The popular K-drama Idol I continues its gripping story this week, moving closer to its finale. Episode 9 is set to air, bringing fans deeper into the complex murder mystery surrounding idol Do Ra-ik and testing his new partnership with lawyer and fan Maeng Se-na. For viewers around the world, here is everything you need to know about the upcoming episode’s release schedule and what story developments to expect.
Based on the latest confirmed schedule, Idol I Episode 9 will premiere on Monday, January 19, 2026. In South Korea, it will air on the ENA channel at 10:00 PM Korea Standard Time (KST). For international audiences, the episode will be available to stream on Netflix shortly after the Korean broadcast concludes. The series follows a weekly release pattern of two episodes per week, with Episode 10 scheduled for Tuesday, January 20, 2026.
Episode 9 Global Release Time And Streaming Details
International viewers can watch Idol I Episode 9 on Netflix. The streaming time varies by region because the show follows the Korean broadcast schedule instead of a single global release moment. Based on the pattern from previous weeks, the episode typically becomes available on Netflix for most regions at approximately 10:00 AM Eastern Time (ET) / 7:00 AM Pacific Time (PT) on the same date, January 19.
Here is a guide for when Episode 9 should go live in major territories:
- United States (ET): 10:00 AM, January 19
- United States (PT): 7:00 AM, January 19
- United Kingdom: 3:00 PM, January 19
- Central European Time: 4:00 PM, January 19
- India: 8:30 PM, January 19
- Brazil: 12:00 PM, January 19
- Australia: 2:00 AM, January 20
- New Zealand: 4:00 AM, January 20
The primary platform for streaming Idol I outside of Korea is Netflix. In some regions, the drama may also be available on other services like Rakuten Viki, Amazon Prime Video, or Viu, depending on local licensing agreements.
Story Recap And What Happened In Episodes 7 And 8
The upcoming Episode 9 follows major plot developments from the latest episodes. Episodes 7 and 8, which aired on January 12 and 13, 2026, dealt with the fallout of Do Ra-ik discovering Maeng Se-na’s secret identity as a longtime fan of his group, Gold Boys.
In Episode 7, a hurt and betrayed Ra-ik fired Se-na as his lawyer and left. However, the case took a shocking turn when Choi Jae-hee, the Gold Boys drummer and a key suspect, was involved in a severe car accident. A note found in his vehicle contained a full confession to the murder of member Kang Woo-sang, seemingly closing the case. Despite this, the prosecution, pressured by powerful figures, attempted to redirect blame onto Ra-ik.
Se-na, who had received a voice note from Jae-hee before the crash, submitted it to the police. In the recording, Jae-hee claimed he was at Ra-ik’s apartment on the night of the murder and suggested Woo-sang met someone in the garden area. A grieving Ra-ik, who did not believe the confession, eventually sought out Se-na again. He asked for her help to uncover the real truth.
“I cannot believe Jae-hee’s confession and asks for her help to uncover the truth.” – Ra-ik to Se-na at the end of Episode 7.
Episode 8 saw Ra-ik and Se-na resume their investigation as a team. They examined the crash site, suspecting the accident was staged, and learned from a hotel receptionist that Jae-hee never left his room on the day he supposedly died. The pair also shared personal stories from their difficult pasts, which brought them closer together. Their investigation led them to a confrontation with the CEO of Goldie Entertainment. The CEO admitted to hiding truths to protect Ra-ik and warned that the real story about Woo-sang’s death would be painful for him to hear. The episode ended with Ra-ik insisting on learning that truth.
What To Expect In Idol I Episode 9
A preview for the next episodes indicates that Episode 9 will focus on the consequences of Ra-ik’s confrontation with his CEO. The hidden truth behind Woo-sang’s death and the CEO’s full involvement are expected to come to light. At the same time, the legal pressure continues as prosecutors summon the other members of Gold Boys for official questioning. The members are expected to firmly defend Ra-ik, stating he could not have committed the crime.
The emotional conflict for Ra-ik is also set to deepen. As he and Se-na work closely together, their bond grows stronger. The preview shows Ra-ik struggling with his developing feelings for her, admitting that “developing feelings at this moment does not make sense, yet he cannot ignore what he feels”. Further complicating matters, Ra-ik’s ex-girlfriend, Hong Hye-ju, is seen meeting with him to ask for a second chance in their relationship.
The Main Cast Of Idol I
The drama stars Choi Soo-young as the sharp lawyer Maeng Se-na. Choi Soo-young is also a well-known singer from the legendary K-pop group Girls’ Generation. Playing the idol Do Ra-ik is actor and model Kim Jae-young. At a press conference, Kim Jae-young noted that he drew inspiration from past band idols like CNBLUE and Day6 for the role. He also suggested this might be his last time playing an idol character, stating, “I’ll be forty next year. I don’t think I’ll be able to play an idol in dramas anymore”.
The supporting cast includes Jung Jae-kwang as prosecutor Kwak Byung-gyun, Kim Hyun-jin as investigator Park Chung-jae, Choi Hee-jin as Hong Hye-ju, and Park Jeong-woo as the drummer Choi Jae-hee.
Idol I has a total of 12 episodes, with the final two episodes scheduled for January 26 and 27, 2026.
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