Idol I K-Drama: plot, cast, character relationships, ending, and reviews

Top lawyer Maeng Se-na hides her K-pop fandom—until her favorite idol becomes a murder suspect

Why is he called an "Idol I"?

The drama is called "Idol Madness," but its core is actually a word game in Korean.

The original Korean title is "아이돌아이". Official sources and introductory materials often directly refer to it as a compound word of "아이돌 (idol)" + "돌아이 (crazy/weird, colloquial expression)," using two words to sum up the contrast between the male protagonist's "idol on stage and crazy off stage."

"돌아이" is a very common Korean colloquialism, usually used to describe someone who is "a bit abnormal, out of control, or so weird that it's unbearable" (the meaning is similar to "madman/weirdo"). It is also related to the meaning of "돌다" (to go crazy, out of control, or to go something wrong), so "madman" is the most intuitive translation into Chinese.

The content of the drama also corresponds to the title: the male protagonist was originally a top idol adored by his fans, but the murder case and public opinion pressure forced him to tear off his idol mask and move towards a more "what's the use of being reckless/out of control" state. That's why the title "Idol + Madman" is a combination that is both ironic and tragic.

Idol I Plot

Idol I EP1 Plot

The story begins by establishing Meng Shina's dual life: by day, she is a criminal defense lawyer at a law firm, handling high-profile cases with extremely unfriendly public opinion, and still managing to acquit the defendant in court; her colleagues are amazed by her fighting prowess, but also feel that she hardly socializes after get off work and seems to have no private life.

But Se-na's real "after-get off work schedule" is actually chasing after her idol. When she gets home, she floods her social media with images of Tula-yi's new songs, performances, and various posts, and her room is filled with idol merchandise. When her friend Chun-jae appears, he complains that she is a fan who has gone completely mad, but Se-na emphasizes that it is "fan love" and not a romantic relationship.

At the same time, the drama also showed the audience the loss of control behind the glamorous facade of Dulay: he was chased by sasaeng fans, leaked phone numbers and malicious messages during his activities and schedules, and even had a panic attack due to pressure, relying on drugs to hold on; worse, someone broke into his home and he lost control and scolded him, and the other party secretly recorded and uploaded the video, and public opinion immediately backfired, and the senior executives of his agency also forced him to swallow the mess with the logic that "idols must be perfect".

The main storyline then shifts to a "fateful encounter." Unable to get concert tickets, Se-na resorts to scalpers, using her legal knowledge to set up a trap, gather evidence, and chase after them. While chasing, she mistakes Ra-yi, who is wearing a hat to cover his face, for a scalper, only realizing she's grabbed her idol when she lifts his hat. To avoid the fans chasing them outside, Ra-yi pulls her into a secluded spot and silences her, fulfilling Se-na's "dream of meeting," but also sowing the seeds for an even more absurd twist to come.

On the day of the concert, Lai Yi was late due to psychological counseling and other factors, which triggered a full-blown conflict within the group. The band members had a direct confrontation backstage, which amplified the rift within the group. That night, the group leader, Jiang Yucheng, went to Lai Yi's house for a heart-to-heart talk and drinks. The two discussed the future of the group, and Lai Yi also expressed his intention to "stay in the group."

The last part of EP1 is "the fan's nightmare comes true": the next morning, Lai Yi wakes up to find Yu Cheng dead in his house with blood all over the floor, and he instantly becomes the prime suspect in the murder; after seeing the news, Se Na rushes to the police station and offers to be his defense lawyer. The two make eye contact during the meeting/meeting as "lawyer and suspect", which ends the episode on the spot.

Idol I EP2 Plot

EP2 picks up where EP1 left off in the police station interview room. Se-na finally meets with Ra-ik to discuss the case, but Ra-ik seems completely drained: he is shocked that Woo-sung is dead, and he can't remember anything that happened on the night of the incident. He breaks down so much that he points the finger at the sasaeng fans who broke into his house, and even says some hurtful things to his fans. This causes Se-na, a die-hard fan, to almost lose faith in him and stop being a fan.

The pressure on the case quickly escalated. Ray's management company dismantled, public opinion shifted dramatically, and even lawyers who might have initially been willing to defend him began to back down. Meanwhile, the prosecution lineup was revealed, with the head prosecutor being the prominent "Prince Wong" Kwok Ping-kwan, making the case resemble a demonstrative witch hunt. After evaluation, Se-na still chose to take on the defense, but she only officially became Ray's lawyer after proposing "one condition" (deliberately kept secret in the drama).

