Idol I: A Crazy Person

Introduction

When I checked this drama out for the first two episodes, I was interested in continuing because of the behind-the-scenes look at the life of an idol and a deeper exploration of the K-pop industry. Then, the plot quickly plunges into a more gripping, intense, or even thriller-like territory. At that time, I thought, even if there is no romance, it will still be entertaining because of a realistic depiction of idol culture and the murder mystery. The romance is a nice bonus.

When I first heard about the title, I thought it meant “Idol” (the Male Lead, Ra Ik) and “I” (the Female Lead, Se Na). But the leading actor, Kim Jae Yong, explained the pun in the native title: 아이돌아이. 돌아이 (Dorai) is a Korean slang for “a crazy person” or “a nut job”—the Male Lead’s name, Do Ra Ik, phonetically, resembles the slang “Dorai”. Hence, I used it for the article title.

Now, who is crazy? Normally, we thought of the Male Lead, Do Ra Ik, because of his character’s name. He is an idol dealing with extreme emotional baggage, stress from the entertainment industry, and is a suspect in a murder investigation. However, as I watch the drama unfold, the one who might be crazy might not be him. If you’re curious, read the spoiler at the end of the article!

The word in red above the X is 살인자 or salinja, meaning “murderer”

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Drama Info

Drama title: Idol I (Native title: 아이돌아이)
Alternative title: Aidol Ai
Genres:  Thriller, Mystery, Law, Romance
Aired: 22 Dec, 2025 - 27 Jan, 2026
Episodes: 12 |  Duration: 60 min.
Director: Lee Gwan Young (이광영)
Screenwriter: Kim Da Rin (김다린)

Where to watch: Netflix, Viki, and Kocowa

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OST

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Trailer

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Synopsis

Maeng Se Na is well-known in the legal field for her tendency to take on high-profile criminal cases that other lawyers avoid, earning her the nickname “lawyer for villains.” But behind her tough exterior lies a devoted fan of Gold Boys, an idol group she’s supported ardently for ten years. When Do Ra lk, Gold Boys’ main visual and vocalist, is accused of murder, Se Na is ready to defend her idol, concealing her true identity as a fan to prove his innocence. However, in the process of investigating the case and spending more time with her client, Se Na discovers an unexpected side to Ra Ik that will change her relationship with him and the group forever. (Source: Viki)

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Characters

Main Characters

Supporting Characters

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My Rating

My rating for this drama was based on MyDramaList’s scoring system, which is from 0.0 to 10.0. For any drama/movie/show I completed, I gave a minimum rating of 6.0 to appreciate the hard work of the production team, and to adjust to MyDramaList’s overall score base. From 6.0, this drama has additional scores of:

+0.5 for the depiction of the dark side of the Korean entertainment industry and the sasaeng.

+0.5 for the romance plot

+0.5 for the Female Lead characterization

+0.5 for the Kim Jae Yeong and other actors playing the Gold Boys band members.

+1.0 for the visualization, cinematography, and costumes (The Gold Boys costumes is gold)

My final rating is 9.0/10. I will explain the details in my review below.

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What I Liked

The Dark Side of Korean Entertainment Industry

The story of Idol I is not based on one specific true story, but it heavily draws from and reflects the real-life experiences, pressures, and dark reality faced by K-pop idols, blurring the lines between fiction and reality for a very authentic feel. It highlights the darker aspects, like obsessive fans (sasaeng) and the extreme pressures idols endure, which resonate with actual events.

Idol I challenges the public’s perception of idols as ‘perfect’ objects of worship. This ‘perfect’ object is represented by Do Ra Ik, the visual center and the main vocalist of Gold Boys. He is a man hiding darkness and vulnerability behind a forced smile.

The central theme is the weight of public expectation on the idols (represented by Gold Boys), particularly from the fans and netizens. The love from fans is sometimes depicted as a heavy burden, leading to a loss of personal happiness and privacy for the performers.

The Depiction of Sasaeng

Sasaeng (사생) or sasaeng fan (사생팬) is the Korean term for an obsessive fan who invades the privacy of Korean idols, drama actors, or other public figures in the entertainment industry. Sasaeng comes from the Korean words sa (사) meaning “private” and saeng (생) meaning “life”, in reference to the fans’ intrusion into celebrities’ private lives. Their behaviors include: seeking out celebrities at their dorms or homes, spreading rumors, stealing their personal belongings or information, harassing family members, and sending idols gifts such as lingerie. (Source: Wikipedia: Sasaeng fan)

The behavioral and psychological aspects of sasaeng:

• Boundary issues and delusion: Sasaeng frequently fail to differentiate between fantasy and reality, viewing themselves as having a special relationship with the idol, even if that relationship is based on negative attention. Some reports describe them as having a “delusional” mindset.
• Stalking behavior: Sasaeng engage in illegal activities, including following idols to private locations, calling them, hacking their personal accounts, and breaking into private spaces.
• Obsession and addiction: Similar to drug addiction, the obsession with following an idol can consume a person’s life, causing them to neglect their own well-being.
• Lack of empathy: They often do not consider the mental or physical health of their victims, prioritizing their own need to be near the idol.
• Motivation for recognition: Many sasaeng desire to be known by the idol, believing that being remembered for negative actions is better than not being acknowledged at all.

