Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo (2025)

See also: So It's You

Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo (1)This page uses content from an article at Wikipedia. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with Drama Wiki, the text of Wikipedia is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.

Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo (역도요정 김복주;'Yeokdo-yojeong Gim Bok-ju') is a South Korean television series starring Lee Sung Kyung in the title role and Nam Joo Hyuk. It is a coming-of-age sports drama, inspired by the life of Olympic gold-medalist Jang Mi-ran. It aired on MBC every Wednesday and Thursday at 22:00 KST starting November 16, 2016 to January 11, 2017.

The series resonated with the young demographic; although it averaged 4.6% in audience share, and received the lowest viewership ratings in its time-slot throughout its run. It gained a cult following amongst young viewers and received mostly favorable reviews. The series also received popularity overseas, particularly in the Philippines.

Contents

  • 1 Synopsis
  • 2 Cast
  • 3 Soundtrack
  • 4 Episodes
    • 4.1 International broadcast
  • 5 Production
  • 6 Awards and nominations
  • 7 Trivia
  • 8 Gallery
  • 9 References

Synopsis[]

A competitive swimmer crosses paths with his childhood friend, a rising weight lifting star, and realizes that she has a secret crush on his cousin.

—Official Description[1]


What is there to life aside from dumbbells and weights?

Kim Bok Joo (Lee Sung Kyung), a young weightlifter, is asking herself that question after spending her life consumed by her future career. She is a student at Haneul University, a school for top athletes, and dreams of representing her country in a competition. Bok Joo's life changes when she falls in love with her best friend Joon Hyung's older cousin, Jung Jae Yi (Lee Jae Yoon). Jae Yi, a former athlete, is working as a doctor against obesity after suffering from an injury.

Meanwhile, Jeong Joon Hyung (Nam Joo Hyuk, a swimmer, has to deal with the trauma of having started too early at his first international swimming competition. And then his girlfriend, Song Shi Ho (Kyung Soo Jin), an ambitious rhythmic gymnast who has won a silver medal at the Asian Games when she was just 18 years old, also breaks up with him.

Will Bok Joo recognize that there's more to life than just weightlifting?[2]

Cast[]

