Choi Soo-young, who made her entertainment debut in 2002 and rose to fame with Girls’ Generation, is stepping into new territory with her first-ever lawyer role in the highly anticipated Genie TV original drama Idol-I (tentative title). The series is slated to premiere in the second half of 2025 on ENA.
In this mystery courtroom romance, Soo-young stars as Maeng Se-na, a star defense attorney known for taking on the most controversial criminal cases. What sets this character apart is her secret life as a devoted fan of the fictional K-pop boy band Gold Boys, specifically their charming vocalist Do Ra-ik, played by Kim Jae-young.
When Do Ra-ik is suddenly accused of murder, Maeng Se-na must suppress her fangirl instincts and stand by him in court — only to unravel a web of secrets that will test her devotion and uncover startling truths.
“Maybe because I’ve interacted with fans myself, I couldn’t put the script down once I started reading it,” Soo-young shared. “This is my first time playing both a lawyer and a fangirl. The duality of the character’s public and private sides is really fun. I’m thrilled to be able to show a new side of myself and will do my best to make this a great project.”
Directed by Lee Kwang-young (Call It Love) and written by Kim Da-rin, Idol-I boasts a strong creative team under Ace Factory, the studio behind Big Mouth, Extraordinary Attorney Woo, and Signal.
Meanwhile, Kim Jae-young steps into the emotionally complex role of Do Ra-ik, a seemingly perfect idol with a tortured soul. Once the adored visual and vocalist of Gold Boys, Ra-ik begins to question the weight of fame as fan love turns suffocating.
“I’m honored to be part of Idol-I. The script is incredibly fun and full of genre-blending elements, so I’m really looking forward to it,” Kim said. “I do feel pressure, but I’m happy to be involved. Playing Do Ra-ik is exciting because the character has so much depth.”
With its unique blend of romance, legal drama, and K-pop fandom culture, Idol-I is poised to be one of the standout dramas of 2025.
Sources: Netizenbuzz