Kim Soo Hyun to make first TV appearance after a year-long hiatus
On December 16, the press conference for Genie TV's new drama Idol I was held in Seoul. Director Lee Gwang Young and actors Choi Soo Young and Kim Jae Yeong were in attendance.
Idol I follows the superstar lawyer and die-hard idol fan, Maeng Se Na (Choi Soo Young), as she takes on the case of her favorite idol, Do Ra Ik (Kim Jae Yeong), who has been accused of murder.
Talking about the drama, director Lee said, "To borrow the writer's words, this work began with the question, 'Can you sincerely support someone who you haven't even seen up close and whose name you don't even know?' It is a drama that conveys the lives of 'hardcore fans', the meaning idols hold for them, and a story about reaching out to another person."
Choi Soo Young plays Maeng Se Na, a lawyer specializing in criminal cases, while Kim Jae Yeong takes on the role of Do Ra Ik, who was a member of the band Gold Boys who hits rock bottom after becoming a murder suspect.
Choi Soo Young commented, "I've always wanted to try playing a lawyer. The script was interesting, but the fact that it was a lawyer role was what drew me in. I just tried to focus on Se Na. Also, this isn't a work centered mainly on [courtroom] defense scenes. It's a drama that focuses on relationships and the events that happen with Ra Ik, so I hope viewers watch it with that in mind."
She also shared, "It was my first time memorizing legal terminology. That was difficult, but I pushed through and did my best. It was about confidently defending someone through words. The fact that victory or defeat depended on how I handled it was appealing."
Kim Jae Yeong shared that playing an idol member was a new experience for him. "I didn't really know much about idol life, but through the role of Do Ra Ik, I got to experience things like jacket photo shoots, music recording, and playing instruments. I thought it to be a very fascinating job."
He continued, "We also filmed a festival scene, and it was great to get energy from the audience. If I were reborn, I'd like to try being an idol. I think it's too late for that now."
The actor also revealed that he received a lot of advice from Choi Soo Young — a member of Girls' Generation, one of South Korea's top idol groups. "Since Soo Young is an idol, she would watch me sing and tell me to 'Look at the camera,' 'Smile,' and 'Breathe.'"
Choi Soo Young said, "I wanted Ra Ik to look good, so I told him to smile brightly and love the mic." She also confessed, "Sitting in the audience seats really didn’t feel like something I could get used to. I had to hold myself back from wanting to go up on stage and grab the microphone."
When we think of idol-themed dramas, one name that immediately pops up is Lovely Runner.
Kin commented, "There's a difference from Lovely Runner. Ryu Sun Jae is cool. But Do Ra Ik is cool at first, then later gets framed as a suspect and hits rock bottom. He also experienced [emotional] deprivation in his childhood. As he meets someone who believes in him, he gradually opens up. There's a change in his emotional arc."
The actor is known to be close friends with Byeon Woo Seok, and revealed that they do not have work-related conversations: "We're just cheering each other on." "I watched Byeon Woo Seok's 'Sudden Shower' video on my way here. Watching it, I couldn't help but think, 'Can something like that happen to me too?'"
He added, "I'm approaching forty, so I don't think I'll be able to play an idol role anymore. I think this will be my last work [where I play an idol role], so I really hope it goes well."
Idol I is coming December 22 on Rakuten Viki.
