Pearl in Red

Pearl in Red
Promotional poster
Hangul
붉은 진주
Lit.Red Pearl
RRBulgeun jinju
MRPulgŭn chinju
Genre
Written byKim Seo-jung
Directed byKim Sung-geun
Starring
Country of originSouth Korea
Original languageKorean
Production
Production companies
Original release
NetworkKBS2

Pearl in Red (Korean: 붉은 진주) is an upcoming South Korean television series written by Kim Seo-jung, directed by Kim Sung-geun, and starring Park Jin-hee, Nam Sang-ji, Choi Jae-sung, Kim Hee-jung, Kim Kyung-bo, Kang Da-bin, and Cheon Hee-joo. The series follows the intertwined fates of two women who return under false identities to uncover the truth and sins hidden in the Adele family, in a web of secrets and retribution. It is scheduled to premiere on KBS2 on February 23, 2026, and will air every Monday to Friday at 19:50 (KST).

Synopsis

Kim Dan-hee, driven by the tragic loss of her twin sister Kim Myeong-hee, discovers the truth behind her sister's death and sets out to infiltrate Adele Group. Assuming her sister's identity, Dan-hee's ultimate goal is to gain control of the company, using her position to exact revenge on those responsible. Baek Jin-ju, who lost a loved one to Adele Group's actions, joins forces with Dan-hee, and together they orchestrate a takeover, fueling their quest for justice and retribution.

Cast and characters

Main

  1. Kim Myeong-hee: The older of the twins, who works as a nurse and dreams of having an ordinary family, tragically dies after discovering a shocking truth. Left orphaned at a young age, she dedicated her life to protecting her twin sister, Dan-hee. To raise money for Dan-hee's surgery, she gets entangled with Tae-ho, but ultimately finds herself exploited and betrayed.
  2. Kim Dan-hee: The younger of the twins, who sacrificed her life and lives under her sister's name, plots meticulous revenge to take over the Adele Group after learning the truth behind her sister's death. To avenge her sister's death at the hands of Jung-ran, she strategically positioned her nephew Min-jun as Adele's successor. She herself climbed the corporate ladder, initially working as a jewelry appraiser before ultimately becoming the group's president.
After betrayed by a friend and losing her father in a horrific car crash and explosion, she reinvents herself as a top brand consultant and joins the Adele Group to get revenge. Her life takes a complicated turn as she becomes embroiled with her former lover Min-jun and his half-brother Hyun-jun, stirring up painful emotions.
The chairman of the Adele Group. Coming from a poor background, he married into a prominent jewelry family and manipulated his father-in-law's will to divert his wife's family's wealth to himself. He expanded the family business from a jeweler into a large corporation, with the sole goal of making Adele the world's top company. Ruthless and unscrupulous, he uses everyone, including his own family, as pawns to achieve his ambitions. A ruthless master manipulator, he doesn't hesitate to put Dan-hee and Jin-ju in harm's way to protect his own power and luxurious facade.
Tae-ho's wife, who is the director of the Adele Gallery. She rises from a floor-cleaning maid to head of a large corporation. Driven by ambition, she orchestrates the poisoning of the landlady and forges her master's will to secure her position.
  • Kim Kyung-bo as Park Min-jun[2]
Dan-hee's nephew, who is the first director of Adele Group. The shadow of his mother's status as a concubine haunted his childhood. As a grown man, he faced relentless succession struggles and suffered the crushing loss of his first love, Jin-ju. His life is turned upside down by Chloe, a Jin-ju lookalike. As he uncovers her true identity and the Adele family's dark secrets, he transforms into a man determined to protect his love at any cost.
Min-jun's half-brother, who is the second division head of the Adele Group. He is Jung-ran's son, and despite his bold and cunning nature, he shows little interest in vying for the succession. Only after losing Jin-ju did he realize she was his first love. Chloe's appearance sparks a growing obsession, clouding his judgment and driving him to make destructive choices.
  • Cheon Hee-joo as Choi Yu-na[2]
The head of the Adele Group's new business TF team. She has a complex relationship with Jin-ju, fueled by long-standing feelings of inadequacy. Believing Jin-ju stole her dreams of becoming a jewelry designer and her first love, Min-jun, she ultimately betrays her, claiming Jin-ju's success and life for herself.

Supporting

People around Dan-hee

Dan-hee's close friend and secretary.
  • Geum Ho-suk as Jung Woo-jin[3]
Yoon-jung's younger brother.
A renowned hanbok designer and owner of Lee Hwa-chae, she is a mysterious woman who secretly supports Dan-hee.

People around Jin-ju

  • Jung Ui-gap as James Lee[3]
Chloe's father and Jinju's godfather, he assumes the role of godfather to Jinju and uses his deceased daughter's name as a means to seek vengeance on her behalf.
  • Nam Seong-jin as Baek Jun-ki[4]
The CEO of Temibio, who is Jin-ju's father.

People of Adele

  • Lee Myung-ho as Song Geun-tae[3]
Jung-ran's chauffeur.
  • Kim Bo-mi as Ok Hye-kyung (Butler Ok)[4]
Tae-ho's housekeeper.
  • Ban Sang-yoon as Kang Myeong-seok (Director Kang)[4]
Tae-ho's secretary.