The Slow Burn Romance

The romance in the drama is a slow-burning, secondary plot that evolves from a parasocial fan-idol dynamic into a deeper, personal connection amid a murder mystery. When Ra Ik is accused of murder, Se Na takes his case, shifting her admiration into a professional, protective, and emotional bond. Se Na experiences a reality check when she realizes Ra Ik is human, moody, and has a complex past—very different from his idol persona. For Ra Ik, he found the one person who truly supports him at his lowest point. As Ra Ik moves past the burden of fame and the despair of the murder accusation, Se Na helps him confront his hidden pain, forming a deeper romantic connection based on trust and mutual support. Their relationship develops into a deep, trusting romance where Se Na becomes Ra Ik’s confidante and sanctuary. A genuine, deep-seated love forged through hardship.

Now, people criticized that the idol-fan romance plot validated the delusional fan behavior of having romantic relationships with their idols. Although the possibility is there, the argument was that the drama fuels unhealthy real-world idol-fan dynamics. However, watchers should understand that Se Na and Ra Ik’s romance is impossible in real world, because of their previous connection. The screenwriter purposedly added the most-famous past/childhood connection drama cliche, to create a fan character unique only in the dramaland. When Se Na was in the lowest point of her life and planned to commit suicide by drowning herself, Ra Ik, who saw her action, coaxed her to stop with his song. In turn, Ra Ik felt encouraged himself, that his song saved someone’s life. He was even more elated when he found out that the girl he stopped of trying to kill herself about a decade ago is now a famous and capable lawyer who had saved people’s life and is attempting to save him.

Idol I also does a good job with not romanticizing this toxic fan behavior, and this show lets viewers to see all sides of fandom. Se Na knew about Ra Ik pre-debut and watched him and the Gold Boy grow so she feels like she knows all about him. But after taking his case, she realized she truly doesn’t know about him, and the drama shows her internal struggle, because her fantasy about Ra Ik is broken. When she felt compelled to hide her fangirling from Ra Ik, it sends a message to the audience that Se Na knew her fan behavior is not normal. After Ra Ik found out about her being a fan and got angry, it also sends a message that idols don’t like intrusions into their private life in any way. The drama answers the viewers’ concern with Se Na throwing all her merch away, including Ra Ik’s baseball hat (which was not merch but a personal gift), symbolizing that she erased all traces of Ra Ik being an idol, and she told him she is no longer his fan.

Se Na, A Cool Female Lead

Since I watched mostly Chinese and Korean dramas, I noticed that most female leads are depicted as strong, either physically, intellectually, or emotionally. Maeng Se Na is also a strong Female Lead. Her character is portrayed as a blend of professional strength and vulnerable passion, serving as a pivotal figure in both the legal/mystery and the romantic elements of the drama. More than that, I admired her as being “cool”, because of:

• Her dedication to her client and her commitment to justice in the face of adversity. She takes on cases that other lawyers avoid. Despite her own bias, a deeply empathetic person who fights for justice even in unpopular cases.
• Her ability to navigate the complexities of the idol industry while maintaining her legal expertise
• Her portrayal of a character who is both a devoted fan and a skilled professional adds depth to her character. She acts as an anchor in the story, utilizing her legal expertise to protect her idol from murder charges.

Se Na the lawyer and Se Na the fan, two completely different worlds

The Gold Boys Band

As members of a fictional band, the actors’ performance required convincing stage mannerisms, achieved through referencing real-life idol videos. Their chemistry was noted energetic and collaborative. The cast studied numerous K-pop performance videos and worked on elaborate stages designed by the production staff to rival real-life idol concerts. Choi Soo Young, the leading actress, also acted as a mentor by sharing performance tips from her real-world idol experience.

Watch their acting performance as idols singing the theme song 메아리 (“Echoes of You”). If anyone is not familiar with the drama or the actors, the person may think they’re a real K-pop band! Now we are missing Kang U Seong!

