Lee Jung-jae a K-pop Star in the Making? Squid Game Actor Backs Secret Idol Project

Actor Lee Jung-jae is drawing major attention for his role in Secret Idol, a global K-pop espionage project being developed by Artist Studio, the content arm of his entertainment company Artist Company (co-founded with Jung Woo-sung), in collaboration with UK-based production house The Imaginarium. Buzz intensified when it was revealed that the project’s original concept came from Korean content startup Kapes Planet, founded by CEO Yoo Il-han.

Secret Idol introduces a strikingly original concept—undercover spies disguised as K-pop trainees—blending idol culture with the spy thriller genre. Designed as a transmedia franchise, the project is set to expand into web novels, webtoons, dramas, and films.

Shortly after its founding in August 2023, Kapes Planet signed a co-production and investment deal with Artist Studio for Secret Idol and a noir black comedy drama titled Morning Riding Club, which follows the twisted lives of “goose dads” (fathers who live apart from their families for their children’s overseas education). Secret Idol has since evolved into a Korea–UK co-produced film, targeting the global market with an ambitious IP strategy.

Kapes Planet, led by Yoo—also known creatively as Yoo Chi-cock—is backed by impressive credentials. A former CJ ENM (Mnet) producer, Yoo helmed some of Korea’s most iconic music shows including Superstar K3, Show Me the Money 4, MAMA, and Beatles Code 2, as well as UV’s viral music videos Sorry I’m Not Cool and Itaewon Freedom.

In 2024, Kapes Planet launched its in-house creative brand Planet of Monkeys, producing experimental content such as short-form dramas through YouTube channels like Sibang Solbi and Planet of Monkeys. The company is also developing an AI-driven content automation system, and continues to focus on IP development across genres and platforms.

A company spokesperson described Secret Idol as “a bold global experiment where fiction and reality intersect,” adding, “ Kapes Planet is proving the power of Korean storytelling on the world stage.”

Artist Company: Lee Jung-jae’s Vision for Creative Power and Talent Investment

Lee Jung-jae’s involvement in Secret Idol is a natural extension of his deepening role behind the camera. In 2016, he co-founded Artist Company with fellow actor Jung Woo-sung, building a full-scale management and production agency committed to artist-led storytelling.

Through Artist Studio, Lee has taken bold steps into globally-minded content ventures. By partnering with Kapes Planet to develop Secret Idol, he’s furthering his mission to nurture original IP and emerging talent in Korea’s fast-evolving entertainment landscape.

His active role in projects like Secret Idol signals a broader ambition: to be not only a star on screen, but also a strategic investor and visionary shaping the next wave of K-content through transmedia storytelling and global collaboration.

Meanwhile: Squid Game Season 3 Is Coming

As Lee invests in the future of K-pop storytelling, he’s also preparing for the global premiere of Squid Game Season 3, the final chapter of Netflix’s record-breaking series. Set to release on June 27, the finale is already fueling global anticipation, with fans speculating about major plot twists, returning characters, and how the series will conclude its high-stakes narrative. As the show that redefined K-drama on the global stage reaches its end, expectations couldn’t be higher.

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