Episode 7 of the K-drama Idol I forces the two main characters into a painful separation. Do Ra-ik fires his lawyer, Maeng Se-na, after discovering she is his longtime fan, creating a crisis of trust just as the murder investigation intensifies. The episode also sees the crucial suspect, bandmate Choi Jae-hee, go missing, leading to a dramatic search and a dangerous cliffhanger.
A Broken Trust Between Lawyer and Client
The episode picks up immediately from the shocking end of Episode 6. Ra-ik stands devastated in Se-na’s attic, surrounded by the box of Gold Boys merchandise she has collected over years. He feels deeply betrayed, believing her legal defense was motivated by fandom rather than genuine belief in his innocence. He confronts her, demanding an explanation.
“Explain what all this is. Explain it,” Ra-ik says, his eyes filled with hurt and confusion.
Se-na admits she is his fan but argues that her feelings changed after becoming his lawyer. She tells him she began defending “the human Ra-ik,” not just the idol. However, Ra-ik cannot move past the deception. He states that he could have accepted the truth from the start, but now he feels the unique trust he placed in her—the first person to ever stand by him—has been shattered. He immediately moves out of her home and returns to the Gold Boys dormitory.
The Legal Consequences and a Missing Suspect
The fallout from their split creates immediate problems for the murder case. Ra-ik is summoned for questioning by prosecutor Kwak Byung-gyun. Still reeling from the confrontation, he chooses to go to the interrogation without a lawyer, a decision that stuns Se-na when she rushes to the prosecutor’s office to stop it.
Outside the interrogation room, a desperate Se-na tries to talk to Ra-ik. He is cold and dismissive.
“He tells her that he cannot believe any words of hers,” the episode shows.
He formally fires her as his attorney, leaving her powerless to help. As Ra-ik leaves, prosecutor Byung-gyun reveals to Se-na that Jae-hee has gone missing. This new development throws the investigation into chaos. The prosecution believes Jae-hee may be hiding critical evidence or attempting to flee, as he disappeared right after being confronted about falsifying his alibi.
Back at the dorm, Ra-ik and the group’s manager learn that the youngest member, Lee Young-bin, has also moved out, unable to live with the tension and his own guilt for suspecting Ra-ik. The Gold Boys are fracturing under the pressure.
Se-Na’s Struggle and Unwanted Confessions
Heartbroken and removed from the case, Se-na returns home. She finally gathers the strength to throw away all her Gold Boys memorabilia, symbolically trying to end her life as a fan. She reaches out to Hong Hye-joo, Ra-ik’s ex-girlfriend, to ask her to find him a powerful new lawyer. Hye-joo agrees but makes Se-na promise to stay away from Ra-ik for good.
During this low point, Park Chung-jae, Se-na’s live-in assistant and private investigator, confesses his romantic feelings for her. He urges her to rely on him during this difficult time. However, Se-na gently but firmly rejects him, stating she only sees him as family. A flashback reveals how they first met years ago at a cemetery, with Se-na later defending him in court and offering him a place to stay.
Meanwhile, at her law firm, Se-na’s boss Gwang-soo warns her about Bo-sang, the CEO of Goldie Entertainment. He reveals that Bo-sang knew some band members were planning to betray the group, hinting he may be more involved in the case than he appears.
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Ra-Ik’s Secret Concern and a Dangerous Turn
Despite firing her, Ra-ik cannot stop thinking about Se-na. He finds himself outside her office building and secretly follows her to a convenience store. He watches as she drinks alone, remembering she once told him she couldn’t drink. He sees her try to call him, but he turns off his phone, conflicted.
His silent vigil shows his anger is already fading, replaced by concern. Later, he follows her to the same piano room he once took her to, witnessing her emotional, drunken state. It is here he notices his own old cap, though he likely does not yet remember he was the one who gave it to her years ago.
The episode’s tension peaks in its final moments. The search for Jae-hee reaches a critical point. He is finally found, but not in a safe place.
“However, the biggest twist of this episode comes towards the end as Jae-hee gets into a car accident,” one recap notes.
The episode concludes with Ra-ik rushing through a hospital, suggesting Jae-hee has been seriously injured. This dramatic accident threatens the life of a key suspect and could destroy vital evidence, raising the stakes for the investigation and leaving Ra-ik’s fate more uncertain than ever.
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