Idols Are Humans Too

Idol I K-drama Reveals the Hidden Struggles of K-pop Idols

Natalie Nguyen, Staff Writer

January 21, 2026

Idol I K-drama Cover

Idol I is a new K‑drama that started airing on December 22, 2025, featuring Kim Jae-young and Sooyoung Choi as the main leads, and it’s already getting a lot of attention. As the drama continues airing, the fans have been touched by the realism of this drama and how it shows the truth behind what idols go through off-camera.

The story follows Maeng Se‑na, who is now a successful lawyer who has secretly been a big fan of the idol Do Ra‑ik for years. When Do Ra‑ik, the popular singer from the boy group Gold Boys, is suddenly accused of murder, Se‑na stands in as his lawyer and defends him in court.

At first, Idol I might seem like just another drama with mystery and romance. But as it continues, it goes deeper by showing how much pressure idols face behind the scenes. Do Ra‑ik looks perfect on stage, but off camera, he struggles with stress, fear and the constant attention from fans that never leaves him alone. This shows the reality of the K-pop industry and how idols can have emotional breakdowns and anxiety, which makes the audience feel a connection with this drama.

This part of the series has gained so much recognition due to it showing viewers that idols are not just performers; they are human beings with real feelings and emotions. In the drama, Do Ra‑ik’s life becomes overwhelming because toxic fans invade his privacy and treat him like he exists only to be watched and judged, not as a person with his own life and thoughts. This idea reflects real stories and things we see on the internet about idols facing harassment, invasion of privacy and constant pressure from fans who think they own them.

Idol I bring awareness to these issues in a way that feels honest and meaningful. It shows that fame might look fun and exciting, but it can also be stressful and hurtful when people forget that idols are people too. The drama helps fans see idols as humans who deserve respect, privacy and kindness.

k-drama

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About the Contributor

Natalie Nguyen, Staff Writer

Natalie Nguyen is a sophomore at Robinson and staff writer entering her first year in newspaper. This year, Natalie is looking forward into exploring her skills with newspaper, building a startup for her plans down the line. As a new knight writer, Nguyen already has goals in mind for what she wants to achieve through newspaper. “I want to overall better my writing skills and hopefully carry that skill through the school year with the help of newspaper. Also, I want to meet new people in newspaper and hopefully make friends,” Nguyen said But besides being new to journalism, Nguyen is also a part of many other extracurricular activities. These include key club and Asian club which she plans to be more involved in. “I’m in key club since it seems like a good opportunity to get community service hours. I’m also in Asian club because I feel well connected and included with everyone else in that club which is good,” Nguyen said However, Nguyen doesn’t just spend her time with school, she also engages in activities outside of school. One of these activities include swimming, which she finds herself doing very often. “I enjoy swimming very much! It’s very nice and relaxing, I found it a good way for me take a break and take my mind off of school or anything else really.” As a new person in both newspaper and journalism, Nguyen plays an important role for the Knight Writers, using the experience as a way to build and carry new skills through her school year.