Buried Hearts

Seo Dongju Deserved Better—Welcome to My Villain Era

Buried Hearts had a start that felt really promising because of the slush fund, the revenge setup and the memory loss, which really had me hooked, but the drama lost its grip in the middle. Everything started to feel so repetitive and dragged. It felt so emotionally draining to finish the drama leading me to push myself to finish because it most definitely would have ended up in my "On Hold" list if I didn't.

From the first to the sixteenth episode, Seo-Dongju kept suffering non stop. Either the man became the target himself or lost bonds close to him with no room for him to catch his breath or gain a moment of stability. Although, it felt as if he was the only one carrying the whole drama, his character still lacked a lot. He fought for a vague sense of justice for an ending that didn't even feel satisfying. His breakdown after he had gained control made me question everything. What was his definition of revenge and why was he trying to get to it when it felt so pointless in that moment? Every single loss he had experienced felt so hollow because the tragedies kept piling up. It's as if there was no time to process the emotional connection a character had with Seo-Dongju to be able to feel his loss.

The most unbearable part for me in the drama was the unnecessary "romance" the writers dragged on. It was so frustrating to see Eunnam come up on screen because why was she in the light of redemption? How could she leave Seo-Dongju when he needed her the most? He experienced so much grief and dealt with it on his own only for her to waltz back into his life with some half-hearted emotional line like "For me, you come before everyone else" like didn't you actually prove that when you chose to marry someone else over HIM? And then it's the audacity of questioning Seo-Dongju how he expects to be forgiven because of what Huh Ildo did. So isn't your choice for marriage to someone else over love and communication perhaps a bigger concern and a decision you should be begging for forgiveness for from Seo-Dongju instead? He had no one by his side. Not one person. And yet the viewers are expected to accept the reconciliation and forget whatever happened. The romance felt so forced and the expectation to forgive Eunnam's betrayal was highly unrealistic because the reassurance of her presence by Seo-Dongju's side felt meaningless after the damage had already been done. Moreover, her character was just so inconsistent because her decisions left my questions unanswered. Choosing Yeom Hicheol made no sense if she was just going to divorce him eventually. What was her motive? If she didn't care about losing the shares later, why did she even choose the marriage? Just to make Seo Dongju go through that period of suffering? Was she ever on his side? Did she even love him? None of it made sense.

Park Hyung-Sik really gave his all—an incredible performance. But it just wasn't possible for him alone to carry the whole show. Although, he did well, the script of the drama didn't really give me a chance to feel connected to his character. Loss after loss after betrayal after trauma—it all happened so quickly and intensely that at some point, it just numbed me. And it's as if his own character was numb too or more like, he felt less human. How can someone go through so much in such less time and not break? There was no real emotional processing, no moments of healing, or glimpses of joy to make the suffering bearable or meaningful. Just an endless cycle of heartbreak. Every time something went wrong, my brain literally went "Oh God, not again. Give him a break."

Overall, I felt really disappointed with the show, especially due to repetitiveness of the plot and its very unsatisfying ending. Most characters were inconsistent with their written personalities especially Eunnam and Seonu and how others would turn their back on Dongju randomly. Also, the show would have been more interesting after Seo Dongju's father had died a bit later after some sort of connection had been built. The universe really was against Dongju and maybe things would have been different if he wasn't attacked from all sides by almost every character on the show.

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It must have been hard...

Seriously I wonder who to blame director or screenwriter. Story is all over the place. Characters change form evil to kind and from kid to evil in 10 minutes and there is literally nothing new or creative I get from this series.
It seems like making series only for the sake of making them. Is it even worth investing so much money and time if the series doesn't have coherent story? Where is the artistry of making a movies or dramas.
There is so many not finished plots or stories that were not explained properly. Like the whole president illegitimate child. Which is apparently similar age as the grandson is honestly so silly. It's not like it's impossible but whole cheating thing was not explained enough.
The first wife and mother of president kids is nowhere to be found or mentioned. Now this kind kid helping old man to find home and working hard at bakery decides in an instance to be bad, take over the company and get rid of his "nephew" I guess for money and power as if it was his motive since the beginning.
Like any person who ever worked in a company even for a little while know that there is no way to easy manage things on your own especially without any experience, knowledge and connections. It's scary and shareholders would never agree to participate in downfall of the company. Yet new wife and her son feel qualified to do it? If they would be spoiled Nepo babies it would be more convincing but them working at the bakery and then wanting to be CEOs makes it so unrealistic.
Another one is with vault. You are telling me that vault that can be open only by code or blowing it up can get plumbing and bathroom installed easily and like no one noticed it? The person is being held hostage there and obviously never get sick. For a whole year or more no one needs to enter this vault to get money? 😂
I mean I could go for ages on how silly this drama is but in all honesty I'm tired of actors trying to save the series and cover up bad scripts by trying to act well. Not enough criticism is directed towards directors or screenwriters and actors are the one blamed for the whole movie or TV series disasters.
Honestly I thought it will be great but as the story progressed and new ridiculous ideas were introduced I started to feel like the ending is not going to be well executed and I was not wrong. They tried to resolve it by finishing it all in one episode. It felt so flat and unsatisfying. Nothing actually had it's closure as if they would want to make season 2. Ridiculous idea with that sloppy writing but if they don't make it that would be even worse because ending it like that is pure disaster.
It must have been hard for actors to deliver whatever this show wanted to deliver because I still don't know.

