This review may contain spoilers
Buried Hearts – A Cultural and Narrative Masterpiece
Buried Hearts was, in my opinion, a masterpiece. But to truly appreciate it, one must understand a few key aspects of Korean culture and society. These are insights I’ve formed over years of watching Korean dramas, variety shows, reality TV, and YouTube content. Here are three important cultural points that, I believe, make the story feel both authentic and grounded:
1. Money equals power in Korea. If you have wealth, you can influence nearly anything—status, justice, politics.
2. Guns are not easily accessible. Unlike in the U.S., ordinary citizens can’t just buy firearms. However, due to mandatory military service, most Korean men are trained to use them.
3. Politics is deeply corrupt, perhaps even more so than in many other countries. Power plays, backroom deals, and manipulation are a common theme.
Because of these elements, Buried Hearts felt incredibly realistic. It didn’t shy away from showing what people are capable of when driven by greed, revenge, or the hunger for power. The drama checks every box: Doing anything to acquire wealth; eliminating enemies through any means other than guns; and playing dirty politics and using money to rise in power?
The Story: At the heart of the drama is Seo Dong-ju, a brilliant and loyal corporate secretary who initially seeks money and influence by serving his boss with unwavering devotion. His strategy? Follow in the footsteps of the current son-in-law of the chaebol family by charming and marrying the granddaughter of the chairman.
But things don’t go as planned. Dong-ju unexpectedly falls in love with Eun Nam, unaware at first that she is the actual granddaughter. Eun Nam, in turn, has her own revenge agenda—believing her stepfather murdered her biological father under her mother's command, she marries the nephew of Yeom Jang-seon, a powerful and manipulative political kingmaker who operates behind the scenes to control both corporate and governmental power to gain power for her retaliation.
Betrayed and nearly assassinated by Yeom Jang-seon, Dong-ju escapes and retaliates by stealing 2 trillion won from him to protect himself. As the story unfolds, Dong-ju survives attempts on his life, loses his memory, and his sister, Dong-ju uncovers the truth about his own parents’ deaths, rises to become the chairman of the company he once served as a secretary, and eventually loses everything—his love, his ideals, and the very soul he bargained away for power.
The storytelling was tight and intricate—there were no plot holes. Every detail, every twist, every emotional beat clicked into place like pieces of a puzzle. It’s rare to find a drama where the rewatch value is so high—I’ve personally watched it four times, and each time I discover something new.
Every actor delivered powerful, emotionally resonant performances, particularly Park Hyung-sik, who carried the emotional weight of the story with nuance and intensity. Buried Hearts isn’t just another revenge melodrama—it’s a reflection of a society where power games are played in shadows, and ambition comes at a cost. It’s thrilling, tragic, and thought-provoking. A must-watch, especially for those who want to understand the cultural subtext that drives the drama’s realism.
1. Money equals power in Korea. If you have wealth, you can influence nearly anything—status, justice, politics.
2. Guns are not easily accessible. Unlike in the U.S., ordinary citizens can’t just buy firearms. However, due to mandatory military service, most Korean men are trained to use them.
3. Politics is deeply corrupt, perhaps even more so than in many other countries. Power plays, backroom deals, and manipulation are a common theme.
Because of these elements, Buried Hearts felt incredibly realistic. It didn’t shy away from showing what people are capable of when driven by greed, revenge, or the hunger for power. The drama checks every box: Doing anything to acquire wealth; eliminating enemies through any means other than guns; and playing dirty politics and using money to rise in power?
The Story: At the heart of the drama is Seo Dong-ju, a brilliant and loyal corporate secretary who initially seeks money and influence by serving his boss with unwavering devotion. His strategy? Follow in the footsteps of the current son-in-law of the chaebol family by charming and marrying the granddaughter of the chairman.
But things don’t go as planned. Dong-ju unexpectedly falls in love with Eun Nam, unaware at first that she is the actual granddaughter. Eun Nam, in turn, has her own revenge agenda—believing her stepfather murdered her biological father under her mother's command, she marries the nephew of Yeom Jang-seon, a powerful and manipulative political kingmaker who operates behind the scenes to control both corporate and governmental power to gain power for her retaliation.
Betrayed and nearly assassinated by Yeom Jang-seon, Dong-ju escapes and retaliates by stealing 2 trillion won from him to protect himself. As the story unfolds, Dong-ju survives attempts on his life, loses his memory, and his sister, Dong-ju uncovers the truth about his own parents’ deaths, rises to become the chairman of the company he once served as a secretary, and eventually loses everything—his love, his ideals, and the very soul he bargained away for power.
The storytelling was tight and intricate—there were no plot holes. Every detail, every twist, every emotional beat clicked into place like pieces of a puzzle. It’s rare to find a drama where the rewatch value is so high—I’ve personally watched it four times, and each time I discover something new.
Every actor delivered powerful, emotionally resonant performances, particularly Park Hyung-sik, who carried the emotional weight of the story with nuance and intensity. Buried Hearts isn’t just another revenge melodrama—it’s a reflection of a society where power games are played in shadows, and ambition comes at a cost. It’s thrilling, tragic, and thought-provoking. A must-watch, especially for those who want to understand the cultural subtext that drives the drama’s realism.
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