Actor Cha Tae-hyun has explained why he did not press the pass button for contestant Jeon I-su on SBS's 'Our Ballad 2'. The show premiered on October 5, and Cha returned to the judging panel as a representative judge of the '탑백귀' team after appearing in Season 1.

Why did Cha Tae-hyun withhold the pass for Jeon I-su?

Jeon I-su, 18, drew attention because Cha had previously met her on the program '영재발굴단'. The other judges praised her performance, but Cha did not press the pass button. According to TenAsia, he said he felt it was unclear whether she needed to compete at this stage, and worried about what she would gain from it. He added that his sincere hope was that she would discover another world through the experience and that she should sing the way she wants.

What did Cha Tae-hyun say about the other contestants?

Cha gave more specific feedback to other participants. He told Han Lo-i that she seems fully aware of how good she is and should relax more. He said Heo Chae-min appeared to have the most star quality of Season 2. He praised Lee Min-woo for singing as if telling a story in his own voice. He also encouraged Kim Do-hyeon with a joke, saying he had shown he had overcome his shyness.

When does 'Our Ballad 2' air?

The show airs every Monday at 10 p.m. KST on SBS.

For international fans

Cha Tae-hyun is a well-known Korean actor and variety personality. 'Our Ballad 2' is a singing competition in which contestants with varied backgrounds, including teenagers and young adults from different regions, compete to advance. International viewers can typically follow Korean broadcasts through official SBS channels or licensed streaming platforms in their region.