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Park Hyungsik pretty much carried. The story - while flawed, is still worth watching

Honestly, I waited a very long time for this drama and had high expectations, while it did not meet all my expectations, it was a good watch, and I did enjoy watching this.
First of all, Buried Hearts is a makjang. It has over the top - crime, action, family drama, power grab, etc. that is not supposed to be realistic. If you look for realism in the story, it'll be a hard disappointment as it does not exist. You have to accept everything at face value and enjoy the ride.

For the most part, it was an easy ride for me as there was never a dull moment. There was always something happening which kept me interested despite my short attention span. The suspense and the pacing were also done really well that new elements and mysteries seemed neither too fast nor unreasonably dragged and kept me at the edge of my seat every week.
On the flip side, this also means there were too many elements with little connectivity thrown at the audience which may come off as overwhelming when binge-watching.

Which brings us to the biggest issue of this drama - the general lack of strong plot. Every few episodes, there is a new agenda which is good for suspense but when put together, it contributes little to the story. The story went in circles for a good part of the drama, and when I look back - all I remember is Seo Dong Ju almost dying and coming back stronger, of course, while looking absolutely stunning.

Now, if you are a Park Hyungsik fan, this drama is a must watch. Hands down, no questions asked. Not only did he look magnificent, but he also did an incredible job embodying Seo Dong Ju. He is easily the best part of this drama and hence, the title of my review. His acting was really good and as his fan, I could just watch him play Seo Dong Ju for about 16 hours straight. Unfortunately for the non-fans, this drama was not very far from it. Buried Hearts is heavily centered towards Seo Dong Ju, in contrast, all the other characters are very subsidiary with little growth.

Thankfully, Seo Dong Ju is an interesting character to watch as he is sassy, smart, driven, with arguably a grey moral compass. He knows what he wants and goes for it. Seo Dong Ju is always at the top of things, knows how to effectively get back at people and has all the markings of a main character. Though after some point, his emotions do get buried as he operates on autopilot to survive which kind of undermines his traumas, but I think by the end, it was wrapped up well.

Now onto my second issue with this drama, the lack of character development. In my opinion, most characters in this drama had very interesting premises and their potential were endless. Unfortunately, none of them were explored effectively, including the villains, the female lead and the main supporting characters which left the audience feel like we are supposed to be feel sympathetic towards them without invoking any real emotions.

Personally, I think the female lead was hit the hardest. Yeo Eun Nam was portrayed as calculative, self-centered and not being afraid of using other people for her own ends which would've been rather interesting but after a few episodes, she kind of faded into the background, becoming a pacemaker for Dong Ju instead of being a driving force to the story.
The romance here is another example of wasted potential. The actors had such incredible chemistry but failed to make a solid space in the storyline. In hindsight, the romance was probably never supposed to be a substantial part of the story so that's something to keep in mind when watching this.

Now if you're wondering why I still liked this drama, I admit it is flawed but somehow Buried Hearts made it work. Despite, the lack of strong plot and character development - the dialogues, the acting, the cinematography, the OST (oh I love the OSTs) and just the entire production really came together and made Buried Hearts a good drama. The ending can be a bit controversial to some, but personally I found it fitting and think the story did come together by the end. (I'll leave my thoughts about the ending in the comments to avoid spoilers).
So, if you are considering watching this drama, it's definitely worth a shot. Just beware of Kopiko ads! They are the uncredited main characters of this drama.