To disprove the most fatal flaw—that only La Yi was inside the house at the time of the incident—Se-na focused on the intrusion of sasaeng fans. She asked Chun-jae (her investigation/detective accomplice) to find the two sasaeng fans who broke into La Yi's residence, and then personally interviewed and pressured them: using the threats of "exposing their identities to the media" and "filing a lawsuit" as leverage, she forced them to explain how they infiltrated the community, evaded surveillance cameras, used people entering and exiting the building to sneak in, and finally, after watching La Yi enter the door lock code, they could freely enter and exit—even managing to sneak back into the house the next day. This directly proved that "a third party entering and exiting" was not impossible.

Next came the crucial trial concerning detention/imprisonment (presented in the drama as a "warrant review/hearing"). In court, Se-na seized upon several points to launch a fierce attack: the residence had already been broken into, there was insufficient evidence of the murder weapon and direct physical evidence, and the details described by the prosecution actually showed that the perpetrator seemed to be "looking for something" in the house and was not familiar with the environment, which contradicted Ra-yi's identity as "living there"; she used these logical arguments to expose the core narrative of the prosecution, and finally persuaded the judge to agree to release Ra-yi first and not continue to be detained.

EP2 also adds two "past timelines". The first is Se-na's school trauma: she was bullied because her father was labeled a "murderer"; the second is more important - she and Ra-yi actually met briefly when they were students. At that time, Ra-yi helped her when she was at her most broken, with a song he wrote (or a melody in his earphones). This also explains why Se-na's idol worship is not just infatuation, but a kind of obsession with "being saved".

While investigating clues at the crime scene (La Yi's house), Shi Na ran into Prosecutor Guo Bingjun. She recognized him from a mole on his neck as one of the bullies from back then. The conflict between the two instantly escalated from "prosecution vs. defense" to personal grudges, making the situation even more tense.

The ending takes a dark turn. Although released, Rai has nowhere to go: his home is the scene of a murder, his company is dismantled, public opinion treats him like a monster, and even his photos have been altered and he is met with hostility on the streets. He wanders around Yu-sung's place, wanting to go in but not daring to, and finally drinks himself into a stupor in a park; Se-na, who has been following him, takes him back to her home. EP2 ends with him waking up and seeing Se-na, who (for the absurd reason of self-defense or chopping vegetables) appears with a large knife, a contrasting scene that is both thriller and comedy, foreshadowing the higher tension that the two will face "under the same roof."

The cast of "Idol I"

Main characters (main storyline characters)

Masun / Meng Se-na (played by Choi Soo-young | IG: @sooyoungchoi) is a criminal lawyer specializing in the legal firm "Cheon-woon." Known for her high win rate, ruthless methods, and willingness to take on cases others avoid, she's labeled a "lawyer who defends villains." She carries old wounds and stigmas she'd rather not discuss, so she uses her professionalism and track record to armor herself. The contrast lies in her personal life: she's an 11-year die-hard fan of Do-rae-eul, the lead singer of "Gold Boys" (her fan nickname in the drama is "Sugi-eul"). When her "favorite" is embroiled in a bizarre murder case, she must completely conceal her fan emotions and use her lawyer's rationality to uncover the truth for him.

Dora-eun (played by Kim Jae-young | IG: @darealkjy) is the visual center and lead vocalist of the idol band "Gwangdooboo-seok". He always appears glamorous on stage, but he has long hidden fatigue, weariness, and shadows beneath his smile. When the stage is no longer a source of happiness and the love of fans turns into heavy pressure, he is already on the verge of collapse. After being accused of murder, he not only has to face public opinion and betrayal, but he will also force himself to tear off his mask and fight back against the world in a sharper, almost "self-destructive" way.

Kwak Byung-kyun (played by Jung Jae-kwang | IG: @jaekwang_jeong) is a prosecutor in the Criminal Division 3 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. He is the only son of a prominent legal family and is known as the "crown prince" of the prosecution. He appears rational and restrained, but he has a grudge against Meng Shi-na, whom he once humiliated. Unfortunately, he is the prosecutor handling this murder case, while Meng Shi-na is on the suspect's side. The confrontation between the two extends from the investigation to a struggle between emotions and self-esteem.

