SBS’s new series Buried Hearts is a revenge drama about a man who hacks an account holding political slush funds and goes up against a powerful shadow figure who tries to kill him. It is the second installment in writer Lee Myung Hee’s revenge trilogy, following Money Flower, and stars Park Hyung Sik and Huh Joon Ho as leads. Even with a seemingly predictable plot about a big money fight, the tightly woven story went off to a strong start by striking the darkest depths of viewers’ emotions.
The drama begins with a man drifting unconscious on the open sea. An expensive watch is fastened to his wrist. The scene then shifts to a parliamentary hearing on energy affairs. Heo Il Do (played by Lee Hae Young), the president of Daesan Energy, takes the stand as a witness, while in the back, Seo Dong Joo (Park Hyung Sik), wearing the same watch seen in the opening scene, observes the proceedings with a cryptic expression. He discreetly relays the situation to Yeom Jang Seon (Heo Joon Ho), a shadowy power broker. Seo Dong Joo plays a crucial role in siphoning off special government funds to create political slush funds. Aspiring to become the real power within Daesan Group, he sets his plans into motion—but things don’t go as expected.
In an interview, Park Hyung Sik once said, “I’ve always wanted to take on a project that showcases intense and weighty conflicts at a certain point in my career.” In this drama, he plays an ambitious character who waits patiently for the right moment to seize control of Daesan Group. Seo Dong Joo presents a different side of Park Hyung Sik—one unlike the warm and gentle characters he portrayed in Doctor Slump, Our Blooming Youth and Soundtrack #1. He captivates viewers from the very first episode with his portrayal of a man consumed by an unrelenting desire to climb even higher.
The intense and weighty energy of Buried Hearts is driven by the meeting of two powerhouse actors—Park Hyung Sik in his 30s and Huh Joon Ho in his 60s. Though they don’t share many face-to-face scenes early on, the stark contrast between Seo Dong Joo’s tailored suit and Yeom Jang Seon’s slightly hunched figure with graying hair creates palpable tension whenever they meet. Having consistently exuded a dark charisma in dramas like Bloodhounds and Why Her?, Huh Joon Ho once again commands the screen. His character, Yeom Jang Seon, a former prosecutor general, often speaks of his “love for the nation”—but in reality, his true goal is securing control over Daesan Group. While he attempts to tighten his grip on his son-in-law, Heo Il Do (played by Lee Hae Young), Seo Dong Joo’s repeated interference keeps throwing his plans off course. Ultimately, he resorts to orchestrating a strategic marriage between his nephew and the chairman’s granddaughter.
Buried Hearts still offers a glimpse of Park Hyung Sik’s romantic side. His love interest is Yeo Eun Nam (Hong Hwa Yeon), the chairman’s granddaughter. However, as the first episode’s title “Dong Joo, Betrayed by Love” suggests, his happiness is short-lived. Seo Dong Joo is so deeply in love that he even tattoos Eun Nam’s name on his hand. Yet, when she suddenly enters an arranged marriage with another man, he claims to respect her decision, though he doesn’t hold back when he later tells her, “You’re one hell of a piece of work, you know that?” Yeo Eun Nam, the woman who stole the heart of Seo Dong Joo, is played by Hong Hwa Yeon, a rising actress now in her third year since debuting in Mental Coach Jegal Gil. She takes on the role of a chaebol heiress who refuses to rely on others, despite immense pressure to uphold her family’s legacy. Meanwhile, former OH MY GIRL member Jiho is set to make her official acting debut in Buried Hearts. Although she hasn’t appeared in the first two episodes, she will soon take on the role of Myung Tae Geum, a longtime friend of Seo Dong Joo who plays a key part in hacking slush funds.
The drama’s focus on human greed and the pursuit of wealth is nothing new, and the intense kiss scenes packed into the first two episodes, almost foreshadowing the couple’s doomed future, might also feel a bit out of place. However, each character’s desires are sharply defined, and the story moves at a compelling pace. According to Huh Joon Ho, the 16-episode Buried Hearts will take a dramatic turn around episode 6, with major events unfolding in rapid succession. It’s a reason for viewers to stay aboard this ship a little longer as it sails toward its own buried treasure. (7/10)
Edited by Seo Hayne
Translated by Yu Jin Kim
Editor Seo Hayne: I like actors as they faithfully lead through their long running-time. I also like idols who accomplish everything on stage within 3 minutes.
