'Idol I' lead Choi Sooyoung shared deep reflections.
ENA's Monday-Tuesday drama "Idol I" ended on the 27th with a happy ending. "Idol I" is a mystery courtroom romance that unfolds when superfan lawyer Maeng Sena (Choi Sooyoung) takes on the case of her favorite idol Doraik (Kim Jaeyeong), who is accused of murder. Immediately after its release, it ranked No. 5 worldwide in the Netflix top 10 TV shows category, drawing strong overseas responses by reaching the top five in major countries in Asia as well as in the Middle East and South America, and according to Asian streaming platform Viu, it ranked in the top five in Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia, keeping its momentum strong until the end.
In particular, the fact that top K-idol Choi Sooyoung transformed into a fangirl full of devotion and her standing in the global market were credited with driving the early success of "Idol I." Viewers were able to fully enjoy "Idol I" as they cried and laughed with Maeng Sena, moved by Choi Sooyoung's densely layered performance and the way she deeply empathized with fans' feelings.
Choi Sooyoung said goodbye to "Idol I" with a bittersweet set of questions and answers. Feeling both relieved and regretful and saying she felt she could let the character go because of viewers' love, Choi Sooyoung left warm encouragement for viewers, saying, "I hope the love and trust that 'Idol I' wanted to convey served as a small comfort to viewers. Like the crape myrtle in full bloom, I hope you always walk a path of flowers."
Choi Sooyoung brilliantly closed out the end of 2025 and ushered in the start of 2026 with "Idol I." Attention is focused on her future moves.
The following is the full Q&A with Choi Sooyoung.
Q. "Idol I" has come to an end. How do you feel about letting go of "Idol I"?
A. From filming to promotion and broadcasting, I spent almost a year with Idol I. I feel bittersweet, but thanks to viewers' warm love, I think I can send Sena off well. Like Sena's growth, I was able to grow in many ways as an actress, Choi Sooyoung, and I think this will be a work that remains in my memory for a long time.
Q. Maeng Sena was cool-headed and rational when facing cases, but her warm side that soothed Doraik's pain was also impressive. What was Maeng Sena's charm?
A. Outside of fangirling, she may seem cold at a glance, but she deals with people and work according to her own clear standards and methods, and when she fangirls she feels complete happiness and love and is healed—she's a person with that kind of purity. So she is professional when working, but overflowing with love when thinking of someone she likes, and I thought that gap was Sena's biggest charm.
Q. You took on a new genre, a mystery courtroom romance. While working on "Idol I," was there any aspect you particularly wanted to show or any special goal you had, like "I definitely want to show this side"?
A. I think this was the first time I met a character with such a strong past narrative. Until now I have played relatively bright roles, but Sena was one of the most internally strong and steady characters I have played. I wanted to show Sena's firm inner self, and I hoped she would anchor the story as the case developments continued. At the same time, I thought Sena also needed to grow in her own way. Because the structure continued with case developments each episode, it was important to naturally link the emotional line like stepping stones in between. Especially since the romantic emotional line between Sena and Raik needed to proceed without strain, we discussed it a lot on set. I thought everyone needed to be convinced. So there were many rehearsals, and it felt like a set with many times to share ideas. When working on a project, there are always regrets like 'I should have tried this or that,' so I tend to be the type to say, 'let's just try it.' Fortunately, the director entrusted a lot to the actors, so it was a very free environment in that respect.
Q. Since your debut you have been an artist who received much love from fans, but in this work you played the role of a fan who gives unconditional support and love. While playing Maeng Sena, were there aspects of fans' love you empathized with or saw anew?
A. I have always stood on stage, so it was new to completely flip roles and become someone who fervently supports someone else. But at the same time, I was confident because the existence I have observed the most and up close is the "fan." I know well with what feelings fans look at someone and how they express their affection.
Through this role I was able to feel fans' love deeply again. Thinking of the warm words in fan letters and feelings like consideration and worry, there are moments when I feel fans know me better than people I have had long conversations with. A fan is not simply someone who sees only the image a star wants to show, but someone who watches all of that person's actions for a long time and senses emotional states and inner growth. Those experiences and thoughts provided a strong foundation for expressing Sena's emotional arc, which begins with doubt about the character and gradually becomes conviction.
Q. As an actress you constantly challenge yourself and expand your acting world. With the new year approaching, if you briefly reveal what kind of actress you want to become, what would your goal be?
A. I always think this, but I have a goal of becoming an actress with her own rhythm. Sena was a work in which I challenged myself to build my own rhythm. In the past, if I worried first about the tempo and acting people would like, this time I was able to study finding my own tempo in line with the character Sena, the work's intent and the director's opinion. If these attempts accumulate and expand, I think one day I will surely find my distinctive tempo.
Q. Lastly, a word for viewers who loved "Idol I" and Maeng Sena.
A. It was an exciting and joyful project to be with viewers for the end of 2025 and the start of 2026. Being able to convey the story you want through a work is truly attractive. I hope the love and trust that Idol I wanted to convey served as a small comfort to viewers. Like the crape myrtle in full bloom, I hope you always walk a path of flowers.
[Photo] Provided by Saram Entertainment.
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