Hong Hye-joo (played by Choi Hee-jin | IG: @heee_jjinn) is the second daughter of a chaebol family, a woman with both stunning looks and abundant resources, yet she has experienced setbacks in her greatest desire: to become a singer. She is also the ex-boyfriend of Dora-ik , and their relationship was filled with love, control, regret, and resentment. After the murder case breaks out, her choice between "wanting to save him/wanting to protect herself" makes her more like an unpredictable switch: once flipped, it will be enough to rewrite the situation.

Park Chung-jae (played by Kim Hyun-jin | IG: @pat8mat) is Meng Se-na's "private investigation partner." He has survived since childhood by being observant and quick-witted. He can both stick to clues and be flexible in his approach. He is quick-witted, intuitive, and good at piecing together evidence outside the law. To Se-na, he is not just an errand boy, but someone who can turn "intuition" into "facts that can be taken to court."

Peripheral roles (team members and insiders)

In promotional materials for Cheon Kwang-soo (played by Kim Won-hae | IG: @kimwonhaesook; also @wonhae0221) , he is described as Meng Se-na's "mentor-like figure," and also one of the representatives of the legal firm "Cheon-woon." He is Se-na's backer and restraint within the system: he wants her to win, but also wants her not to cause trouble that the company can't handle.

Kim Bo-sang (played by Jung Man-sik | IG: @jung_mansik, account can be verified but is private) is the "representative/head" of the company that Tulaik belongs to. He is the kind of powerful figure in the entertainment industry who can elevate someone to the top and cut them off overnight. Reports describe him as "the person who created Tulaik as he is today," and the relationship is intertwined with intense love, hate, and interests. After the murder, every decision he makes may affect "whether the truth can be told."

Kang Woo-sung (played by Ahn Yoo-ran | IG: @an_wooyeon) is the leader of "Gongdooboo" and is described as the team's spiritual pillar. At the same time, promotional materials indicate that he has a strong connection with the "Doraeek murder case" (and is even named as a victim in the case). Therefore, he is not only a member of the group in the drama, but also a key figure who forcibly locks the idol world and the courtroom storyline together.

Choi Jae-hee (played by Park Jung-woo | IG: @jwp_its_me) – Drummer of "Gyeongbuk-eun". The released synopsis and reports have repeatedly emphasized that he is very straightforward and hot-tempered, harboring long-standing resentment towards Do-ra-ik, to the point of losing control and "fighting on the spot" during conflicts. This makes his connection to the murder case and his emotional motivations particularly intriguing.

Lee Young-bin (played by Choi Gun | IG: @geon__n) is the youngest member of the group "Gyeongbuk-eun". He has a likable appearance and easily gains favor, but reports also mention that "beneath his cute and charming appearance lies a more complex inner self". Simply put, he may be the seemingly most harmless but actually the least discerning member of the group.

Dulayi's manager (played by Cho Hyun-sik | IG: @jjo_haen_ssik) is, in terms of his role, on the "front line of crisis management": he has to stop the bleeding and control public opinion externally, keep the group members and the company in check internally, and also handle the aftermath when Dulayi himself loses control of his emotions. Official information doesn't focus much on him, but judging from his role, he is likely the rope that connects the company's will with the artist's collapse.

Idol I Character Relationship

Core storyline: Meng Shina ↔ Du Laiyi (Fan/Idol → Defense Lawyer/Suspect) Meng Shina is a criminal lawyer at the legal firm "Cheonyun," but privately she is an 11-year fan of Gold Boys, known as "Sugi-eul." To clear her idol Du Laiyi's name, she must hide her fan identity and confront the case and public opinion head-on as a lawyer. The focus of this storyline is not simply "fan romance," but rather that the two start as "star and fan," and as the case brings them closer to each other's true identities, they gradually develop a relationship that pulls them together (the promotional material also uses the keywords "fan heart" and "mutual protection" for this couple).

Prosecutor vs. Defense: Meng Shina ↔ Guo Bingjun (Old Grudges + Direct Confrontation) Guo Bingjun is a prosecutor in the Criminal Division 3 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. He comes from a prestigious legal family and is known as "Prince Huang". He and Shina have a history: according to official settings, he was severely humiliated by Shina. Therefore, when Shina becomes his defense lawyer in the case (the Dorayik case), the two clash in court with personal grudges.

