DNA, Deception, and a Death That Broke Us 💔

Hey drama lovers! 😭 Buckle up, because Buried Hearts Episode 13 delivered twists, trauma, and a gut-wrenching final scene that none of us were ready for. We’ve got old recordings, broken loyalties, father-son showdowns, and a finale that had us screaming into our pillows. Let’s break down all the madness and emotion from this unforgettable episode.

🧬 Secrets, Shots, and a Shocking Reveal

It’s official: Yeom Jang-seon sent Dong-ju the DNA test that confirmed Il-do is his father. And Il-do? He’s trying to move on like that’s not the most life-shattering news ever.

Deok-hui asks him a chilling question:
❓“Could you kill Seong-hyeon again if he were alive?”
💀 Il-do, cold as ever: “Yes.”
…Only for Deok-hui to drop the bomb:
👉 “Dong-ju is Seong-hyeon.”

(Even though Il-do already knew, it still hits hard.)

Meanwhile, Tae-yun follows his father to a yard full of shipping containers and walks right into the fallout.

🔊 The Past Unravels

A flashback takes us back to Il-do and Jang-seon’s aftermath meeting after Sun-ho and Gyeong-won’s deaths. We learn that Il-do failed to convince Gyeong-won of something—likely a cover-up—and Jang-seon was only too happy to have her "out of the way." Then came the idea:
👉 Marry Deok-hui. Become Daesan’s son-in-law.

And then comes the kicker: another mystery man casually confirms that Il-do is Seong-hyeon’s father.

This recording?
📂 Straight from the Dandelion files.
🎧 And yes, Dong-ju listens to it all.

🔫 One Bullet, Two Reactions

At the infamous shipping yard, Il-do shoots Dong-ju—again.
From afar, Jang-seon watches and only then decides to call and tell Il-do,
👉 “He’s your son.” 🙄

But Dong-ju survives (because of course he does), and Tae-yun storms in, saving his father from doing something even worse. Dong-ju disarms Gu-ho’s goons and collapses from blood loss.

Tae-yun: MVP for the day. 🙌

🏥 Truth Hurts & Family Ties

While Dong-ju recovers, Tae-yun promises never to forget what his father did. Meanwhile, Il-do spirals.

He rushes to Kang Seong’s house, who confirms he overheard Sun-ho and Gyeong-won discussing Il-do’s paternity. It’s all unraveling.

In a haunting flashback, Il-do begs Sun-ho for help saving his father’s factory, but Sun-ho says no—and warns him to stay far away from Jang-seon. Il-do doesn’t listen (obviously), and history spirals from there.

🚪 Regret, Rage & A Mother's Plan

Il-do locks himself in his room, sending Deok-hui into a panic. Dong-ju visits, shows him the DNA test, and asks the question we’ve all been waiting for:
👉 “Aren’t you even sorry?”

Il-do: “Where would I even begin?”
(Oof.)

Later, Deok-hui finds the DNA test herself—and goes nuclear. She tells Guk-hui they need to kick Il-do out of Daesan. “He’s not even fit to be Tae-yun’s father.” Yikes.

🐍 Jang-seon Makes His Move

While Chairman Cha and Ji Yeong-su return from their honeymoon and Seon-u moves in, Jang-seon makes his next strategic strike:
📢 He tells Chairman Cha:

1. Dong-ju is Il-do’s son.

2. Dong-ju stole the national patriotic fund.

3. (Something else whispered that we’re dying to know!)

Later, the chairman asks Dong-ju about his father. Dong-ju simply gives him the safe codes and leaves. Chairman Cha? Immediately calls Jang-seon. Uh-oh.

🥃 One Final Drink… and a Fatal Twist

Dong-ju and Il-do meet up at Dong-ju’s place. Il-do says he’s cut ties with Jang-seon and will help Dong-ju turn the chairman against him. They talk about what it would’ve been like to just be father and son.

It’s oddly tender. It’s heartbreaking.
And then… the doorbell rings.

Il-do opens it and —
💥 YANG-CHUN STABS HIM.

A fight breaks out. Dong-ju is losing. Until—
👉 Il-do throws himself and Yang-chun down the stairs.
👉 They both fall to their deaths.

💔 End of episode.

Smoke, Secrets, and a Rooftop Showdown for the Ages 🔥🎭

What happens when grief meets revenge, secrets explode into the public eye, and the villain finally gets outsmarted on live TV? You get Buried Hearts Episode 14 — a fiery rollercoaster of emotions, power plays, and one of the most satisfying mic-drop moments in K-drama history. Let’s dive in!

💔 Il-do’s Death & a Funeral Full of Tension

We open on the aftermath of Il-do’s death, with Dong-ju doing everything he can to save him — and failing. It’s heavy. It’s raw. And when Yeom Jang-seon shows up to the funeral, Dong-ju shuts it down, telling him he’s not welcome. (Cue the applause.)