The Visuals

Idol I is noted for its high-quality visual presentation, blending dark, moody, and glamorous aesthetics. I love the director’s previous work, Call It Love (사랑이라 말해요). Both visual storytelling are similar, with artistic uses of visual filters and lighting to reflect the inner emotional states of the characters, particularly Do Ra Ik’s descent into despair. The use of empty space emphasizes the character’s loneliness and tension.

Scenes featuring the fictional band Gold Boys are characterized by bright stage lighting, sequins, and glamorous, fast-paced editing, highlighting the public, high-energy, and artificial image of K-pop idols.

One of the cool Gold Boys’ cover albums

You have seen the dual image of Se Na in “Se Na, A Cool Female Lead” section. As a top lawyer, her styling is professional, sharp, and sophisticated, which contrasts with her secret, obsessive, and sometimes messy personal life as a fan, creating a duality in her visual appearance.

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What I Disliked

The Weak Crime/Mystery Solution

If you are also a fan of the crime and/or mystery genres, the legal and investigation plot is considered underwhelming. The mystery started strong and stretched out nicely; we only found out who the killer is in Episode 11. The investigation is left for Se Na and Ra Ik, with the help of Chung Jae, which is supposed to be done by the police. The professional investigators couldn’t even find the key pieces of evidence, which easily pinpointed the killer, and the drama led Se Na and Ra Ik to play detective to find them.

The modus operandi of the killing is also illogical in comparing the crime finding at the beginning of the drama. Without spoiling (too much), I will give you an example. There was no other fingerprint found on the body other than that of Ra Ik, because he and the victim had a scuffle hours before the murder. Also, when Ra Ik found the victim, he hugged the body while crying and shouting. When the crime scene was revealed in Episode 11, the killer fought the victim, and the killer didn’t even wear gloves. So logically, the killer’s fingerprints are everywhere! However, there was no forensic examination of the finding of someone else’s fingerprint other than Ra Ik’s.

There are not a lot of court scenes for the murder case, as well as Se Na’s father’s case retrial, despite Se Na being a lawyer and Kwak Byeong Gyun, the Second Male Lead, being a prosecutor. For the latter case, not enough court scenes, doesn’t really matter for me, as I don’t like legal dramas.

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Conclusion

Idol I is considered a metadrama, where the industry becomes both the subject and spectacle, making the audience feel like they’re getting a peek behind the curtain and learn something about the industry.

The drama touches on the toxic levels of control exerted by managers and parents, suggesting that despite the success in their careers, the industry often sets idols up for personal failure by ignoring their mental well-being.

What we learned from the drama is a warning that obsessive behavior—even from those with good intentions—is ultimately unhealthy and crosses ethical boundaries. The heavy burden of fame and the darker realities of the industry, such as stalking and the loss of personal freedom, urge fans to see idols as real people rather than just perfect figures.

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Spoilers

What is the ending?

It’s a wholesome ending happy ending.

How is the ending?

The killer was arrested and sentenced to life. Gold Boys made a successful comeback. Se Na took a sabbatical leave with her boss and coworkers’ support to retry her father’s case and won. They were still a couple. Ra Ik’s fan loved Se Na because she saved their idol and Gold Boys. Now the fans established a “privacy protection squad” to protect the Gold Boys against paparazzi. Chung Jae established his formal private detective business. Byeong Gyun had a change of heart/character growth and no longer did what his father forced him to do to win the prosecution against Ra Ik. He moved to the district to be close to his mother, who was in a nursing home. Gold Boys changed agency, but they and the Goldi Boss were still on good terms. Ra Ik found out that his mom was the first one who believed him, so he sent her a concert ticket. Se Na found out that her online fan fellow is none other than her paralegal secretary, and they went to the concert together.

Who is the killer, and what was the motive?

Hong Hye Ju. It was a manslaughter since she fought Kang U Seong, who happened to be at Ra Ik’s apartment. Motive? She had an obsessive and jealous behavior and was mentally unstable when U Seong told her Ra Ik wouldn’t be back to her. Later, she premeditatedly attempted to kill Choi Jae Hui by framing him as the killer and making his incident look like a suicide attempt.

Hong Hye Ju had a sasaeng behavior, too, in my opinion. Also, because she knew him personally, her toxic behavior escalated to a lethal one.

So, who the “crazy person” is?

Is the person:

• Do Ra Ik, the ultimate guess, who has extreme emotional baggage, work stress, and is the suspect?
• The obsessed fan(s), for example, the girl who demanded his new phone number and got angry when he didn’t respond, is a representative of sasaeng fans?
• The mentally unstable killer?
• The screenwriter, who wrote an illogical crime/mystery solution different than the forensic examination result?
• Or someone else?

This is a rhetorical question; we don’t need to answer, as it only to provoke thought after watching this drama.

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