Park Hyung Sik’s Buried Hearts is doing great in TV ratings, whereas Seo Kang Joon’s Undercover High School is first on the list of buzzworthy K-dramas. The question is: What is the outcome of the K-drama battle?
Park Hyung Sik vs Seo Kang Joon: Buried Hearts and Undercover High School Break Records in Ratings and Buzz Rankings
The Friday-Saturday K-drama slot has become a battleground for two highly anticipated shows: Park Hyung Sik’s Buried Hearts (also known as Treasure Island) and Seo Kang Joon’s Undercover High School. Both dramas premiered on February 21, 2024, and have been locked in a fierce competition for viewership and online buzz. While Buried Hearts has taken the lead in TV ratings, Undercover High School has flipped the script in buzzworthy rankings, making this a thrilling race to the top.
TV Ratings: Buried Hearts Takes the Lead
Both Buried Hearts and Undercover High School have been steadily climbing the ratings ladder since their premieres. According to Nielsen Korea, here’s how the two dramas have performed:
| Episode | Buried Hearts (SBS) | Undercover High School (MBC) |
|---|---|---|
| Episode 1 | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| Episode 2 | 7.3% | 6.2% |
| Episode 3 | 8.8% | 6.6% |
Buried Hearts, a revenge-driven drama starring Park Hyung Sik, has consistently outperformed Seo Kang Joon’s spy action comedy, Undercover High School, in nationwide TV ratings. The latest episode of Buried Hearts achieved an impressive 8.8%, setting a new record for the show. Meanwhile, Undercover High School reached its highest rating yet with 6.6%.
Despite the close competition, Buried Hearts has managed to maintain a clear edge in viewership, showcasing the growing popularity of Park Hyung Sik’s intense performance and the show’s gripping storyline. Read More
Buzz Rankings: Seo Kang Joon Flips the Script
While Buried Hearts dominates TV ratings, Undercover High School has taken the lead in online buzzworthiness. According to the latest data from Good Data Corporation (February 25 update), here’s how the two dramas and their stars fared:
Drama Category Rankings (TV-OTT)
- Undercover High School (MBC)
- Buried Hearts (SBS)
Overall Top 10 Korean Shows (Drama + Non-Drama)
- Undercover High School (MBC)
- Buried Hearts (SBS)
Drama Performers Chart
- Seo Kang Joon (Undercover High School)
- Park Hyung Sik (Buried Hearts)
Seo Kang Joon’s charismatic portrayal of a spy in Undercover High School has resonated strongly with audiences, earning him the top spot on the Drama Performers chart. Meanwhile, Park Hyung Sik’s powerful performance in Buried Hearts secured him the second position.
Other New K-Dramas Making Waves
The K-drama landscape is bustling with new releases, and several shows have made their mark on the TV-OTT charts. Here’s a quick look at the top performers:
| Rank | Drama | Platform |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Undercover High School | MBC |
| 2 | Buried Hearts | SBS |
| 3 | The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call | Netflix |
| 4 | Melo Movie | Netflix |
| 5 | Friendly Rivalry | U+Mobile TV |
| 6 | My Dearest Nemesis | tvN |
| 7 | Study Group | TVING |
| 8 | The Witch | Channel A |
| 9 | When Life Gives You Tangerines | Netflix |
Netflix Global Top 10 Non-English Shows
- Melo Movie debuted at #3 with 3.2 million views.
- Squid Game Season 2 maintained its streak at #7 with 2.1 million views.
- The Trauma Code returned for its fifth week at #9 with 1.8 million views.
History of Losers Finally Premieres
After facing multiple delays due to controversies involving its lead actors, Jo Byeong Kyu and Song Ha Yoon, the coming-of-age rom-com History of Losers (also known as History of Scruffiness) finally premiered on local streaming platforms Wavve and Watcha.
The webtoon-based drama, which completed filming in 2022, quickly climbed the real-time viewership charts:
- #6 on Wavve
- #2 on Watcha
Starring Jo Byeong Kyu, Bang Min Ah, Ryeoun, Jung Jae Kwang, and Jung Yong Joo, the show has been well-received despite its lack of promotion.
Conclusion
The battle between Buried Hearts and Undercover High School has captivated K-drama fans, with each show excelling in different areas. While Park Hyung Sik’s Buried Hearts leads in TV ratings, Seo Kang Joon’s Undercover High School has taken the crown in buzzworthy rankings. As both dramas continue to break records, the competition is only heating up.