Deok-hui, meanwhile? Less tears, more inheritance anxiety. She spills the truth to Guk-hui and her husband, worried that Dong-ju will come for Il-do’s shares in Daesan.

💼 A Dangerous Confrontation & A Shifting Son

Next stop: Dong-ju pays a visit to Chairman Cha and Ji Yeong-su, asking for a private word with the chairman. He drops the bomb:
👉 “I know you tried to kill me and Il-do.”
👉 “Stop targeting me, or I’ll make sure Seon-u loses his place at Daesan.”

He even bans the chairman from attending Il-do’s funeral. (Power. Move.)

But plot twist — Seon-u enters the room and surprises everyone. Once uninterested in the company, he now calls the chairman “Father” and declares his plans to major in business. All thanks to Dong-ju. 👏

💔 Can Love Survive This Legacy?

Outside, Eun-nam is waiting, and Dong-ju finally tells her the truth about his parentage. It’s a lot to process — especially considering her hatred toward Il-do. They both wonder:
💬 “Can we ever escape the mess our parents made?”
(Oof. That line hit HARD.)

⚱️ Ashes, Regrets, and One Last Wish

In a flashback, we see a more vulnerable Il-do telling Dong-ju:
💬 “Scatter my ashes over the sea where you saved me.”
💬 “I want to live long enough to hear you call me ‘father.’”
😢 Excuse me while I cry into my popcorn.

Back in the present, Dong-ju takes Il-do’s ashes home, infuriating Chairman Cha. The chairman pulls Deok-hui aside and tells her to protect Seon-u, no matter what.

🔥 Jang-seon Cornered & Codes That Don’t Work

Things are unraveling for Jang-seon. The Elder (Lee Cheol-yeong) calls and warns him:
👉 “Dong-ju’s accident has been linked to you. Clean it up.”

At Daesan, Chairman Cha realizes the safe code Dong-ju gave him is fake and flies into a rage. Just then, Jang-seon walks in. The two exchange thinly veiled threats. Jang-seon later tells the chairman,
💬 “We can’t let Dong-ju guard the gates much longer.”

(Translation: Let’s take him down.)

📂 The Hunt for the Dandelion Files Begins

Dong-ju reconnects with journalist Ma Jae-yeol, who’s been working on the Dandelion files. Gu-ho spies on them and alerts Jang-seon.

Meanwhile, Jang-seon tries to bribe Sang-cheol, The Elder’s man, offering him gold bars to remove Dong-ju from Cheol-yeong’s favor. (Desperate much?)

And just when you think it can’t get messier — the Administrator walks out of the hospital, healed and back in the game.

🎯 Raids, Betrayals, and a Missing File

Gu-ho’s team tracks the files to Tae-geum’s instrument shop, storms the place, beats up Won-bae, and steals the files. But plot twist:
👉 The original file is missing. 😎

Tae-geum calls Dong-ju. Dong-ju calls the Administrator. The game is back on. 🔥

The Administrator tells Dong-ju:
🗣️ “There’s a recording Jang-seon desperately wants buried.”
Cue the Dandelion boys searching every abandoned warehouse Jang-seon owns.

☎️ A Call from The Elder & A Fakeout Sacrifice

Dong-ju gets a cryptic call from The Elder, asking him to memorize a list. Dong-ju makes one request in return — to get Won-bae released.

The Elder agrees, but all Dong-ju receives is a photo of a bloodied Won-bae. 😡

So what does Dong-ju do? He appears to hand over the Dandelion tapes to Jang-seon in a rooftop meet-up. Jang-seon BURNS them.

They argue. Dong-ju brings up his sister’s death.
Jang-seon?
👉 “Throw him off the roof.”

(Classic villain move.)

🛸 SURPRISE: Drone Justice & The Ultimate Exposé

But wait — just as the guards close in—
💥 A drone appears overhead.
📽️ The entire encounter — INCLUDING Jang-seon’s confession to murdering Dong-ju’s sister — is playing on a giant screen across the city.

It’s being livestreamed. On the news.
🎤 Mic. Dropped.

DramaZen's Opinion

Redemption, Ruin, and Rooftop Revenge 🔥

Episodes 13 and 14 were pure fire. Il-do’s death hit harder than I expected — that final act of sacrifice? Gut-wrenching. I didn’t think I’d cry over him, but here we are. 😭 And the tension between Dong-ju and Eun-nam? So beautifully tragic.

But let’s talk about that EPIC rooftop showdown in Episode 14. Dong-ju outmaneuvering Jang-seon with a drone, a hidden camera, and a full-blown media drop? Iconic. Legendary. K-drama history. 🛸📺

These episodes gave us raw emotion, poetic justice, and a hero who’s finally done being hunted. Dong-ju isn’t just surviving anymore — he’s owning the game.