“Lead Actor’s Performance Is INSANE!” This K-Drama Just Hit Double-Digit Ratings!

SBS’s Friday-Saturday drama ‘Buried Hearts’ continues its upward trend, setting new personal bests in viewership ratings with each episode.

According to Nielsen Korea on March 2, the fourth episode of ‘Buried Hearts’, which aired on March 1, recorded a nationwide rating of 10.2%, peaking at 11.3%, breaking into double digits for the first time. With this, the drama has surpassed its own highest rating for four consecutive episodes, securing the No.1 spot among all mini-series airing in the same time slot across all networks.

In the Seoul metropolitan area, ratings also climbed to 9.8%, while the 2049 target demographic rating stood at 2.8%, making it the most-watched program on Saturday across all channels.

The latest episode of ‘Buried Hearts’ delivered non-stop suspense, as Seo Dong-joo (played by Park Hyung-sik), who had been presumed dead, made a shocking return. His survival sent shockwaves through Yeom Jang-seon (Huh Joon-ho), Heo Il-do (Lee Hae-young), and Yeo Eun-nam (Hong Hwa-yeon), setting off a chain of intense developments. With twists unfolding at every turn, the episode kept viewers glued to their screens, culminating in a jaw-dropping cliffhanger.

Seo Dong-joo, while driving through heavy rain, was suddenly overcome with a sense of unease as if someone was chasing him. Moments later, he got into a car accident and plunged into the sea. When he regained consciousness, he found himself in the presence of a mysterious man, Bae Won-bae (Lee Yoo-joon).

To his horror, Dong-joo had lost not only his identity but also his past memories. The only thing he could recall was a voice calling out "Sung-hyun", leading him to believe that was his own name.

The Hunt for Seo Dong-joo(Park Hyung-sik) Begins

Dong-joo’s disappearance put Yeom Jang-seon and Heo Il-do in a precarious situation. Yeom Jang-seon soon discovered that Dong-joo had hacked into a 2 trillion KRW slush fund account under his management, sending him into a panic. Desperate to recover the money, he pressured Heo Il-do to fix the situation, even suggesting breaking into Chairman Cha Kang-chun’s (Woo Hyun) vault, but they struggled to crack the security code.

Meanwhile, Dong-joo found a single phone number saved on his mobile device and decided to call it. On the other end of the line was Yeo Eun-nam’s husband, Yeom Hee-chul (Kwon Soo-hyun), who was left in complete shock upon hearing Dong-joo’s voice. The news quickly spread to Heo Il-do, who chillingly remarked, "So you’ve come back to life, Seo Dong-joo."

Realizing that his missing 2 trillion KRW could be retrieved, Yeom Jang-seon saw Dong-joo’s survival as an opportunity. He immediately ordered Heo Il-do and his subordinate Chun Gu-ho (Joo Yeon-woo) to capture Dong-joo at all costs, even preparing a location to interrogate him. However, catching Dong-joo proved to be more difficult than expected.

In a surprising turn of events, Dong-joo actually saved Heo Il-do from drowning, but Heo Il-do, fearing exposure of his crimes, pretended not to recognize him. After narrowly escaping danger, Dong-joo searched for clues about his past, leading him to a store where his tuxedo had been purchased. There, he unexpectedly ran into Yeo Eun-nam and Yeom Hee-chul, marking a significant moment in the story.

The episode ended with Yeo Eun-nam left in shock at the sight of Dong-joo, whose memory loss prevented him from recognizing her. The emotional tension between the two added another layer of mystery to the unfolding drama.

Despite its fast-paced narrative, ‘Buried Hearts’ has been praised for its intricate character psychology and intense storytelling, further heightening anticipation. With Seo Dong-joo’s return shaking up everyone’s lives, viewers are left wondering: Has he truly lost his memory, or is he plotting revenge?

Following the broadcast, fans flooded social media with enthusiastic reactions, praising the drama’s intense pacing and gripping performances. Many described each episode as “legendary”, with some calling the pacing “insane” and expressing frustration over having to wait for the next episode.

With ‘Buried Hearts’ gaining momentum and delivering back-to-back record-breaking ratings, it is proving to be a force to be reckoned with. The series airs every Friday at 10 PM and Saturday at 9:50 PM KST on SBS.