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Underrated, Unrelenting, Unmissable

The story revolves around a young man named Seo Dong Ju. He's a director and the right-hand man, essentially the jack-of-all-trades, for Cha Gang Cheon, the chairman of the powerful Daesan Group. In fact, he’s likely the chairman’s favorite person.

However, without realizing it, Seo Dong Ju gets involved with Cha Gang Cheon’s daughter, who later abandons him to marry the nephew of Yeom Jang Seon, another influential figure who is closely aligned with Cha Gang Cheon. This makes Seo Dong Ju a threat in their eyes. In response, he reveals that he had secretly embezzled money from a fund without their knowledge.

He tricks Yeom Jang Seon into sparing his life by promising to recover the stolen money and disappear. The plan works, so well, in fact, that Yeom Jang Seon later attempts to have him killed through Heo Il Do, Daesan Group’s director and Cha Gang Cheon’s son-in-law.

The twist? When Seo Dong Ju is “killed”, he takes with him the access codes to the secret bank funds, codes that only he knows. When his enemies realize this, they are in disarray. Eventually though, they discover that Seo Dong Ju is actually alive. What follows is a thrilling manhunt as they race to find him, while Seo Dong Ju begins uncovering pieces of his past. Along the way, he struggles to distinguish between friend and foe, caught in a dangerous game of cat and mouse.

I have to say, the script, the writing, everything, was exceptionally well done. Even the soundtrack, which usually doesn’t stand out to me, was genuinely enjoyable.

What really made the show was the characters. Take Cha Gang Cheon, for example, a sympathetic grandfather figure who’s genuinely endearing, yet also a money-hungry old geezer that can be ruthless. Then there’s Heo Il Do, who initially seems like the clear-cut villain. He constantly makes terrible choices, but you can see the toll it takes on him. Coming from a humble background, he clawed his way up through sheer ambition. He desperately wants to see his plans succeed, but he just… can’t. He’s hated Seo Dong Ju from the beginning, envy and jealousy, but somewhere along the way, as his hunger for power consumed him, he began to feel something more complicated for Seo Dong Ju, and began to express guilt.

The characters truly are the heart of this series. One moment you hate them, the next you sympathize. The only real exception is Yeom Jang Seon, who remains a one-dimensional villain, irredeemable and hateful through and through. I find it interesting because it highlights how Yeom Jang Seon, who exhibits psychopathic tendencies and lacks empathy to the extent that he's comfortable harming his own family, cannot grasp the emotional weight of someone hurting their children or parents. This inability to understand empathy makes him incapable of predicting the actions of those who do feel it, turning his emotional detachment into a weakness rather than a strength.

I honestly don't understand the low ratings, maybe it's because of the cliffhanger at the end? While it may not be the most outstanding series, it's a solid thriller. The story keeps you engaged with twists and revelations right up until the very end, maintaining a good pace throughout. Personally, I hope Park Hyung Sik takes on more thriller roles, I think he was excellent in this one.

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thw only good thing in the drama is Park Hyung Sik.

What a disaster. I was hoping for a great revenge drama, and instead it's a boring drama that has no soul. The concept is good, but it fails at execution. It relies on the acting, but the scripts are so bad. It did not attract me from the beginning, but I thought, "Okay, I will watch one more episode as it may get better," but no. I did not really care about the characters except Dong Ju. I kept watching it for him.

I could not waste my time any longer and dropped it at episode 8 and skipped to the last one. The ending was not satisfying at all after he had to get through so much.

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The final episode was the strength of the series.

