“To me, Hye-joo is someone I wanted to protect, but couldn’t,” Do Ra-ik says, admitting he avoided telling Maeng Se-na so Hye-joo wouldn’t get dragged into the case.
In IDOL I episode 4, which aired on December 30, Maeng Se-na demands that Do Ra-ik tell her everything. At first, he keeps the truth to himself because he doesn’t want to drag Hye-joo into the case. He later opens up about his unresolved issues with her. He explains that he ended their relationship for good that night, which is why he went to the hiking trail.
Disclaimer: This article includes spoilers for the series. Continue reading at your own discretion.
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IDOL I Episode 4 Recap: Do Ra-ik and Hye-joo’s Dating Rumor
Earlier, Maeng Se-na hears rumors that Do Ra-ik and Hye-joo are dating, though Ra-ik denies it, saying they are just close friends. When she sees them together, she begins to believe the rumors but lets them talk, even though she feels hurt and deceived as a fan.
Ra-ik tells Hye-joo to stay away from him so she won’t get pulled into the case. Still, she says she saw Jae-hee that night, even though the news reports claim he was at the hospital. Ra-ik later asks Jae-hee about it, and both he and Yeong-bin confirm that he was indeed at the hospital.
Soon after, an article shows Ra-ik and Hye-joo together outside the prosecutor’s office pulling her into the case. Ra-ik confronts the reporter and demands that he take the article down—the same outlet that had spread dating rumors before. Se-na overhears and learns that Ra-ik signed an unfair contract to protect Hye-joo, even going against his mother.
Before the situation escalates, Se-na steps in and warns the reporter that she will take legal action if he publishes Hye-joo’s private information.
Se-na Demands the Truth from Ra-ik in IDOL I Episode 4
Se-na demands that Ra-ik tell her everything, but he continues to act on his own and hide things, lying to her. Thinking, “Then I guess my whole life has been a lie. I’ve spent my life hiding who I really am,” Ra-ik recalls an argument with Woo-seong about Hye-joo. Woo-seong confronted him for talking to her behind his back while he deliberately ignored her, an argument that Jae-hee witnessed and misunderstood.
Ra-ik sees Hye-joo as unfinished business and meets her that night to finally put an end to it. Hye-joo attempts to run him over but leaves immediately afterward. When Se-na hears this, she realizes that Ra-ik had only tried to protect her from being drawn into the case. He tells her, “To me, Hye-joo is someone I wanted to protect but couldn’t,” and admits that he stayed silent to avoid putting Hye-joo in danger.
However, prosecutor Byeong-kyun is already questioning Hye-joo. She insists she met Ra-ik only as a friend and reveals that Jae-hee was near Ra-ik’s house, not at the hospital as he claimed. Ra-ik later shares this with Se-na as well, telling her that he no longer wants to hide anything from her.
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Se-na Wants to Keep Her Distance from Ra-ik Again
Later that night, Se-na goes to Chung-jae’s house to talk about how they can protect Hye-joo from the case. During the conversation, she admits that her heart aches. She realizes she never fully understood how much Ra-ik has been suffering, even though she thought she knew everything about him.
Chung-jae reminds her that she once turned down the role of Goldi Entertainment’s legal advisor because she wanted to admire Ra-ik from a distance. He tells her that he understands her now:
The more you get to know, the closer you get, the more layers you peel back, the more disappointing people usually turn out to be.
Se-na says she isn’t disappointed—just unsettled. She explains that when she felt happy or sad, Ra-ik always seemed beside her. Now that he is truly there, he feels far. She also admits that seeing him with Hye-joo earlier made them seem like people from another world, one she could never reach.
Later, back at her house, Se-na finds Ra-ik asleep at the dining table. She watches him and wishes she could keep her distance again, hoping to admire him freely, see his smile, and like him the way she once did.
Se-na Protects Hye-joo from the Case in IDOL I Episode 4
The next day, Se-na and Ra-ik return to the prosecution for another interrogation. Se-na gives the investigator a flash drive with footage from that day, showing Ra-ik and Hye-joo together. It proves their meeting was personal and private, with no signs of collusion or evidence tampering. She also hands over call records from CEO Geum Bo-sang, showing that after Ra-ik got home, he called Woo-seong—proving the victim was alive at the time.
When prosecutors question Hye-joo without solid evidence and push their own story, Se-na demands they stop investigating her excessively. Relieved that Hye-joo will no longer be treated as an accomplice, Ra-ik thanks Se-na and hugs her.
The episode ends with Se-na losing control of her car while driving home with Ra-ik.
IDOL I Episode 4 Thoughts and What To Expect Next
IDOL I continues to reveal Ra-ik and Hye-joo’s past while moving the investigation forward. Jae-hee lies about his alibi, adding more tension. Meanwhile, Se-na struggles with her feelings—hurt and wishing she could admire Ra-ik from afar—showing how hard it is to get close to someone you idolize and learn things you didn’t want to know.
In the next episodes, Se-na and Ra-ik will likely grow closer as the car accident hints being intentional. Jae-hee will face questioning for lying in his alibi, and Se-na will be asked to step away from the murder case.
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Catch IDOL I, streaming every Monday and Tuesday on Netflix and Rakuten Viki.
Source: Studio Genie, ASTORY
