Buried Hearts Ep 4 earns double-digit ratings, solidifies its reign as Saturday night hit

The South Korean revenge thriller Buried Hearts continued its impressive upward trajectory on Saturday night, with Episode 4 securing a nationwide rating of 10.2%, according to Nielsen Korea.

Airing on SBS at 22:00 KST, the drama not only crossed the coveted double-digit threshold but also marked its highest viewership yet, even peaking at 11.3% during key moments.

This achievement underscores Buried Hearts’ growing dominance among mini-series dramas across all channels, as it continues to draw in audiences with its intense storytelling and superb performances by the main leads.

The 10.2% rating is particularly noteworthy given the competition.

After all, Buried Hearts faced off against MBC’s Undercover High School, a spy comedy starring Seo Kang Joon, which has also been earning record ratings.

Despite the neck-and-neck ratings battle since their simultaneous premieres, however, Buried Hearts pulled ahead decisively last night, cementing its position as the night’s top mini-series.

Buried Hearts‘ steady rise to success

Since its premiere on February 21st, Buried Hearts has seen a consistent rise in viewership.

Episode 1 debuted with a solid 6.1% nationwide rating, followed by 8.1% for Episode 2, and an even higher 8.8% for Episode 3.

The K-drama’s jump to 10.2% for Buried Hearts, Episode 4, however, reflects a remarkable 1.4% increase from the previous episode, with ratings in Seoul also reaching 9.8%, which is an increase of 0.9% from Episode 3.

RELATED: What does Buried Hearts‘ star Park Hyung Sik say he would do with 2 trillion won if he had it?

Beyond South Korea, Buried Hearts is also gaining traction internationally, as it is currently trending on Disney+ in regions like Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan.

Why is Buried Hearts seeing rapidly increasing audiences?

The series, which stars Park Hyung Sik as the ambitious and morally complex Seo Dong Ju, has resonated with audiences through its gripping narrative centered on a 2 trillion won political slush fund, and the high-stakes power struggles that occur when that slush fund is stolen.

Directed by Jin Chang Gyu (Military Prosecutor Doberman) and written by Lee Myung Hee (Money Flower), Buried Hearts has done a brilliant job of blending corporate intrigue, betrayal, and revenge into a gripping thriller right from Episode 1.

Throw in that all isn’t clear about what’s actually going on right from the get-go, and viewers really have to concentrate in order not to miss the clues they may need later.

Nope, this isn’t a lazy viewers’ K-drama.

But, as many viewers are also pointing out, if you concentrate on everything that’s happening in the first few episodes of Buried Hearts, even if that means rewinding a few scenes, it is looking like the eventual payoff will be huge.

That excitement and anticipation alone seems to be keeping viewers engaged, with even those who are complaining about some of the confusion in the script still saying “Maybe I’ll give it another couple of episodes before I drop it, just to see”.

Nope, apparently it’s not an easily drop-able K-drama either.

Buried Hearts, Episode 4: A game-changer?

Comments on various sites from fans and viewers suggest that last night’s Episode 4 intensified the drama’s already electrifying pace even further.

That’s because a major plot twist—Park Hyung Sik’s character losing his memory—appears to have escalated the stakes, adding layers of suspense and unpredictability.

Social media buzz is also fueling speculation, with some fans theorizing about hidden connections, such as the mysterious role of Chairman Cha’s secretary and her potential link to Dong Ju’s past.

This episode’s ability to deepen the mystery while delivering emotional punches then has clearly struck a chord with audiences.

What’s next for Buried Hearts?

With 16 episodes planned, Buried Hearts has 12 more installments to go after Episode 4, meaning there is plenty of time for yet more suspense and intrigue.

If the current trend continues then, that means the Korean drama is poised to maintain its momentum and potentially climb even higher in the ratings. (And you wouldn’t be a rocket science if you correctly predicted that it will).

Meanwhile, fans are already eagerly awaiting Episode 5, which is set to air on March 7th, 2025, as they anticipate more twists and revelations in this rollercoaster of a revenge saga.

Bring it on, eh?