Here is the English adaptation of your text, preserving the full meaning and nuance:
The final episode of Buried Hearts is not merely the conclusion of a personal story—it is a reflection on the cyclical nature of power, victimhood, and the gradual corruption of individuals in the face of temptation, control, and revenge. At the center of this cycle stands Dong-joo, a man who was once a victim, then a fighter, a victor, and perhaps, in the end, as lost as those he defeated. Dong-joo ultimately chooses not to kill Yeom Jang-soo, but to imprison him inside a vault—an act that seems more humane than murder, yet one that even Dong-joo is uncertain about. Is this truly the right path? What gives him the right to decide that another human being should be buried alive forever? Does the suffering he endured justify this action? He stands at the threshold between humanity and monstrosity.
These doubts and inner conflicts overwhelm Dong-joo. That’s why he constantly asks those around him questions—not directly, but in a way that seems to seek justification or reassurance. Yoon-nam tells him that even if he had killed Yeom Jang-soo, it would have been justified and right. Yeom Jang-soo, cruel and ruthless to the core, tells Dong-joo: “You’re the wildest human I’ve ever met.” But Yeom Jang-soo’s wife speaks from a different place—of a mother who, even in the harshest financial conditions, chose the right path to preserve her humanity and be a role model for her child. She asks Dong-joo to follow his mother’s example. These reflections are like mirrors in which Dong-joo sees himself—mirrors that show him conflicting images. He is afraid. But not of his enemies—he fears himself, the monster he may have become. He sleeps with a gun under his bed, has nightmares, leaves the lamp on at night. Because he knows, if someone is to attack him, that “someone” might just be himself.
One of the most powerful scenes in the finale is when Dong-joo visits Yeom Jang-soo’s house, picks up the fish food, and prepares to feed the aquarium fish. This simple act becomes a symbolic reminder of a past conversation: when Yeom Jang-soo once told him, “You’re just a goldfish who thinks he’s feeding others, but in reality, you’re the one being fed by those in power. You’re just a tool.” At the time, Dong-joo confidently replied, “No. I’m the one who feeds. You’re the goldfish.” But now, in this scene, he hesitates. In his mind, he sees Yeom Jang-soo snatch the food from his hand, as if even now, in his subconscious, he remains under the influence of the same monster. Despite imprisoning Yeom Jang-soo, his nightmares, his voice, and his presence still haunt Dong-joo. It’s as if he has realized that maybe, from the very beginning, he was just a goldfish—a tool in the hands of others, believing he was the one in control. Perhaps Yeom Jang-soo still controls him, not from outside, but from within. And there is nothing more terrifying than an enemy who resides inside you.
But Dong-joo is not the only one caught in this endless cycle. On the other side of the story, we see traces of the same corruption and greed in Sun-yoo—someone who now finds himself in a position he once only walked in the shadows of. The scene where Sun-yoo pushes Tae-yoon from behind embodies endless greed and a process that devours even the youngest players. This silent, yet fatal scene carries a clear message:
When greed becomes institutionalized, no teaching is needed—everyone learns the path to monstrosity on their own.
Sun-yoo now stands where Yeom Jang-soo, Hoo Il-do, and Chairman Cha once stood. The faces may change, but the structure remains poisoned. The actors change, but the play stays the same:
Power creates victims; victims become corrupted; the corrupted become monsters.
Within this frame, the contrast between Sun-yoo and Tae-yoon becomes clearer than ever. Both were once innocent children—but one became a monster, the other a victim. Sun-yoo, who once was just a naïve boy working in a bakery, now sits at the top of the power pyramid.
Unlike Tae-yoon—who grew up in the heart of this game, smelled its stench up close, and now dreams of escaping it with his guitar—Sun-yoo has only just tasted the sweetness of power. He was excluded from the game of power since childhood, and now that he has had a taste, he cannot let it go. He follows the same path as Hoo Il-do: from severe poverty and constant humiliation to a mere drop of power—then being consumed by greed.
Another symbolic layer in the series is shown through Chairman Cha—a father who always longed for a son, disregarding his capable daughters solely because of their gender. He handed power to an illegitimate son who had no competence to run the company. This discrimination and injustice deeply wounded his daughters, turning them into greedy, vengeful beings willing to do anything to reclaim what was taken from them. The pressure Doek-hee puts on Tae-yoon to become chairman is, in truth, pressure to prove herself. And this pressure ultimately leads to the destruction of her beloved son.
The scene of Dong-joo on the boat, holding a gun, is a metaphor for returning to the beginning—to the very boat where dreams of freedom, revenge, and redemption first took root. Now he’s walked the entire path, taken many lives, tasted power, and yet gained nothing but emptiness.
With that gun, he may be contemplating death, perhaps the end of his own journey. But what he truly kills is the illusion of salvation through violence.
And perhaps the most bitter part of the ending is the moment when Yoon-nam adds her drawing next to Dong-joo’s on the recreational boat. That boat was where everything began for Dong-joo—where the first signs of betrayal, greed, and the loss of self in the noise of revenge emerged. It’s where dreams were quietly buried in the depths of water. Now Yoon-nam, perhaps unknowingly, sets foot on the same path. Dong-joo has left her the vault code and walked away, which means the entire burden has now fallen on her. The code is no longer just a number—it is a symbol of the burden Dong-joo once carried, now passed to Yoon-nam.
But can she walk this path without being broken? Is she the next victim?
Sun-yoo, who murdered Yoon-nam’s brother and now sits in power, has practically taken Yeom Jang-soo’s place. Tae-yoon, who longed to escape this corrupt cycle, remains silent and sorrowful on the sidelines—like Yoon-nam’s biological father, who was a victim of the power game and was eliminated by Hoo Il-do in a staged accident. Now, the same cycle continues with new players. It’s as if fate is turning the page again, with the same pattern, only different faces. Yeom Jang-soo is gone. Hoo Il-do, too. But as long as greed exists, as long as power exists, and as long as there’s a vault someone wants to reach, new successors will rise.
The next Yeom Jang-soo or Hoo Il-do may have already emerged—from the shadow of someone like Sun-yoo.
Yoon-nam’s drawing beside Dong-joo’s is a silent declaration: “Now it’s my turn.” Not with a shout, not with overt revenge, but by placing a small trace beside the one who walked this path before her—a trace on a boat that could be either a symbol of hope, or the beginning of sinking. This is not an end, nor a beginning.
It is the continuation of a cycle the series portrayed so powerfully:
A cycle where power creates victims, and unless they’re careful, victims become the very monsters they once feared.

