In the high-pressure world of K-pop, image is everything. One rumor, one accusation, one scandal—and an idol’s entire career can collapse overnight. That harsh reality is the driving force behind the upcoming K-drama “I Dol I.” It combines a murder mystery, courtroom drama, romance, and fandom culture into one addictive story.
Set to premiere this month, I Dol I stars Choi Sooyoung of Girls’ Generation and rising actor Kim Jae Young.
‘I Dol I’ Release Date
Mark your calendars: “I Dol I” starring Choi Sooyoung and Kim Jae Young is set to premiere on Sunday, December 22, 2025. It will air on the ENA channel in South Korea every Monday and Tuesday at 22:00 (KST) and conclude on January 27, 2026.
For international audiences, the 12-episode drama has been confirmed as a Netflix Original series. New episodes will be released weekly on the platform on Netflix as well as Genie TV and KOCOWA+.
Plot Overview
I Dol I follows Maeng Se Na (Choi Sooyoung), a tough, highly skilled criminal defense lawyer. She is famous for taking cases no one else wants, often defending people the public has already decided are guilty. Because of this, she has earned the nickname “the villain’s lawyer.”
For 11 years, Maeng has been a passionate fan of the idol group Gold Boys—especially their visual center and main vocalist, Do Ra Ik (Kim Jae Young). She has watched every performance, followed every update, and trusted him from afar like millions of other fans do.
Do Ra Ik is suddenly accused of murdering a fellow Gold Boys member. His career, reputation, and future are instantly thrown into chaos. The lawyer assigned to defend him is none other than his longtime fan, Maeng Se Na.
Now Se Na must juggle her professional duty, her emotional attachment as a fan, and a growing personal connection to the man she thought she only knew through a screen.
Cast Lineup
- Choi Sooyoung as Maeng Se Na – As both an idol and an experienced actress, Sooyoung brings depth and authenticity to the role. She has described the fan-idol relationship in the drama as one built on “solid trust.” This explains why Se Na believes in Do Ra Ik’s innocence when the world turns against him. This drama also marks Sooyoung’s first leading Netflix project in five years. She is known for roles in Not Others, Second Shot At Love, Squad 38, Run On, and more.
- Kim Jae Young as Do Ra Ik – Kim Jae Young plays the perfectly polished idol hiding immense pressure and vulnerability beneath the surface. Kim’s roles include The Judge From Hell, Love in Contract, and Reflection of You.
Supporting Cast and Characters
The mystery deepens thanks to a well-rounded supporting cast:
- Jung Jae Kwang as Kwak Byung Gyun, a sharp, cold prosecutor from a powerful legal family and Se Na’s former school rival.
- Choi Hee Jin as Hong Hye Joo, Do Ra Ik’s ex-girlfriend and the second daughter of a wealthy family. Her sudden return complicates both the case and Do Ra Ik’s emotions.
- Kim Hyun Jin as Park Chung Jae, Se Na’s dependable private investigator and closest ally.
- Ahn Woo Yeon as Kang Woo Sung, the late leader of Gold Boys whose death sparks the entire case.
- Park Jung Woo as Choi Jae Hee, a remaining Gold Boys member.
- Choi Geon as Lee Young Bin, the group’s youngest member.
‘I Dol I’ Trailer
The ‘I Dol I’ trailer opens by introducing Maeng Se Na (Choi Sooyoung), a star lawyer who is also a devoted 11-year fan of the idol Do Ra Ik (Kim Jae Young).
Her professional and personal worlds collide when Do Ra Ik is suddenly accused of murder, and she becomes his defense attorney. Her inner fan struggles to stay professional, as she tells herself, “Get ahold of yourself, Maeng Se Na. He’s just a client”.
As they begin living together for the case, the trailer shows moments of tension, awkwardness, and a growing bond between them.
Production Team
I Dol I is directed by Lee Kwang Young, known for romance hits like No, Thank You, The Secret Life of My Secretary, and Call It Love. So, fans can prepare for strong emotional storytelling alongside the suspense.
The script is written by Kim Da Rin, and the production is handled by KT Studio Genie and AStory, with music supervision by Park Se Joon.