Yu-na's family

  • Cha Kwang-soo as Choi Sam-sik[3]
Yu-na's father.
  • Kyoung-suk as Hong Young-sil[3]
Yu-na's mother.

Production

Development

Kim Sung-geun, who previously helmed My Merry Marriage (2024–2025) and Unpredictable Family (2023–2024), was attached to direct, and the screenplay is written by Kim Seo-jung. The production is handled by DK E&M and Monster Union.[1]

Director Kim S.G. described the series as focusing on character relationships and solidarity, following a healing journey where two women, previously masked by revenge, find self-discovery and learn to embrace their true selves. The series conveys themes of self-forgiveness and love. Writer Kim S.J. added that the story explores the irony of finding truth through lies, aiming to challenge the notion that lies are inherently evil and truth is good. Instead, the work questions how human choices determine morality, conveying a profound message on the nature of truth and deception.[5]

Casting

In November 2025, Park Jin-hee was cast as the lead, and the script reading was already in preparation.[6]

Nam Sang-ji and Park were officially confirmed to lead the daily drama on January 5, 2026. Both play characters who are involved in intense revenge under false identities after losing something precious.[1] Two days later, Choi Jae-sung, Kim Hee-jung, Kim Kyung-bo, Kang Da-bin, and Cheon Hee-joo were confirmed their casting. It also reveals that Nam Sang-ji's character's real name is Baek Jin-ju.[2] On January 14, Lee Myung-ho, Kim Bo-mi, Cha Kwang-soo, Kyoung Suk, Jung Ui-gap, Ha Jae-sook, and Geum Ho-suk were revealed to have joined the cast.[7]

Release

On December 31, 2025, KBS officially unveiled Pearl in Red as part of its 2026 drama lineup.[8] By January 2026, the series was confirmed to premiere on KBS2 on February 23, 2026, and will air every Monday to Friday at 19:50 (KST).[9]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Jang, Woo-young (January 5, 2026). 박진희, 죽은 쌍둥이 언니 이름으로 새 출발...남상지와 '붉은 진주' 캐스팅 [공식] [Official: Park Jin-hee to make a new start in the name of her dead twin sister... Cast with Nam Sang-ji in Pearl in Red]. Osen (in Korean). Retrieved January 5, 2026.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Jo, Soo-hyun (January 7, 2026). 최재성-김희정-김경보-강다빈-천희주 출연 확정 '붉은 진주' 언제부터 시작? [Choi Jae-sung, Kim Hee-jung, Kim Kyung-bo, Kang Da-bin, and Cheon Hee-joo confirmed to star in Pearl in Red. When will it start?]. Star Daily News (in Korean). Retrieved January 7, 2026.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Jo, Soo-hyun (February 6, 2026). 이명호-차광수-경숙-정의갑-하재숙-금호석, 각양각색 매력 폭발..이야기의 풍미를 더할 6인 라인업 스틸 공개 '붉은 진주' [Lee Myung-ho, Cha Kwang-soo, Kyung-sook, Jeong Eui-gap, Ha Jae-sook, and Geum Ho-seok, each with a unique charm, reveal a six-person lineup that will add flavor to the story. Pearl in Red has released stills]. Star Daily News (in Korean). Retrieved February 6, 2026.
  4. ^ a b c d 붉은 진주 (등장인물) [Pearl in Red (Characters)]. Korean Broadcasting System (in Korean). Retrieved February 12, 2026.
  5. ^ Kang, Ji-ho (February 13, 2026). 쌍둥이 '1인 2역'→치밀 복수극…강렬한 고자극 서사 예고한 韓 드라마 [Twins Play Dual Roles → Intricate Revenge Drama… Korean Drama Predicts Intense, High-Stimulus Narrative]. TV Report (in Korean). Retrieved February 14, 2026.
  6. ^ Kang, Hyo-jin (November 7, 2025). [단독]박진희, KBS 새 일일드라마 '붉은 진주' 주연 [Exclusive: Park Jin-hee to star in KBS's new daily drama Pearl in Red]. SPOTV (in Korean). Retrieved January 5, 2026.
  7. ^ Jang, Woo-young (January 14, 2026). 박진희·남상지, 거짓 신분으로 살아온 두 여자…치밀한 복수 연대기 ('붉은 진주') [Park Jin-hee and Nam Sang-ji, Two Women Living Under False Identities... A Meticulous Chronicle of Revenge in Pearl in Red)]. Osen (in Korean). Retrieved January 14, 2026.
  8. ^ Kim, Yang-soo (December 31, 2025). 남궁민, 7년만 KBS 컴백⋯새해 선보일 '결혼의 완성' [Namgoong Min returns to KBS after seven years... The Husband to premiere in the new year]. Joy News 24 (in Korean). Retrieved January 11, 2026.
  9. ^ Kim, Seo-jeong (January 20, 2026). 박진희표 처절한 복수극 시작된다…언니 인생 대신('붉은 진주') [Park Jin-hee's brutal revenge drama begins... Instead of her sister's life ('Red Pearl')]. Osen (in Korean). Retrieved January 20, 2026.
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