CAST: Park Gyu-young, Nam Ge-ok, Lee Chung-ah, Jun Hyo-seong,

DIRECTOR: Kim Cheol-kyu

Park Gyu-young portrays Seo A-ri, a burgeoning celebrity who has gained immense popularity as an influencer with a staggering one million Instagram followers. Through her narration, she poses a thought-provoking question to the viewers: Have you ever wondered who these people are and how they manage to attain such fame? Seated in front of a live-streaming phone, A-ri begins to unfold her own story, revealing that she stumbled upon a “cheat code” that propelled her into the realm of online stardom.

Not too long ago, A-ri found herself in a dire financial situation, devoid of social media applications on her phone. Despite hailing from a wealthy background, her circumstances took a drastic turn when her father passed away, leaving behind a struggling company in ruins. Her mother, Lee Hyeon-ok (played by Nam Ge-ok), resorted to repairing high-end couture clothing for affluent women in order to make ends meet. A-ri, on the other hand, sells cosmetics to staff members of affluent households and manages to make a decent living. Yet, she remains financially strapped, constantly grappling with financial instability.

Intrigued by the opulent lifestyle, A-ri finds herself caught up in the world of influencers when she enters the house of Yoon Shi-hyeon to sell cosmetics to the staff. While observing Shi-hyeon’s lavish closet, she remains disinterested in becoming a part of the influencer realm. However, her friend Yoon Jeong-sun keeps her updated on the ongoing drama between two former friends turned influencers: Biniimom and Oh Min-hye.

During a shopping trip at Bulgari, Min-hye spots A-ri, recognizing her from their high school days when A-ri was wealthy, popular, and destined for an Ivy League education. Jeong-sun encourages A-ri to maintain the Ivy League facade, interrupting her whenever she tries to reveal her true aspirations. Intrigued by the allure of the wealthy and popular, A-ri reluctantly agrees to attend a party where influencers will be present. She reluctantly dons a Saint Laurent dress that her mother is repairing and steps into the event.

Shi-hyeon arrives and notices the dress, which she had sent for repairs. To protect A-ri, she claims the dress as her own when questioned. However, when Biniimom storms into the party and slaps Min-hye, claiming that Min-hye owes her success to her, A-ri believes she has discovered the “cheat code”: Attach herself to an influencer and leverage their following to build her own. As A-ri shares her revelation on her livestream, everyone in her life is shocked to see her in such a setting.

Kim Yi-young’s Celebrity, directed by Kim Cheol-kyu, starts off as a sleek and vibrant series, introducing a whirlwind of characters who happen to be social media influencers. However, at its core, the story revolves around A-ri’s transformation from a financially struggling individual who is disconnected from social media to a remarkably wealthy social media celebrity, and delves into the events that transpire once she reaches that level of fame. It is this narrative that captures our intrigue the most.

The first episode primarily serves as a setup for A-ri’s story, introducing the key players who will be involved. Navigating through the various influencers and realizing that Shi-heyon is part of the “Gabin Society” but chooses to distance herself from social media requires focused attention. Even then, it can be confusing to unravel all the intricacies.

However, when A-ri encounters Min-hye, the story begins to crystallize. A-ri plans to ride on Min-hye’s popularity to become an immensely famous influencer. Yet, as she climbs the ladder of success, stepping on others in the process, we become engrossed in uncovering who might have wanted to harm her. This becomes the central focus for the rest of the season.

Our hope is that the show maintains this level of focus, even as we transition between A-ri’s journey as an influencer and the revelations she unveils after everyone believes she has vanished. The exploration of how and why this occurs will undoubtedly add further intrigue to the story.