Top 5 Reasons Why ‘The Seasons: Sung Si-kyung’s Ear Buddy’ Will Captivate K-Pop Fans!

Attendees at The Seasons–Sung Si-kyung’s Eardrum Boyfriend press conference / Photo: Paeng Hyun-jun

[Sports Today reporter Jeong Ye-won] The provocative title Eardrum Boyfriend certainly turned heads. The Seasons, a flagship Korean music series, is getting a fresh start with Sung Si-kyung.

On the 27th, KBS held a press conference at the KBS New Building in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, for its new KBS2 variety show The Seasons–Sung Si-kyung’s Eardrum Boyfriend (hereafter The Seasons). MC Sung Si-kyung, bandmaster Jung Dong-hwan, and producers Jung Mi-young and Son Ja-yeon attended the event.

The Seasons is a late-night music program that has sustained its legacy by rotating top artists as hosts — relaunching in 2023 with Jay Park and followed by Choi Jung-hoon, AKMU, Lee Hyori, Zico, Lee Young-ji, Park Bo-gum and 10cm. For the ninth season, producers tapped Sung Si-kyung, one of Korea’s defining balladeers, to lead as MC.

Producers Jung Mi-young and Son Ja-yeon at The Seasons–Sung Si-kyung’s Eardrum Boyfriend press conference / Photo: Paeng Hyun-jun

Producer Jung Mi-young praised Sung Si-kyung as an obvious choice for the role. \”I think everyone will agree he was the right pick,\” she said. \”We deliberate each season, and I know he’s been on stage since the era of ‘Lee Sora’s Proposal.’ He’s like a living archive of KBS music programming. I reviewed old material and saw how much effort he’s put in across so many stages. Even after 26 years as a singer, he’s very much active. I felt he could bridge everyone from indie newcomers to established masters. I’m really glad we brought Sung Si-kyung on. This season is more faithful to the show’s essence than ever, and we prepared it hoping viewers will enjoy the music we showcase in the premiere.\”

She also spoke about first-episode guests Lee Sora and Yoon Do-hyun, both of whom previously hosted KBS music shows and are symbolic figures. \”They’re very composed — I expected serious counsel, but they chatted with Sung like close siblings. It wasn’t stiff; it felt like a tradition of evolving each episode to win affection,\” Jung said.

Producer Son Ja-yeon offered a candid explanation for choosing the title Eardrum Boyfriend. \”We agonized over it,\” she admitted. \”We wanted to attract attention, and I think we succeeded. ‘The Seasons’ can sound elegant and aloof, but producing it feels like a swan paddling hard underwater. We chose the title with a bit of desperation, hoping viewers would see our earnestness as warm and charming. I think it was the right choice.\”

Son also teased the show’s format. \”We’ve tried many challenges before, but this season feels more exciting than nerve-racking. After the first recording, I felt even more confident. We took inspiration from Sung Si-kyung’s song ‘Two People.’ He’s known for many beloved duets, and we’ll present a new duet performance with a different guest each episode. That’s the season’s defining feature.\”

Sung Si-kyung and Jung Dong-hwan at The Seasons–Sung Si-kyung’s Eardrum Boyfriend press conference / Photo: Paeng Hyun-jun

Sung, who was tapped as MC, admitted he hadn’t expected so many collaborations. \”Since I’m hosting, I want to create collaborations that viewers will enjoy,\” he said. \”We’ve prepared a segment where, if requested, I’ll try harmonizing with guests. Singing on every episode felt like a burden, but I was surprised by how many hits I still have. If my hits run out, maybe I’ll have to step down as MC,\” he joked.

He called The Seasons an important program that carries forward the lineage of music shows. \”Recording every week is honestly a bit daunting. I kept thinking, ‘Can they really ask me this many times?’ But the repeated requests made me feel it must be fate. I missed opportunities before, so I didn’t want to let this one pass. I finished the first recording feeling great. I hope my seniors and juniors feel they can relax because I’m here,\” he said.

Sung addressed the naming controversy head-on. \”Believe it or not, we met three times to decide the title. That’s how we ended up here. We all decided together, but I’ll take responsibility. I felt the title mattered less than the content. We wanted to attract attention, but the substance would carry the show. I apologize for the controversy. Titles like ‘Eardrum Girlfriend’ or ‘Eardrum Group’ were meant to indicate that musicians would appear — not to suggest I’m literally the ‘Eardrum Boyfriend.’ The program’s content is never light. I hope people see the title as playful. Still, it hurt — we reflected and asked what went wrong; it felt harsh to be criticized so strongly,\” he added.

Sung Si-kyung and Jung Dong-hwan at The Seasons–Sung Si-kyung’s Eardrum Boyfriend press conference / Photo: Paeng Hyun-jun

Since the MC announcement, the most common response Sung has received is congratulations. \”I ended up doing independent YouTube work for a while, and hosting made me realize this is no small task. I felt how many people work tirelessly behind the scenes. So yes, it’s something to celebrate. I care a lot about who appears and what music they perform. The musicians on our show delivered strong performances. Please watch episode one closely — I’m confident we’ll do well.\”

Reflecting on the first recording, he said having those two guests felt like major backing. \”There aren’t many programs that feature live playing, so I was glad we could create great stages with the session musicians. I’d love to have Park Hyo-shin as a future guest — I worry this article will put pressure on him, but Hyo-shin would be okay,\” he laughed, also suggesting potential collaborations with idol artists.

Jung Dong-hwan joins as bandmaster. \”I expect many great stages and will do my best to support the show,\” he said. \”I felt the power of music. Sung Si-kyung’s banter had us laughing throughout the recording. It was a precious time.\”

Jung added he was surprised by the extensive song list and immediately reached out to his team. \”We prepared each recording diligently. Everyone brought joyful music, and the chemistry with Sung was outstanding. I’m excited to see what comes next.\”

The Seasons–Sung Si-kyung’s Eardrum Boyfriend premieres at 10 p.m. on the 27th.

[Sports Today Reporter Jeong Ye-won ent@stoo.com]
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