  • Main Characters

  • Supporting Characters

  • Guest Roles

  • Lee Sung Kyung as Kim Bok Joo
A naturally gifted weightlifter with an ambitious and outgoing personality. While growing up with her father who was a former weightlifter, she got inspired to do the same thing. She stands up for injustice as well–although she still feels shyness and awkwardness around boys, she does not hesitate to beat them up if they provoke her. She hides her insecurities and fragile heart under her strong exterior.
  • Nam Joo Hyuk as Jung Joon Hyung
    • Kim Ye Joon as Young Jung Joon Hyung
He is Kim Bok Joo's childhood friend from when they were in elementary school. Both Kim Bok-Joo and himself didn't recognize nor remember each other until an incident occurred that dug up memories. A talented swimmer with a playful personality, he suffers from a trauma that began when he realized that the postcards being sent to him by his mother were actually from his aunt and uncle. This event coincided with his first big international tournament, and as a result, he made a false start due to a panic attack and got disqualified. He enjoys teasing Bok Joo and later falls in love with her.
  • Lee Jae Yoon as Jung Jae Yi
Joon Hyung's cousin and ersatz older brother. A former athlete who becomes an obesity doctor due to an injury. His gentle and kind personality makes him the first man that Bok-Joo falls in love with.
  • Kyung Soo Jin as Song Shi Ho
Bok Joo's roommate and Joon Hyung's ex-girlfriend. She still has feelings for him and becomes jealous of his and Bok Joo's strong relationship, leading her to commit negative acts towards Bok Joo. She is a top-class rhythmic gymnast, who won a silver medal at the Asian Games at the age of eighteen. Shi Ho is an overachiever and is under constant stress about her weight and skills, which caused her to break up with Joon Hyung, and act rashly in various situations.
  • Jo Hye Jung as Jung Nan Hee
Bok Joo's best friend. Despite her strength, she is a very feminine girl who dreams of romance and always willing to spread happiness.
  • Lee Joo Young as Lee Sun Ok
Bok Joo's best friend. Direct, loves to eat, and does not show much affection but is loyal to her friends. She eventually "demonstrates" some potential interest in Tae Kwon.
  • Ji Il Joo as Jo Tae Kwon
The very friendly and silly roommate of Joon Hyung who eventually shows some interest in Seon Ok.
  • Kim Woo Hyeok as Joon Hyung's junior in the swimming team
Joon Hyung's junior. He has a habit of dating women, then ghosting them, and thus is hated by all his female peers.
  • Choi Woong as Kim Ki Suk
Joon Hyung's senior. He has a crush on Shi Ho and treats Joon Hyung with a more gruff demeanor.
  • Jo Soo Hyang as Soo Bin
Shi Ho's teammate. A rising star collegiate rhythmic gymnast who completes with Shi Ho.
  • Yoo Joon Hong as Jung Woo, Bok Joo's sunbae
  • Jang Young Nam as Choi Sung Eun, Bok Joo's coach
  • Yoo Da In as Go Ah Yeong
A doctor at the Hanwool College of Physical Education. She has a crush on Jae Yi.
  • Kang Ki Young as Kim Dae Ho
Bok Joo's uncle. A part-time aspiring actor who works at the restaurant.
  • Moon Ji Yoon as Sung Chul, Bok Joo's sunbae
  • Ray Yang as Sung Yoo Hee, Shi Ho's coach
  • Oh Eui Shik as Bang Woon Ki, Bok Joo's sunbae
  • Ahn Kil Kang as Kim Chang Gul
Bok Joo's father. A former weightlifter who owns a fried chicken restaurant.
  • Choi Moo Sung as Yoon Deok Man, Bok Joo's professor
  • Jung In Ki as Joon Hyeong's uncle, Joon Hyung's paternal uncle and foster father
  • Z Hera as Song Shi Yeon, Shi Ho's sister
  • Lee Ji Hoon as a swimming team coach
  • Yoon Yoo Sun as Kim Jong Yeon, Joon Hyung's mother
  • Lee Jung Eun as Joon Hyung's paternal aunt and foster mother
  • Lee Jong Hwa as Choi Tae Hoon (Ep.1 & Ep.15)
  • Kim Min Ho as a weightlifter (Ep.2)
  • Lee Jong Suk as a chicken restaurant customer (Ep.2)
  • Kim Gun as Joon Hyung's elementary school classmate (Ep.2)
  • Ahn Il Kwon as a bar fight combatant (Ep.3)
  • Lee Ha Eun as a group date attendee (Ep.9)
  • Ji Soo as a guy who works with Bok Joo (Ep.11)
  • Min Sang Wook as Sang Gu, Jae Yi's sunbae (Ep.12)
  • Seo Hyun as Hwan Hee, Jae Yi's ex-girlfriend (Ep.12)
  • Kim Seul Gi as a delivery girl (Ep.15)
  • Park Won Sang as Joon Hyeong's therapist
  • Kim Chae Eun as a nurse
  • Kim Hyun Jung as a dormitory housemother
  • Jung Yoo Jin as a member of the rhythmic gymnastics team
  • Jung Hyun Seok as a dormitory housemaster
  • Lee Ye Bin as herself
  • Kim Jae Hyun as himself, Joon Hyung's junior in the swimming team
  • Noh Woo Jin as Bok Ju's senior from Hope House
  • Lee Soo Ji as Goo Seul
  • Oh Ha Nee as a rhythmic gymnast
  • Kim Ga Eul as Bok Joo's friend
  • Seo Kwang Jae as Dean Kim Kyung Min
  • Shin Ah Young as an announcer
  • Yoon Sung Woo as a clever boy
  • Kim Soo In as a young rhythmic gymnast
  • Byun Woo Suk (Ep.16)
  • Ju Seo Eun
  • Kwon Hyuk Bum
  • Tae Won Seok
  • Seo Wang Seok
  • Dong Yoon Seok
  • Yoo Ji Soo
  • Yoo Young Bin
  • Ok Joo Ri
  • Soundtrack[]

    Main Article: Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo OST

    Episodes[]

    In the table below, the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings. N/R denotes that the drama did not rank in the top 20 daily programs on that date.

