Park Hyung-sik Delivers a Stunning Blow in 'Treasure Island'

In the latest episode of SBS's Friday-Saturday drama 'Treasure Island' (보물섬), which aired on March 21, Park Hyung-sik's character Seo Dong-joo faced off against Heo Jun-ho and Lee Hae-young, delivering a powerful comeback. According to Nielsen Korea, the ninth episode achieved a nationwide rating of 12.2%, making it the top-rated mini-series in its time slot. The peak viewership soared to 13.2%, while the 2049 demographic rating reached 2.8%, securing the top spot among all programs aired on Friday.

In this episode, Seo Dong-joo, who has previously survived near-death experiences, strategically pressured his adversaries, Yeom Jang-seon (Heo Jun-ho) and Heo Il-do (Lee Hae-young), setting the stage for revenge. Viewers who have followed Seo Dong-joo's struggles were treated to an exhilarating hour, eagerly anticipating the next phase of his vengeance.

Earlier, Yeon Eun-nam (Hong Hwa-yeon) was shocked to discover that it was Yeom Jang-seon and Heo Il-do who had put her beloved Seo Dong-joo in danger. Determined to escape Yeom Jang-seon's grasp, she revealed her knowledge of the situation. However, Yeom Jang-seon plotted to eliminate both Seo Dong-joo and Yeon Eun-nam.

During a confrontation with an assailant (Sung No-jin), Seo Dong-joo locked eyes with Heo Il-do, who had come to kill him under Yeom Jang-seon's orders. Yet, Heo Il-do hesitated upon seeing his son, Heo Tae-yoon (Yoon Sang-hyun), approach Seo Dong-joo. After regaining his composure, Heo Il-do found Seo Dong-joo in a standoff with the assailant and ended up injecting the assailant instead of Seo Dong-joo.

Once the situation calmed, Seo Dong-joo questioned Heo Il-do about his unexpected mercy, stating, "I saved you twice, once when you fell into the sea and now here. I’m not killing you, I’m letting you live." This moment was a significant humiliation for Heo Il-do. After learning from the assailant that Yeom Jang-seon intended to kill Yeon Eun-nam, Seo Dong-joo seized Heo Il-do's phone and rushed to save her.

Thanks to Seo Dong-joo, Yeon Eun-nam was spared. He simultaneously pressured Yeom Jang-seon using both Heo Il-do's phone and another phone taken from a hitman sent after Yeon Eun-nam. He boldly challenged Yeom Jang-seon over the phone, saying, "Wait. I’ll return everything to you," and even stormed into Yeom Jang-seon’s hideout.

Yeom Jang-seon, infuriated by Seo Dong-joo's audacity, pulled out a gun again. However, Seo Dong-joo had already met with the elder (Choi Kwang-il) who advised him beforehand. Under pressure from the elder, Yeom Jang-seon had no choice but to lower his weapon. The elder further pressured Yeom Jang-seon to hand over control of a political slush fund of 2 trillion won tied up in a Swiss account. This marked another defeat for Yeom Jang-seon.

Seo Dong-joo warned Yeom Jang-seon, "I will only kill you when your life is worth my revenge." Upon returning to the Daesan family, he declared to Heo Il-do, "You, Heo Il-do, are an attempted murderer who failed to kill me. I will make good use of that weakness in the future." The episode concluded with the contrasting images of a triumphant Seo Dong-joo and a pressured Heo Il-do.

The ninth episode of 'Treasure Island' captivated viewers with its intense narrative, showcasing Seo Dong-joo's calculated strikes against Yeom Jang-seon and Heo Il-do. Additionally, the evolving dynamics within the Daesan Group, including Chairman Cha Gang-cheon (Woo Hyun) and his extramarital child Ji Seon-woo (Cha Woo-min), added layers of intrigue, heightening the audience's anticipation for the next episode, which airs on March 22 at 9:50 PM.