Buried Hearts review: Park Hyung-sik serves exactly what he promises and more with his K-Drama

3/5

Buried Hearts Story: Left for the dead, Dongju (Park Hyung-sik) comes back to seek revenge for all those who conspired against him. Will he win, lose or stay stranded somewhere in between?

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Buried Hearts Review:

If you have been a fan of or followed Park Hyung-sik's career, you would know the range he provides as an actor. Each of his K-Drama is a piece of art that screams his name. He has definitely upped the game with Buried Hearts, both as an actor and as a public figure.

The first episode of Buried Hearts was all about the suspense. The lead protagonist was left for the dead, to rot in the middle of an island, with a luxury watch stolen. Not quite a surprising plot, is it? The twist comes when Hyung-sik's character Dongju wakes up from the dead and decides to turn into fear itself. Every character thereon, whether Huh Joon-ho’s mighty Yeom Jangseon or Lee Hae-young’s Huh Ildo do not matter, the spotlight is on Hyung-sik.

Buried Hearts is one of those K-Dramas that grow on you deeper with every episode. It is in the very literal sense, a K-Drama that only Park Hyung-sik fans can understand and relish because it screams his name in every single scene. Right from waking up to nightmares that resemble reality a bit too much to hiding real intentions and skills unless demanded while keeping only two people close (something that has been constant with him since The Heirs), Buried Hearts taps into everything Hyung-sik the actor is.

Being a public figure who has fans with various demands, this "mommy" of Wooga Squad (the Hwarang gang) has switched on his "daddy" mode, and it is just as irresistible, even if those moments are few. Of course, like most K-dramas, this one has hints of K-trauma as well, and they're, well, a lot to handle for one character alone. It is no wonder that by the end of this series, Dongju is still left without the smile or satisfaction that comes with sweet revenge. This, again, begs the question whether anybody deserves to be pushed to such a limit. And it is a question that is controversial, given the current situation in the Entertainment industry (K-world's recurring judging, bullying, stealing projects problem), but quite an important one. For that alone, Buried Hearts deserves to be lauded.

The series really picks up when after various encounters with death, a tormented Dongju decides it is time to expose and kill the termites that have been eating at what he adored throughout his childhood - the Daesan group. On the front, Buried Hearts is the story of an extremely loyal employee, but upon digging further, it is about a man with virtue who is forced to get down and dirty. That is what the series offers you - politics and the complexities of it.

Personally, I believe the drama was dragged, at least initially, but what's a K-drama without it going in circles? And hey, we went beyond romance so that's something, no? And Park Hyung-sik in his villain era!? Bring it on, hell, bring out more! And the best part? Once it picked pace, Buried Hearts was a smooth ride to nowhere (which is exactly what revenge is).

Moments of shock and betrayal in the name of power follow (special mention to Cha Woo-min who has pulled off three distinct roles within three four months of 2025), and just as you'd expect from Hyung-sik's drama, the end itself is poetic too. After setting things right and in place, the sun sets, and all that's left is cold, lonely nights looking at the moon. That, ladies and gentlemen, is a revenge K-Drama almost done right.

Buried Hearts Verdict:

Park Hyung-sik fans are in for a complete treat with Buried Hearts. The actor has so much to offer with his K-Drama that released at the peak of anti-Valentine week. You're sure to love it right up till the end if you have followed his work and know what his series are like.