    EpisodeAiredAverage audience share
    TNmS RatingsAGB Nielsen
    NationwideSeoulNationwideSeoul
    Episode 01November 16, 20164.1% (NR)4.1% (NR)3.3% (NR)3.6% (NR)
    One day Bok Joo, the star of the weightlifting club at her sports university, runs into Joon Hyung, a swimmer who is weak under pressure.
    Episode 02November 17, 20165.0% (NR)5.2% (NR)3.3% (NR)3.5% (NR)
    After Joon Hyung saves Bok Joo when she falls into the pool, they realize they were friends in childhood. Joon Hyung comments on Bok Joo's weight.
    Episode 03November 23, 20164.8% (NR)5.3% (NR)4.4% (NR)4.9% (NR)
    Bok Joo visits Jae Yi's weight loss clinic but worries about the price. She then hears about a mountain climbing contest with a big prize.
    Episode 04November 24, 20164.9% (NR)5.2% (NR)4.6% (NR)4.9% (NR)
    Bok Joo pays the clinic fees and gets an examination, but is warned not to overdo it. Bok Joo wants to thank Jae Yi for lending her his umbrella.
    Episode 05November 30, 20164.8% (NR)4.9% (NR)4.4% (NR)4.5% (NR)
    Joon Hyung runs into Bok Joo when he visits Jae Yi at the clinic. Bok Joo hides the truth from Jae Yi and explains that they are just old classmates.
    Episode 06December 1, 20164.5% (NR)5.3% (NR)4.6% (NR)5.4% (NR)
    Bok Joo is delighted to get a ride from Jae Yi after the concert. While Joon Hyung is in counseling he recalls an incident from his childhood.
    Episode 07December 7, 20164.4% (NR)5.3% (NR)4.8% (NR)5.7% (NR)
    Bok Joo's coach and manager find out she is going to a weight loss clinic and tell her father, who is furious. Bok Joo tries to apologize.
    Episode 08December 8, 20164.6% (NR)4.6% (NR)5.4% (NR)5.5% (NR)
    Shi Ho snatches Bok Joo's phone away while she is speaking with Joon Hyung. Bok Joo sleeps in a different room after finding out about the diary.
    Episode 09December 14, 20164.2% (NR)4.4% (NR)4.1% (NR)4.4% (NR)
    Jae Yi sees Bok Joo while he is at the university. Joon Hyung tries to cover for her, but Bok Joo confesses to Jae Yi that she is a weightlifter.
    Episode 10December 15, 20164.8% (NR)5.3% (NR)5.1% (NR)5.6% (NR)
    Joon Hyung criticizes Jae Yi after he shows up at a weightlifting competition to cheer Bok Joo on, not knowing she doesn't want to be seen like that.
    Episode 11December 21, 20164.7% (NR)5.2% (NR)4.4% (NR)4.6% (NR)
    After Bok Joo's disappearance in the aftermath of Coach Choi's firing, she shows up and tells her father she wants to quit weightlifting.
    Episode 12December 22, 20165.1% (NR)5.3% (NR)4.5% (NR)4.7% (NR)
    Bok Joo is taken aback at the sight of Shi Ho stuffing her face but keeps it from Joon Hyung. Joon Hyung invites Bok Joo to an amusement park.
    Episode 13December 28, 20165.5% (NR)6.3% (NR)5.0% (NR)5.8% (NR)
    Joon Hyung and Bok Joo are now a couple after letting each other know how they feel. Joon Hyung doesn't notice a call from Shi Ho.
    Episode 14January 4, 20175.0% (NR)5.9% (NR)5.4% (NR)6.3% (NR)
    Love is in the air as another secret relationship comes out into the open. Bok Joo is nervous after Nan Hee's stern warning to her friends.
    Episode 15January 5, 20175.5% (NR)6.4% (20th)5.4% (NR)5.8% (NR)
    Joon Hyung is reunited with his mother. The next day he goes back home to retrieve some childhood photos and overhears something that shocks him.
    Episode 16January 11, 20175.4% (NR)5.5% (NR)5.2% (NR)5.3% (NR)
    Joon Hyung goes to the hospital to see Chang Gul, who asks him to hide the operation from Bok Joo so she can focus on her training.
    Average4.8%5.3%4.6%5.0%

    Episode 14 didn't air as scheduled on Thursday, December 29, due to the broadcast of the MBC Entertainment Awards. It aired on Wednesday, January 4, 2017, instead.

    International broadcast[]

    CountryTitleNetwork
    PhilippinesWeightlifting FairyABS-CBN
    Asianovela Channel

    Production[]

    The series was written by Yang Hee Seung, who is known for her work on the 2015 romantic comedies Oh My Ghost and High School King of Savvy; and directed by PD Oh Hyun Joong of 7th Grade Civil Servant. The first script reading took place in August 2016 at MBC broadcasting station in Sangam, Seoul, South Korea.

    Awards and nominations[]

    YearAwardCategoryRecipientResult
    201635th MBC Drama AwardsExcellence Award, Actress in a MiniseriesLee Sung KyungWon
    Best New ActorNam Joo Hyuk
    Best Couple AwardNam Joo Hyuk and Lee Sung KyungNominated

    Trivia[]

    • This drama took over the timeslot previously occupied by "Shopping King Louis" and was followed by "Missing Nine" on January 18, 2017.[3]
    • The drama was inspired by the life of South Korean Olympic weightlifting gold-medalist Jang Mi Ran.

    Gallery[]

    Official Poster

    References[]

    Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo (2025)
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