Buried Hearts Episode 15 Review: Revenge Takes Over Dong-ju, Turning His Eyes Lifeless

In Buried Hearts Episode 14, emotions run high as Dong-ju grapples with the death of Il-do, who dies confessing his wish to seek forgiveness in the afterlife. The truth of Il-do’s paternity sends shockwaves, intensifying family tensions and sparking bitter power struggles. As Dong-ju confronts Chairman Cha and takes charge of Daesan’s hidden wealth, Yeom grows desperate. Meanwhile, Won-bae’s abduction over the damning Dandelion files prompts a daring rescue. In a dramatic rooftop standoff, Dong-ju’s trap is sprung, streaming Yeom’s crimes live to the nation, leaving his enemies exposed and the balance of power forever shifted.

– Contains Spoilers –

Buried Hearts Episode 15 Recap

The episode picks up right where the previous episode left off—mid-chaos, as Don-ju’s explosive livestream exposing Yeom’s crimes sends shockwaves across the nation. But, true to form, Yeom is quick to brush it off. He coldly reminds Dong-ju that while public opinion may have turned, there’s still no concrete evidence against him. For Dong-ju, though, the livestream was less about legal victory and more about shifting the narrative—for once, the truth is on display, and if anything happens to him now, Yeom will be the first suspect.

Before parting ways, Dong-ju confronts Yeom one last time: why did he kill Il-do? The answer is chilling. Yeom claims Il-do defied him and blames Dong-ju for pushing his father into rebellion. In Yeom’s warped view, even Dong-ju’s sister’s death was his fault. This moment pierces Dong-ju deeply, but he clings to his father’s last words—that the best thing he ever did was finally stand up to Yeom.

Meanwhile, the video’s impact ripples through the Cha family. Seonu sees it online and, in a panic, tells his parents that Dong-ju stole two trillion won and that his sister paid the ultimate price. Elsewhere, a battered but alive Wonbae recovers under Dr. Park’s care. Dong-ju is riddled with guilt for dragging his friend into danger, but Wonbae reassures him—he knew the risks and still believes in the cause.

Back at Yeom’s house, the Elder arrives, furious after the broadcast. But instead of apologizing, Yeom shamelessly frames Dong-ju as the villain. The President initially appears to take Dong-ju’s side, but soon makes a disturbing deal: if Yeom can bring him the two trillion won Dong-ju allegedly stole, he’ll act like Dong-ju never existed. Yeom, ever the opportunist, promises something even bigger—control of the entire Daesan Group, starting with Daesan Energy.

On the other front, Assemblywoman Seok Sugyeong publicly links Dong-ju to the mysterious slush fund within Daesan Energy. It’s a calculated smear campaign meant to discredit Dong-ju and protect Yeom. The twist? She’s secretly aligned with Gukhui and Seonu’s mother, all working together in a tangled conspiracy against Dong-ju. Seonu’s mom claims she’s worried about the Chairman’s well-being, but it’s clear her concern stems more from how it might affect her son’s future than any real care for her husband.

A flashback gives us a rare, tender moment: Dong-ju and his sister before she became a nun. She had only one condition for leaving everything behind—Dong-ju’s happiness. He insisted he was managing just fine with his salary from Madam Pi and promised to study. In the present, Dong-ju grapples with guilt, believing his path toward Daesan ultimately cost his sister her life.

As Daesan’s internal chaos mounts, Dong-ju and VP Choi realize the Chairman’s dementia is worsening. Meanwhile, Deokhui’s tensions with Seonu’s mother reach a boiling point. In a vicious scene, Deokhui attacks her stepmother, yanking her hair and asserting dominance, while Seonu watches silently from the shadows, calculating, but still unreadable.

Trying to stabilize Daesan, Dong-ju proposes becoming the head of Daesan Energy, arguing it’s the only way to protect Seonu’s future. A flashback reveals Dong-ju’s first meeting with the Elder, where he used the two trillion won as leverage to protect Daesan’s crude oil imports—another chess move against Yeom. In a brief moment of peace, Dong-ju reunites with Eunnam. Their exchange is bittersweet. She worries for his safety; he insists he’s fine. But the weight of what they’ve endured lingers between them.

Seonu’s mother continues to stir the pot. She gives Yeom documents to help frame Dong-ju and pushes for his exit from Daesan. She also insists Seonu be reminded of Dong-ju and Taeyun’s shared bloodline—as if to warn him of betrayal. Seonu, eerily silent and still flicking his lighter, remains an enigma. Is he preparing to fight back or quietly implode?

Meanwhile, Dong-ju appeals to Deokhui to support his bid for CEO. He argues that it’s not about inheritance but survival, for Taeyun’s sake as much as his own. Reluctantly, she considers the alliance.

At a dramatic press conference, Dong-ju announces he’s submitted evidence against Yeom to the prosecution. In retaliation, Yeom plays dirty, claiming on camera that Dong-ju is exploiting the Chairman’s dementia, and even threatens to provide proof. That “proof” comes from none other than Seonu’s mother, who hands Yeom damning documents about the Chairman’s condition in exchange for his support of Seonu.

The fallout is immediate. The Chairman, overwhelmed by stress, suffers a cardiac arrest. Ironically, it’s Seonu—his own son—who carries him to the hospital. This moment seems to shift something in the Chairman. When he later recovers, he expresses gratitude and quietly suggests Dong-ju should lead Daesan—but also urges him to help Seonu, not overshadow him.

Dong-ju seeks financial backing from Madam Pi for a tender offer, a move to outmaneuver Yeom and his allies by buying back key shares of Daesan. She and her daughter agree to support him. But just as Dong-ju and the Chairman begin to align, their plan falters. The Chairman attempts to report Yeom to the police with what little clarity he has left, but an insider blocks the effort before it can succeed.

And then, in the most startling twist yet, Dong-ju takes matters into his own hands. He drugs Yeom, makes him disappear, and drives him to an undisclosed location. A voiceover reveals Yeom has been missing for three days, and without his presence, the investigation stalls. Dong-ju has done what the law couldn’t—neutralise his enemy, at least for now.

Buried Hearts Episode 15 Review

Episode 15 of Buried Hearts is like watching a chess match where someone flips the board and walks away with the king. It’s chaos—but delicious chaos. Dong-ju goes full Dark Knight mode, taking justice into his own hands when the law continues to shrug at Yeom’s mountain of crimes. The press conference was a fire, but Yeom clapping back with the “Chairman has dementia” card? Brutal. And Seonu’s mom? She’s not just playing 4D chess—she’s probably got the whole board stashed in her purse. Everyone’s plotting, side-eyeing, or secretly passing documents like they’re in some underground spy ring.

And let’s talk about Dong-ju and Eunnam’s scene—soft, sad, and just the eye-of-the-storm moment we needed. Also, Seonu with that lighter? Sir, what are you planning? Burn down the world or just toast some marshmallows over the ashes of your family drama? Honestly, this episode gave us power plays, moral mayhem, and a cliffhanger that made us scream, “Where is Yeom?!” (Okay, we know where, but still.) With just one episode left, the stakes are skyscraper-high, and everyone’s holding matches near gasoline. Buckle up.

Buried Hearts is streaming on JioHotstar.

Also read: All Reviews for Buried Hearts