Buried Hearts Episode 1 Review & Recap: Park Hyung-sik's love and Hong Hwa-yeon's betrayal

The revenge thriller with Park Hyung Sik and Heo Joon Ho in the lead roles is one of the most awaited of the year and we just watched its first episode. Below is our review of Buried Hearts Episode 1.

Park Hyung-sik Shines in the Thrilling Buried Hearts Kdrama

Buried Hearts (보물섬) is a political crime thriller filled with action, psychological suspense, and unforeseen twists — a great return for Park Hyung-sik on screen. The story revolves around a high-stakes Chase between the daring thief who steals 2 trillion won from a political slush fund and a powerful cop who chases after him. With the hunt hotting up, a complex scheme is put into play and with alliances constantly in flux, betrayal is the name of the game in this deadly game of cat and mouse.

Il-do’s corruption exposed as Dong-ju manipulates a political hearing

In the first scene, tension grows during a session of the National Assembly, where Il-do, a high-ranking official from Daesan Group, is suspected of causing environmental damage through illegal operations. First under the intense questioning — especially from Assemblywoman Seok — Il-do starts to dissolve. Meanwhile, on a concealed cell phone screen, Dong-ju, a Daesan Group director, eavesdrops, with Mr. Yeom, the past director of the National Intelligence Service, urging Dong-ju to intervene. Dong-ju delivers word to Nam Sang-cheol, a member of parliament, and the session ends suddenly. Il-do, seeing the power that Dong-ju wields, only feels his hatred for him grow.

Il-do’s anger grows as Dong-ju’s influence with the chairman deepens

That night, Il-do goes to see his father-in-law, the Daesan chairman, for a drink, only to discover that Dong-ju has also already arrived. The old man trusts him implicitly, and Dong-ju’s indifference to the chairman’s safe ignites his rage. When the chairman finally shows up, he brushes off the premium ginseng Il-do offers him, and instead drinks Chinese soju given to him by Dong-ju. To make matters worse, Il-do’s wife, Cheokhui, kicks Dong-ju out to give them some privacy. “When he will call back you again, You will.” Dong-ju stands his ground, but the chairman quietly urges him to go home for the night. It’s a muted reproach, but Dong-ju holds steady.

Dong-ju secures a major deal, fueling Il-do’s growing resentment

Accompanied by Il-do and the chairman, Dong-ju moves into a screened enclosure that can detect and neutralize hidden recording devices. An inside man, Mr. Yeom has intel he’s collected on Daesan that he hopes to wield. But Dong-ju is quick to change course, leveraging Yeom’s knowledge to land a massive deal between Daesan Chemicals and an internationally known pharmaceutical company. Daesan emerges as the winner with the deal. Nevertheless, Il-do begrudges Dong-ju becoming a successful and wishes ill for him, and sees Dong-ju embarrass himself in front of the ex-intelligence top dog without the latter realizing.

Dong-ju manipulates events, eyeing the top spot at Daesan Chemicals

The following day, Dong-ju is assigned to oversee the wedding arranged by the chairman for his granddaughter. He intends to concentrate exclusively on the logistics, rather than pick out a bride, even though he hasn’t seen her. He meets Cha Guk-hui at the factory in the morning mist. As the chairman’s youngest daughter, she is not interested in taking the helm of Daesan Chemicals, especially with the imminent joint venture. Guk-hui begs Dong-ju to let her off the hook for her secretarial duties, but he solely tells her that all he does is obey the chairman. But unbenownst to Dong-ju, he is already plotting his next move; now that Il-do has become vice-chairman, Dong-ju wants to be at the helm of Daesan Chemicals.

Eun-nam’s cryptic warning and Dong-ju’s close call with danger

But Dong-ju is not easy to detach from, and Eun-nam even resents her work and the business trips that pull them apart. One night, in a small amount of time together, she tells him that if they ever break up, it’s because she decided to leave, not him. Anne is taken aback and, concerned, reassures Dong-ju, but this doesn’t seem to worry her. Then she receives an odd phone call, and suddenly she’s seen angrily confronting someone in the living room, and running out. Coughing, Dong-ju doggedly trails her to the door. Takes him to the hospital in a panic and gets him there just in time to save him.

Dong-ju unknowingly falls for Eun-nam as their secret love grows

This passage of his first sights-of her as captured in their company cafe and many more (such look tattered!) moments to the contrary show – how Dong-ju fell in love with her without even knowing it was happening at all. Slowly their affections grew in seclusion with the outside world none the wiser.

After returning from the hospital, one night turns into an intense romance for the two of them. As the daylight begins to break, Dong-ju makes up his mind that he is going to propose tomorrow morning. On that day, he sends a text to Eun-nam. Plan set in motion. But first–business calls: He has to attend the chairman’s granddaughter’s wedding.

Dong-ju’s world shatters as Eun-nam’s true identity is revealed

The ceremony begins with Dong-ju experiencing a sudden shock. His heart beats fast, he can’t breathe, his head goes numb. It’s not a surprise, but an awakening. He suddenly remembers that Eun-nam is no ordinary person; she’s the chairman’s granddaughter and the daughter of a prominent politician. At the center of it all has been the woman he loved — and planned to marry. Now married to Il-do, she is about to be the heir. Dong-ju struggles against the guards trying to go to her, but is held down. Meanwhile, Mr. Yeom feels a sense of satisfaction watching Eun-nam was his pawn all along and Il-do was just going along with him.

The closing shot of the first episode finds Dong-ju in shock, realization and betrayal in his conscience. He’s left with questions, Was any of it real? and What now am I supposed to do? With that scene, the stage is set for a deeper dive into his disintegrating psyche in future episodes.

Buried Hearts Episode 1 Honest Review

This episode opens with a high-stakes, courtside-level drama and pulls you into the shadows, where a wrenching betrayal will leave your jaw on the floor, both on the internet and off. It’s utter chaos, but anything short of that is unfathomable. Dong-ju’s unspoken plight at the bottom has us cheering for him, but just when he believes he’s on the verge of defeating the game of his life, there’s another vicious twist coming around the bend. From outmaneuvering a former intelligence chief to reaching for power, it all seemed within his grasp — until the wedding. Someone get this man a drink. After the raw heartbreak of the wedding scenes, treat yourself to one — or 10!

What’s going on with Eun-nam? As if the news of their secretive romance wasn’t already shrouded by enough mystery, in drops that bombshell. This episode has manipulation and hidden agendas and heartbreak. A show twisted like its villain, Mr. Yeom, with his evil smirk, or Il-do, with his cruel satisfaction. Il-do’s thirst for power makes this tonal oddity interesting. With Dong-ju’s missions on the back burner, what will the story do next? Something shocking or a quiet dénouement? Either way, we’re hooked and want more!