Investigation Support Line: Meng Shina ↔ Park Chung-jae (Lawyer + Private Investigator Partner) Park Chung-jae is Shina's "private private investigator," skilled at using intuition and shrewdness to find clues, becoming a key assistant to Shina in pushing the truth outside of court. Simply put: Shina is responsible for turning "evidence" into "winning arguments," while Chung-jae is responsible for turning "possibility" into "usable evidence."

Ex/Emotional Connection: Dulayi ↔ Hong Huizhu (Former lover, unresolved variable) Hong Huizhu is the second daughter of a chaebol family and Dulayi's ex. The official introduction directly defines her as "Dulayi's former lover." Promotional reports further describe the two as having met and fallen in love as "idols and trainees," but their breakup left deep wounds; when they meet again, "longing" and "resentment" are still mixed together, becoming a huge variable in the case and emotional storyline.

Team/Idol Lineup: Dorayik ↔ Gold Boys (Like family, but with cracks) Reports describe Gold Boys as "like family" to Dorayik, who weathered the lows and highs together; however, at some point, discord began to appear, and the death of the team's pillar of strength, leader Kang Woo-sung, coupled with Dorayik being identified as a suspect, will push the group's relationships towards more intense conflict and division. Some of the more obvious subplots are: Kang Woo-sung (leader) → described as the group's pillar of strength and highly connected to the murder (the promotion even directly positions him as the "victim"). Choi Jae-hee (drummer) ↔ Dorayik: The promotion portrays Jae-hee as a hot-tempered member who often clashes with Dorayik. Lee Young-bin (maknae) → the youngest member of the group, with a cute image.

Power Line in the Entertainment Company: Dulayi ↔ Kimbosang (The Love-Hate Relationship Between Creator and Controller) Kimbosang is the representative of "Goldie Entertainment" and is described as the person who "created Dulayi as he is today." The relationship is filled with intense love-hate tension; that is to say, he could be Dulayi's supporter or the one who pushes the pressure to the limit.

Workplace backer line: Meng Shina ↔ Qian Guangxiu (mentor/office representative) Qian Guangxiu is described in the publicity as "Shina's mentor" and is also the representative of the legal firm "Tianyun". He is Shina's backer and restrainer within the system.

Idol I Review

The strongest point of "Idol Madness" is that it treats "idol worship" not as background, but as the engine driving the plot. Meng Shina is not just a simple female protagonist; her fandom, her projections, and her psychology of "I believe you, but I'm also afraid I'm believing the wrong person" constantly put the audience in the same awkward position: you want to defend someone, but you have no evidence. This emotional tension is more clingy than that of a typical courtroom drama, making it easier for viewers to watch episode after episode.

Its pacing is actually quite daring. The first two episodes throw in a whole host of elements: a murder case, a custody battle, a sasaeng fan invasion, a company disassociation, a fandom witch hunt, and the protagonist's psychological breakdown—the information is plentiful. The advantage is that it moves quickly and has many hooks; the disadvantage is that if you're not into "high-density emotions + high-density events," you'll feel like every scene is yelling at you to "get tense." But overall, it's not haphazardly packed; rather, every storyline returns to the same question: can idols really be treated as ordinary people? If not, they are more easily turned into monsters.

In terms of character portrayal, Choi Soo-young is designed as a "cold and hard professional" combined with a "passionately devoted fan," creating a very effective contrast. Especially noteworthy is the subtle pause between her professionalism and personal feelings, which makes the character feel more real and relatable. Kim Jae-young's character, on the other hand, focuses on "how the person being stared at breaks down": he needs to simultaneously convince you of his charisma on stage, and also that he can lose control, become cynical, and want to push everything away offstage. If his breakdown in the later parts can be developed with more layers, rather than relying solely on explosive emotions, the character will be much more believable.

The subject matter is essentially about "reputation as a prison." Fans, obsessive fans, the media, companies, and the judicial system—everyone claims to be pursuing justice or love, but ultimately, they can all become the hands that drive people to their deaths. This is its strength: it doesn't simply talk about love or idol worship, but about power structures. However, there's also a risk: it easily falls into the stereotype of "simplifying fandom into a crazed mob." If more normal fans or the well-intentioned aspects of people within the industry could be added later, the overall viewing experience would be more balanced.