Actor Park Hyung-sik as Seo Dong-joo in "Buried Hearts" / Courtesy of SBS

The SBS revenge drama series “Buried Hearts” has once again broken its own viewership record, continuing to captivate audiences with its intense storyline and emotional stakes.

The series tells the story of Seo Dong-joo, played by Park Hyung-sik, who hacks into 2 trillion won ($1.5 billion) of political slush funds. Determined to bring down the forces that tried to kill him, he embarks on a full-fledged revenge mission, betting everything on justice.

The drama's fresh spin on the classic revenge genre, powerful performances, and high-intensity direction have captivated viewers across all age groups.

The eighth episode, which aired on Saturday, recorded nationwide ratings of 12.3 percent and capital area ratings of 12.3 percent, according to Nielsen Korea, a 1.4 percentage point increase from the previous episode, marking yet another personal best for the show.

Its peak moment reached as high as 14.1 percent, while viewership among the key 20–49 demographic also jumped to 3.2 percent. The drama ranked No. 1 across all networks, Saturday miniseries and weekly miniseries in its time slot.

“Buried Hearts” has now surpassed its highest ratings six times over the course of eight episodes, reflecting its soaring popularity.

Among the show's standout elements is its unique take on a traditional revenge narrative. The story of one man's retaliation against the absolute evil that betrayed him for money echoes the timeless appeal of classic revenge dramas, making it accessible to a wide audience.

Yet “Buried Hearts” goes further, portraying each character's greed and moral decay in raw and unsettling detail, delivering a powerful emotional punch.

As the drama reaches its halfway mark, Seo Dong-joo has regained his memory and sharpens his blade of vengeance against Yeom Jang-seon, played by Heo Joon-ho.

Viewers can also look forward to unraveling the mystery surrounding the name “Seong-hyun” from Dong-joo's past, the secret birthright linked to Daesan Group's succession battle and the intense power games ahead.

Actors Huh Joon-ho, left, and Park Hyung-sik in "Buried Hearts" / Courtesy of SBS

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.