Buried Hearts filled its series with intense moments that left viewers wanting more.
Fulfilling its initial promise, it never returned from its tantalizing start with multiple explosive plot twists. However, the conclusion might be less gratifying due to its open-ended approach.
- Main Leads: Park Hyung Sik, Hong Hwa Yeon, Heo Joon Ho, Lee Hae Young
- Addictive Meter:
- Overall Rating:
- Rewatch Value:
- K-Dramas of Similar Vibe: Punch | The Veil | Big Mouth
abbyinhallyuland watches Buried Hearts on Disney+
Episode Recaps: 01&02 | 03 & 04 | 5 to 8 | 09&10 | 11 & 12 | 13 to Finale + Series Review |
Buried Hearts Episodes 13 to Finale Highlights
“You locked yourself up for a week yet the best thing you came up with is acting like an even bigger villain?”
Previously, Director Huh met Dong-ju and shot him at a rendezvous point while Jangseon’s men were on standby. Even after calling him father, it took a while for Director Huh to register Jangseon’s confession.
Taeyun, who followed his father, rushes to bring Dong-ju to the hospital. Director Huh’s discovery that he had fathered Dong-ju ate away at his guilt. Yet, he remained conflicted in his situation. Later, his wife Deok-hee also discovered his connection with Dong-ju when she read the DNA report.
“He killed his friend, lover and own son in one blow. What change of heart do you mean?”
A view from the past shows Director Huh talking to Jangseon about the surgeries he had. Another conversation with a man in Jangseon’s organization also confirms Director Huh was unaware that his lover, Dong-ju’s birth mom, had a child with him. Dong-ju retrieved these conversations from the Dandelion files.
In the present timeline, Dong-ju receives the news that the Auditor’s right man, Yangchon, escaped and right on cue, he has already taken refuge at Jangseon’s lair.
Picking himself up, Director Huh confronts Jangseon about his situation with Dong-ju. But the old man can only mock his incompetence and push the reality that he is a terrible and pathetic man who won’t hesitate to kill for his ambition.
Director Huh announces his decision to sever ties with Jangseon, opting instead to join Dong-ju in building Daesan.
Returning from their honeymoon, Chairman Cha introduces his new wife and son to the family. While acting civilly toward Yeong-su, Deok-hee subtly reminds her stepmother that she has deliberately confined her to prevent her from wandering freely.
“Director Seo is President Huh’s son.”
With President Huh refusing to be his pawn any longer, Jangseon turns his attention to sowing discord between Chairman Cha and his loyal aide. At the same time, Dong-ju opens up to Director Huh, revealing his resolve to take Jangseon down—especially with Chairman Cha’s health rapidly declining.
In a calculated move, Chairman Cha conspires with Jangseon to orchestrate a deadly meeting between father and son. They send Yangchon to carry out the assassination, but Dong-ju survives, thanks to President Huh stepping in to shield him.
Wasting no time, Dongju stops Jang-seon, the mastermind of his father’s murder to pay respect at his funeral. He also wages a silent war with Chairman Cha, using his beloved son, who is close to him, as leverage.
As the eldest son, Dong-ju firmly holds on to his father’s urn, asserting his right and presence. Meanwhile, Chairman Cha seeks an alliance with Deok-hee, urging her to join him in safeguarding their stake in the company.
“Dandelion files, where are you?”
Dong-ju’s next bold move leads him to Ma Jaeyeol, the relentless journalist chasing the mysterious Dandelion files. But he’s not alone—Jang-seon’s loyal right-hand man, Guho, is hot on his trail.
Guho reports Dong-ju’s every step, including his meeting with Ma, prompting Jang-seon to send men to shadow Dong-ju and eventually track down his team’s hideout. In a ruthless turn, they kidnap Il-nam. Fearful for the life of his trusted savior, Dong-ju takes the fight directly to Jang-seon. He offers the explosive Dandelion files as leverage for a deal—but the villain has other plans and decides it’s time to eliminate Dong-ju once and for all.
Cornered on a rooftop and staring down death, Dong-ju delivers a masterstroke: he reveals that the entire confrontation has been live-streamed. Meanwhile, Il-nam, though battered, survives.
As Jang-seon eyes control of the Daesan Group, he pressures the Elder for support, while Chairman Cha’s family members secretly maneuver to seize power within the company.
Executing his final game plan, Dong-ju abducts Jang-seon after getting Chairman Cha to testify that Jang-seon is the mastermind of President Huh’s death. Giving him hamburger sustenance for the next few years, he finally let Jang-seon go who eventually faced the repercussions of his numerous evil actions and bottomless greed.
Buried Hearts Quick Series Recap
Seo Dong-ju, a trusted assistant to the chairman of Daesan Group, a prominent conglomerate, finds himself embroiled in a fierce power struggle within the family. His challenges intensify as he engages in a strategic battle against Yeom Jang-seon, an ambitious kingmaker determined to wield influence from the shadows.
Buried Hearts Series Highlights and Musings
Impressive through most of its run, Buried Hearts isn’t exactly the kind of drama you’d rewatch during a slump—it delivers best as a one-time experience. While the story is largely satisfying, its ambiguous ending feels mismatched with the intense back-and-forth between its central characters.
Still, the show’s strengths manage to outweigh its vague conclusion. Should a second season be greenlit, there’s fertile ground left in the threads of the elder’s corruption and the Cha family’s money feud.
What truly propelled the series was the dynamic bond between Seo Dong-ju, President Huh, and Yeom Jang-seon. A sharp take on the modern underdog tale, the drama highlights the ugly face of greed—especially from those who already have more than enough.
Dong-ju’s final act of revenge, while acceptable, lacked the impact expected after all his near-death brushes. His choice of a compassionate path perhaps speaks to the value of mercy, even after enduring deep injustice and cruelty.
With a villain lineup full of menace and characters constantly shifting loyalties, Buried Hearts unfolded as an unpredictable, high-stakes battlefield. Interestingly, the decision to downplay romance helped preserve the gripping tone of the show.
Despite a less-than-fulfilling finale, the drama soared in ratings and kept viewers on a high—softening the blow of its ending. If you appreciate intelligent, imperfect characters, this series is bound to leave a lasting impression.
All episodes of Buried Hearts are available on Disney+!
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