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Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo

역도요정 김복주 ‧ Drama ‧ 2016 - 2017
Completed
Sao
0 people found this review helpful
Aug 4, 2021
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

not my favorite for nothing!

how to describe this drama? It is so endearing, the storyboard is one of the most well written the story is so well constructed and interesting despite the fact that Jung Joon Hyeong's trauma is a little left out.
And the characters I don't even need to talk about it, their acting is really not a joke. it's going to be the 5th time I watched it and I never get tired of it. on top of that, my two favorite actresses are there and as always they were perfect as the other actors! The two main actors had such a great chemistry that I didn't think once that it was acting. Swag!

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Completed
Anastasialovesdrama
0 people found this review helpful
May 8, 2021
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 9.5
This review may contain spoilers

simple and fun... what else could you ask for?

Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo tells the story of athletes on a college campus trying to achieve their dreams and follows the weightlifting journey and first love experience of a young woman named Kim Bok Joo. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo is very much a slice of life story on a college campus.  The drama has some nice humor with lots of heartwarming moments as it portrays the students working hard to succeed in their individual sports. It also really highlights both the good and bad that comes with being a top athlete.
Lee Sung Kyung was great as our Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo. Bok Joo is a bit frumpy and awkward. Her personality comes off a bit tough, but really she is super sweet and innocent. Lee Sung Kyung makes some truly wonderful and hilarious faces that really make this character enjoyable.
Nam Joo Hyuk was a lot of fun as Joon Hyung. He’s outgoing and confident with a sort of childishness to him. He was easily my favorite character in the drama. He’s such a genuinely nice guy that you can’t help but root for him in everything he does.

I really enjoyed the relationship between Joon Hyung and Bok Joo in the first couple episodes. But then it felt like it took a backseat to some of the other happenings in the drama especially as we go on Bok Joo’s one-sided journey of first love with Jae Yi. Finally, around the halfway point, things really improved in the relationship department. Joon Hyung becomes a real friend to Bok Joo which soon turns into romantic feelings. He becomes very protective of her and only wants to see her happy. He also loves her for who she is. I definitely perked up seeing his passion and caring for her. I would call the romance between Joon Hyung and Bok Joo cute. There is a lot of playfulness and fun that provides a lot of humor. I didn’t find it swoon-worthy in any way though.
It also didn’t really have that push and pull dynamic that I like. It takes a long while for them to move through the stages of annoyance, to friends, and to lovers.
And then things are pretty simple aside from some small misunderstandings. I just didn’t feel any high stakes between the two and their relationship. But they are still unbelievably adorable, and their strength comes from how natural they are together. They are about as cute as can be!


I do feel that the drama moved along pretty leisurely for my tastes. For me, this was mostly due to there not being a grander plot running in the background. It really does just focus on Bok Joo and her first experiences with love. And that’s not a bad thing, it just feels a bit too normal in many ways.
Most of the characters also feel pretty one dimensional. Although characters reacted emotionally to difficult situations, the conflicts felts very surface level. Even the characters that had serious issues to deal with, such as Shi Ho, felt like that was all there was to them. For the most part, everyone just had their role to play.

I did enjoy the sports theme of the drama. I’m not big into sports, but I really enjoy the Olympic sports like swimming and gymnastics. So this fit that perfectly. I think the drama captured the atmosphere of being at a sports university well, but I would have loved to have seen more actual competitions for the students. Since the drama focuses more on their personal lives, I didn’t feel to invested in their actual competitions. But overall I was happy to see sports incorporated into a drama.

Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo is a fun and inspirational drama on many levels. While I did find it a bit slow overall and would have liked to have seen a bit more story, it still had plenty going for it. Joon Hyung and Bok Joo are super adorable together and are the best thing about the drama. If you like cute couples, slice of life stories, and dramas without a lot of angst, Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo is a perfect fit.

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Completed
tanyalou
0 people found this review helpful
Jun 14, 2023
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.5

Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo is a true gem in the realm of Korean drama

From a personal perspective, Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo is a true gem in the realm of Korean drama. Its ability to seamlessly blend elements of sports, romance, and coming-of-age themes creates a captivating narrative that keeps viewers invested in the characters’ journeys. The series effortlessly elicits laughter, tears, and a range of emotions, making it a truly memorable viewing experience. The chemistry between the cast members is palpable, and their performances breathe life into the characters, making them feel like genuine friends we root for and empathize with. [kdramabinge.com]

