Tensions Rise in 'Red Pearl' as Kim Kyung-bo Faces Arranged Marriage

Kim Kyung-bo, son of Park Jin-hee in 'Red Pearl,' heightens the drama with an arranged marriage.

In the 13th episode of KBS 2TV's daily drama 'Red Pearl,' aired on the 16th, Park Min-jun (played by Kim Kyung-bo) is shocked to discover Baek Jin-joo (played by Nam Sang-ji), whom he believed to be dead, just before a family meeting.

Fast forward to 2026, Kim Dan-hee (played by Park Jin-hee) remains an executive at Adel Group, while Choi Yoo-na (played by Chun Hee-joo) has become a team leader. Their ordinary lives are disrupted when Baek Jin-joo crosses their path, raising tension. Choi Yoo-na, feeling a strange sense of déjà vu, is shaken upon hearing Baek Jin-joo's name. Meanwhile, Baek Jin-joo intentionally appears before Choi Yoo-na, marking the beginning of her revenge.

Despite the brewing storm, Choi Yoo-na remains determined to win over Park Min-jun. Her ambition grows bolder after aligning with Chairman Park Tae-ho (played by Choi Jae-sung). She recalls her new position as a team leader and the marriage promise, confident that with the chairman's support, nothing can stand in her way.

However, Park Min-jun's heart tells a different story. Still cold after losing Baek Jin-joo, he spends time on the company rooftop with Park Hyun-jun (played by Kang Da-bin). While Park Hyun-jun exudes a relaxed demeanor, Park Min-jun's cynical attitude towards his own marriage reveals his lingering wounds.

The atmosphere shifts dramatically when Choi Yoo-na overhears their conversation. She confronts Park Min-jun, accusing him of still thinking about Baek Jin-joo. In a heated exchange, she insists, "You need me, not the dead Baek Jin-joo." Park Min-jun retorts coldly, "This marriage is just a bothersome task. It doesn't matter who it is if it's not Jin-joo." Feeling humiliated, Choi Yoo-na is consumed by rage over her inability to surpass Baek Jin-joo.

Meanwhile, Oh Jung-ran (played by Kim Hee-jung) is eager to undermine Kim Dan-hee. She visits Kim Dan-hee's office, warning her not to covet the successor position. Although Kim Dan-hee stands her ground, she later confides in her friend Jung Yoon-jung (played by Ha Jae-sook) about the daunting reality of being outpaced in the successor race. Torn between her son's arranged marriage and the successor competition, Dan-hee's internal struggle adds intrigue to the succession plot.

Park Tae-ho exploits his son's marriage for business gain, preparing a prenuptial agreement that includes a clause to transfer all Adel Group shares held by Choi Yoo-na's father, Choi Sam-sik (played by Cha Kwang-soo), in case of divorce, revealing his dark ambition to expand his power.

Baek Jin-joo, set on revenge, meticulously plans her next move. She recreates an outfit from her past dates with Park Min-jun to evoke his guilt and longing. At the family meeting venue, Park Min-jun, lost in thought, is stunned to see Baek Jin-joo appear like a mirage. Their poignant reunion after years apart leaves viewers with a heart-pounding ending.

Reporter Se-yoon Jung, TenAsia yoon@tenasia.co.kr