Kim Ri-an is the student Kang Ha suspects the most while investigating his brother’s death. In Hierarchy, Kim Jae-Won plays Ri-an.
Ri-an is treated like royalty at Jooshin, as the school was founded by his grandfather and is now owned by his mother.
Although Ri-an’s mother provides him with everything he needs, she fails to provide the parental love and care he craves.
She is preoccupied with making Ri-an her heir and keeps preparing him for it, unconcerned about what he wants in life.
The one Ri-an loves the most
It is known by everyone at school that Ri-an’s only weakness is his girlfriend, Jae-i. He has been in love with her since they were children.
A few months ago, Jae-i suddenly left for the US and cut all contact with Ri-an. Once she returns, she breaks up with him without an explanation.
However, Ri-an refuses to accept her decision and makes it clear that he will do everything in his power to get her back.
Soon after, Ri-an grows suspicious of Ha, whom Jae-i is now dating, and looks into his background, only to find out that Ha is In-han’s brother.
The ensuing confrontation with Ha results in Jae-i breaking down, and it is Ri-an who takes care of her after her breakdown.
Ri-an is now determined to keep Jae-i by his side and protect her. He has the man her father is forcing her to marry arrested to prevent Jae-i from leaving the country with him.
He then announces to everyone that he has reconciled with Jae-i. Ri-an and Jae-i had never told their parents about their relationship because of their rivalry.
This time, Ri-an tells his mother about his relationship. He is not going to let his mother have a say in his decision. He is even willing to give up his inheritance to be with Jae-i.
When he is sent a compromising video of himself and Jae-i on his mother’s orders, he finds out that the video was taken by Jae-i’s half-brother, Jae-hyeok, who had been blackmailing her.
Additionally, Ha tells him that Jae-i was pregnant with his baby and that she miscarried the baby when she was in the US.
Jae-i did not tell Ri-an about it and broke up with him because she wanted to protect Ri-an from the pain she had suffered. Jae-i never stopped loving Ri-an.
Ri-an blames himself for not being able to support Jae-i when she needed his support the most. Together, Ri-an and Jae-i grieve their baby.
A positive change
Ri-an holds the most sway over the student body as well as the faculty. He can get away with anything; he is almost invincible.
No one dares to oppose him. Kang Ha is warned by other students against getting on his bad side because of rumors suggesting Ri-an killed In-han, who had grown close to Jae-i.
Ri-an never bullies anyone himself; he has several students who do it for him to please him. Most of the time, Ri-an does not even have to ask them.
Last semester, when Jae-i became friends with In-han, a jealous Ri-an let his friends bully In-han. He now asks them to bully Ha when Jae-i starts dating him.
Later, when Ha tells Ri-an about everything Jae-i has been through, Ri-an undergoes a significant change.
Jae-i makes him understand how he has been responsible for the bullying of scholarship students. She even takes him to the columbarium to face In-han.
Ri-an realizes that his mistakes caused In-han’s death and apologizes to Ha for not stopping the bullying, but he fails to get Ha to forgive him.
To take responsibility for his actions, Ri-an turns himself in. Furthermore, Ri-an and Jae-i part ways for the time being, as Jae-i believes they are overly dependent on each other.
While Ri-an has changed, he has not earned the forgiveness of his victims yet, which explains the cryptic message he receives when a dead body is found at school.
Also read: Hierarchy summary and ending explained