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started strong ,ended somewhat disappointing

from the get go like 1st 2 episodes you get a little bit drawn to keep watching then from ep 3 to ep 14 it kept going strong and we kept looking forward to the ending but I think ep 15 and 16 (especially 16 ) ruined it all for me I mean where do I start

first yeom jang sun I think it was somewhat a fitting ending for him , all he care about is money and power and In the end he lost both.

dongju really deserved to be happy after all he went through , yet after fulfilling his revenge he didn't have his happy ending , he left it all behind .

taeyun's mother deserved what happened I mean after all she caused , she lost it all

taeyun didn't deserve this ending , he and eunnam were the innocent ones in that family .

seonu and his mother one of the worst character developments I have ever seen in along time I, how did they change from the staying away from daesan and not wanting any thing to do with it to cooperating with yeom jang sun and killing taeyun .

a very disappointing ending 😔 the title truly fits "buried hearts".

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Flawed but Addictive

This revenge thriller hooks you early with sharp twists, a stolen slush fund, and intense stakes. It’s addictive and full of surprises—at first. But as the plot goes on, it loses steam, leaning on repetitive themes of greed, manipulation, and over-the-top action. Seo Dong Ju (Park Hyung Sik) surviving every wild scenario starts to feel more superhero than thriller. And the forgiveness arc? A bit much—he forgives the dad who killed his mom and tried to kill him multiple times. Really?

Yeo Eun Nam (Hong Hwa Yeon) brings a fresh perspective, prioritizing avenging her father over romance. It’s a bold choice that might not appeal to everyone. However, the real scene-stealer is Woo Hyun as Cha Gang Cheon—a cunning chairman juggling dementia with brilliance. He’s easily the show’s most compelling character.

At 16 episodes, the pacing falters. A tighter 10-episode run could’ve kept the tension sharp. The ending, unfortunately, doesn’t fully deliver; the revenge arc feels incomplete, and some twists fizzle out. Still, Ji Seon U killing Heo Tae Yun is tragic but fitting—showing how greed consumes and destroys.

"Buried Heart" isn’t perfect, but it’s a chaotic, fun ride with plenty of additive drama. If you’re in the mood for messy thrills, buckle up and enjoy!

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a revenge buried for years

finished 8.5/10 🌟
If I had one word to describe this kdrama, it would be: realism.
One of the factors I liked most was the way greed and power were portrayed.
Each of the characters was wrapped in a web of secrets... Park Hyungsik, what an actor he is! 👏
He was a 10/10 for his character. 🔥
The journey we took with Dongjun and his struggle to give back everything that was taken from him was filled with difficulties and it wasn't perfect or satisfactory which I liked because it shows that revenge is sometimes not the best solution
Hu Joon Ho is an excellent villain. His character, besides being cruel, had a charisma that I loved.
If I'm honest, his ending was very fitting because he deserved to pay for what he did and live in humiliation.
There were two things I didn't like very much:
1) Eunnam's character was given absolute relevance at the beginning, only to then deflate her character and leave everything super flat. What a waste of plot.
2) I wish they'd explored the storyline of the team that helped Dongjun with his revenge more.
They just appeared, and then, bam! It's like they vanished into thin air. 🤡
I recommend the drama if you're looking for power and a political thriller full of revenge 👏

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