-pop fans since its September 23, 2025 premiere. For American readers unfamiliar with Korean ballad culture, ballads hold a special place in Korean music similar to how classic love songs resonate in Western culture - these are emotionally powerful songs that mark life's important moments. The show aims to discover fresh voices who can breathe new life into Korea's beloved ballad repertoire.

The program airs every Tuesday at 9 PM with a rigorous judging system requiring approval from at least 100 out of 150 judges, including celebrities and industry experts. The distinguished panel includes Jung Jae-hyung, Cha Tae-hyun, Choo Sung-hoon, Jeon Hyun-moo, Park Kyung-lim, Danny Koo, Crush, Jung Seung-hwan, and Oh My Girl's Mimi. This makes it one of the most selective music competitions on Korean television, comparable to shows like "The Voice" or "American Idol" but with an even higher bar for entry.

Star Production Team Behind the Show

The production team brings impressive credentials to the table. Producer Jung Ik-seung has a proven track record of discovering major talents including AKMU, Jung Seung-hwan, Bibi, and Car the Garden through previous SBS shows like "K-Pop Star" and "The Fan." He's partnering with writer Mo Eun-seol, who gained international recognition for her work on Netflix's 2024 global hit "Culinary Class Wars" (known in Korea as "Black and White Chefs").

The premiere episode featured a bold 160-minute runtime, demonstrating SBS's commitment to giving the show proper time to showcase talent. This extended format allows for deeper storytelling around each contestant - a departure from the quick-cut style common in Western talent shows. The ballad-focused format differentiates it from previous Korean audition programs that covered multiple genres, offering a more emotionally intimate viewing experience.

Celebrity Wedding: Kim Na-young and My Q Tie the Knot

Broadcaster Kim Na-young and singer My Q held their wedding ceremony on October 3, 2025, following four years of dating. Kim announced the news on October 4 via social media, sharing: "Yesterday evening, blessed by the weather as the rain stopped, I held a ceremony to become a family with My Q." For context, Kim Na-young is a popular TV personality known for her work on various Korean variety shows, while My Q is an R&B singer-songwriter.

The intimate ceremony was attended only by family and close relatives, with wedding photos showing Kim in her wedding dress alongside My Q and her two sons from a previous marriage. Kim had announced their engagement on October 1 through her YouTube channel, stating: "After four years of great love and trust, I've decided to become a family with My Q, who has stayed by my side."

Kim's personal journey adds depth to this happy occasion. She married a finance professional ten years her senior in 2015, divorced in 2019, and has been raising two sons as a single mother. She began publicly dating My Q in 2021, and their four-year relationship culminated in marriage. Reports indicate that entertainment stars including Uhm Jung-hwa and Ko Hyun-jung sent their congratulations to the couple.

Shin Ye-eun Returns in JTBC's '100 Memories'

Actress Shin Ye-eun has made her return to JTBC dramas after five years with "A Hundred Memories" (Baekbeon-ui Chueok). The series premiered on September 13, 2025, airing on Saturday and Sunday evenings. Set in the 1980s, the drama follows bus attendants Yeong-rye (played by Kim Da-mi) and Jong-hui (Shin Ye-eun) as they navigate friendship and first love while working on Bus Route 100.

For American viewers, the concept of bus attendants might seem unusual - in 1980s Korea, buses had dedicated staff members who collected fares and announced stops, a job that was primarily held by young women. This historical detail provides rich cultural context for the story. The drama has been praised for depicting a "friendship deeper than love" between the two female leads, subverting the typical jealousy and competition often seen in love triangle narratives.

Both actresses are making significant returns to JTBC: Shin Ye-eun's last drama for the network was "More Than Friends" in 2020, while Kim Da-mi's previous JTBC series was the internationally acclaimed "Itaewon Class" in 2020. The chemistry between the two leads combined with the nostalgic 1980s aesthetic (known as "newtro" in Korea - a blend of "new" and "retro") has been captivating viewers.

Choi Hong-man's Humble Life: Working at Jeju Rice Cake Shop

Former mixed martial arts fighter Choi Hong-man revealed his humble retirement lifestyle during the October 4 broadcast of MBC's entertainment program "Manager on a Mission" (Episode 367). The 7-foot-2-inch (217cm) former fighter has been living in Jeju Island for five years and has been working part-time at a rice cake shop for approximately two years.

For American readers, Choi Hong-man is a notable figure in MMA history, having competed against fighters like Fedor Emelianenko and Bob Sapp. His transition from celebrity fighter to humble small business employee represents a significant cultural shift. "I'm learning to make rice cakes as part of my retirement preparation," Choi explained. "I've been doing this for about two years. I get paid daily wages, and they give me lots of rice cakes."

The program showed Choi driving a small compact car despite his massive frame, working at a friend's shop making traditional Korean rice cakes. He impressed viewers by effortlessly lifting a 26-pound (12kg) batch of rice cake dough with one hand and performing various tasks including coating cakes with red bean paste and refilling ingredients. His statement that he wants to "live as an ordinary citizen" and his diligent work ethic have touched viewers with their sincerity.

Park Gyu-young Responds to Mixed Reactions for 'Mantis'

Actress Park Gyu-young addressed the varied responses to her Netflix film "Mantis" with characteristic honesty. Released on Netflix on September 26, 2025, "Mantis" is a spin-off of the action film "Kill Boksoon" (2023). Park plays Shin Jae-i, a skilled assassin who was expelled from the fictional MK Entertainment assassination agency.

In response to the mixed reviews, Park stated: "Likes and dislikes are opinions, and I'm just grateful that people watched my face for two hours." She acknowledged limitations of the action genre, explaining: "Due to the nature of action films, there were constraints in fully explaining emotions through dialogue and narrative." This level of self-awareness and humility in addressing criticism is relatively rare among Korean entertainers.

Park added: "I'm grateful for the diverse opinions, and I promise to show better acting in the future." Her courage in taking on the challenging action role and her sincere attitude toward feedback have earned positive reactions from fans. The film represents her continued effort to diversify her acting portfolio beyond her previous romantic comedy and drama roles.

The Korean entertainment industry continues to offer diverse stories ranging from new audition programs discovering talent, to celebrity milestones, drama comebacks, humble retirement lifestyles, and honest artistic reflections. SBS's "Our Ballad" is bringing fresh energy to the ballad genre and is expected to set new standards for music auditions in the second half of 2025.

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Source: Read the original Korean article on Trendy News Korea