Singer Cha Tae-hyun's Principled Remark: "What is there to gain by competing unnecessarily?"

Actor Cha Tae-hyun revealed the reason why he ultimately did not press the pass button for an audition participant. While other judges offered continuous praise regarding only the singing skills, Cha Tae-hyun instead contemplated the competition the participant would have to endure in the future and what could be gained through that process. In particular, in front of the stage of 18-year-old Jeon I-su, with whom he had formed a connection in a past broadcast, he expressed his complex feelings, saying, "What is there to gain by competing here unnecessarily?" His remarks, which prioritized a person's life and choices even while serving as a judge deciding pass or fail, drew attention.

Cha Tae-hyun is appearing as a representative of the 'Top 100 Ears' delegation on SBS 'Our Ballad 2', which aired its first episode on the 5th. Participating in the judging again following Season 1, he listened not only to the contestants' singing skills but also to the stories behind their journey to the stage and the reasons they challenged the competition. As the environment and dreams of each participant differ, he showed a cautious attitude, as if simply passing those who sing well was not enough.

Among them, the stage that garnered much attention was that of Jeon I-su, whom he had met previously on 'Discovering Gifted Children'. While other judges poured out praise, Cha Tae-hyun did not press the pass button. He explained that it was not a judgment that the skill was lacking, but rather that his concerns regarding the situation itself—the competition Jeon I-su would have to undergo in the future—were great. He stated, "I felt very conflicted, thinking whether it was right for I-su to engage in the competition that must be done in the next round," and "I worried about what I-su would gain by unnecessarily competing here."

Cha Tae-hyun's concern was directed toward what kind of experience the participant needed, beyond the results of pass or fail. An audition program can be an opportunity for someone to move toward their dream, but at the same time, it is also a field of competition where rankings are assigned and people are compared to one another. Cha Tae-hyun thought about what Jeon I-su would gain and what he would have to endure in that process, and ultimately made the choice not to press the pass button. However, this was not a denial of his potential. Cha Tae-hyun cheered him on, saying, "My earnest wish is that our friend meets another world thanks to I-su," and "Don't listen to bad stories and just do what you want to do."

He offered more direct and specific advice to other participants. To Han Ro-i, he said, "It seems you know very well yourself that you are very good. I wish you would just relax a little bit." While acknowledging the skill, he hoped the participant would reveal natural charm rather than putting too much effort into the stage. He evaluated Heo Chae-min, saying, "It seems your star quality shines the most in Season 2," and gave high praise to Lee Min-u, saying, "It was good to feel that you sing with your own voice as if you are telling a story." He appeared to discover the strengths of each participant and suggest directions to develop them.

Cha Tae-hyun also showed sincere reactions to the personal stories contained in the songs. To Ra Yu-jeong, who came up from Ulsan, he said, "If I don't cheer for Yu-jeong, then who should I cheer for? I wanted to cheer for you." To Kim Su-a, who is nurturing her dream of becoming a singer in a youth shelter, he encouraged, "In the future, please do not be discouraged and sing with more confidence." To Kim So-yeon, who sang about the loneliness felt due to her father's absence, he advised, "It is good that your own color is strong, but I hope you can get along well with your friends here and meet another world to be healed." He showed a desire for the participants to gain new relationships and experiences through the competition, rather than just stopping at evaluating the songs.

His witty remarks, which brightly changed the serious judging atmosphere, were not missing either. To Kim Do-hyeon, who enlisted early to change his introverted personality, he evaluated, "It was visible that you have been healed and overcome a lot," and then drew laughter by joking, "Since you passed this time, it might not be bad to keep wearing the military uniform and coming back." To 16-year-old judo athlete Kim Seon-eum, who says she practices singing all night while sleeping at school, he made the scene a sea of laughter by saying, "Seon-eum, you do everything except studying for now." He appeared to relieve tension with his characteristic wit while not taking the participants' efforts lightly.

Stories regarding child education also emerged. When the story of 15-year-old Park Ye-seung living alone was revealed, Cha Tae-hyun, who was asked a question about his daughter's independence, replied, "It's not a matter of high school; I told the children they cannot move out until before marriage." He then delivered a laugh by firmly saying, "It won't matter even if you bring home a gold prize from somewhere." However, when the conditions of a 100 million won prize and being a scholarship student were presented, he showed interest, providing a reversal of laughter. While setting strict standards for his child's independence, his side as a father who wavers in front of realistic benefits was revealed.

Cha Tae-hyun's judging did not stop at discerning the singing skills and star quality of the participants. He also presented the concern that for someone, experiencing the world at one's own pace might be more important than jumping into competition. In particular, while explaining the reason for not pressing the pass button for Jeon I-su, his remarks cheering for his life and dreams made one reflect on the meaning of the process as much as the result of the audition. 'Our Ballad 2' airs every Monday at 10 PM.

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