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Completed
moe
0 people found this review helpful
May 28, 2025
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 10
Rewatch Value 7.0

watched this for the 3rd time

i watched this drama for the first time when i was 13, then when i was like 17 (?) and now i'm 22... i had good memories from it because i really liked the couple junghyung and bokjoo were back then. i havent finished it now, but i'm sure that i dont actually like junghyung's character, he's not bad, but he behaves like a child bothering bokjoo any time he can just because he likes her. he is 21 wtf i once read someone saying bokjoo was stupid but i dont actually think so??? idk did they say it because of the things she did just for junghyung's brother?? maybe its childish but he was someone bokjoo likes and love works like that (?)

anyway, maybe its a good drama only if we change junhyung character lmao or his attitudes towards bokjoo–

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Completed
ExcitedSquid
0 people found this review helpful
Jan 12, 2026
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 7.0

A Heartwarming Journey of Dreams and Friendship

"Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo" is a delightful blend of sports and romance, showcasing the journey of a young weightlifter as she navigates her dreams and emotional struggles. The series shines a light on the importance of friendship, perseverance, and self-discovery. With vibrant character development, the chemistry between Kim Bok Joo and Joon Hyung provides heartwarming moments that resonate with viewers. The comedic undertones and heartfelt narratives create a balanced tone, making it both entertaining and inspiring.

While some plotlines may feel like filler, the show's overall charm lies in its authentic portrayal of youthful aspirations and the challenges that accompany them. The engaging performances, particularly from the lead actors, draw viewers into Bok Joo's world, making it easy to root for her success. With its captivating storyline and relatable themes, I would rate this series an **8 out of 10** for its impact and enjoyment.

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Completed
Katie Q
0 people found this review helpful
Aug 23, 2020
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 10

Surprisingly beautiful

I like how Kdrama can take a seemingly boring topic like weightlifting and weave a beautiful love story. It was a very cute story with a lot of SWAG. congratulations to the team. I'm happy I watched this. Sometimes it's good to not read other reviews before watching
I loved the characters both main and side characters. The girls had alot of personalities. The only weakish point was trying to hook up ALL the characters. Some of those subplots were sooooo WEAK. But it's forgiven since overall the story was lovely
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Completed
Synergy
0 people found this review helpful
Jul 8, 2018
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 8.5
This series is one of the best things I have ever watched in my life... and I hate it for that. Now that I have completed the series I feel so empty, yet so fulfilled. I wish they come out with the second season.

As a person, I never used to prefer the RomCom genre, but this series changed that... I was so much in love with my single life and now I have this urge to get in a relationship, I blame this series for it. I have never been so obsessed to review some content before but now I am compelled to let it out.

I would strongly recommend this series, I am sure you won't regret it.

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Completed
pro_dr_gen
0 people found this review helpful
Apr 3, 2022
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 9.0
This review may contain spoilers

Mood lifter

I have been watching dramas for almost 5 yrs now.
Discover this platform recently, and like to share my review.
This drama and the actors made those days when I watched.
I liked the lead how he give support to his partner.
The smooth comedy, romantic gestures, and innocence were very much soothing.
I recommended this drama to those who recently started watching Korean drama.
I forgot to mention the female lead friendship and the trio.
That was also one of the awesome parts of the whole drama.
And their favorite pick-up line is "Do you like Messi ?".


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Completed
Neliel
0 people found this review helpful
Jul 24, 2019
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 7.5
The story around Kim Bok Joo and Jung Joon Hyeong is one of the more heartwarming romance stories in the kdrama-Universe. It's very enjoyable and fun to watch it develop and even though there definitely are conflicts, especially early on, you never really feel annoyed by anything like you do in most other romance shows. There's always this one antagonist character that you really hate and who develops into someone likeable throughout the show, who actually didn't mean any harm as you suspected early on. That type of cliche character is very common in romances and used often. Not in WFKBJ though, they just build all their story on this happy, heartwarming ground they got going on with super loveable characters and actors/actresses behind it.

There's not much more to say. If you like heartwarming and feel-good romances and also like the premise of sports stuff happening as a "side dish", then Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo - or in short WFKBJ - is definitely for you. I don't know if there's that much of a rewatch potential in romance shows, so I kinda rated that a bit low. The music was fine but not overwhelmingly good.

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Completed
Han Ariana
0 people found this review helpful
Jul 16, 2021
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 8.5

A very youthful drama.

This is one of my favourite dramas. I am writing this review after I watched it for the second time. It is just that good.

I really love the story of how Bokjoo and Junhyung knew each other in the past. The way Junhyung calls Bokjoo 'Chubs' is the cutest thing ever.

What really adds to the cutestness was the fact that the actors Nam Joohyuck (Junhyung) and Lee Sungkyung (Bokjoo) had actually dated while filming this drama.

Keeping that in mind, they made the on screen romance so perfect. Their moments before and after dating were so cute. I would say that the trope for this drama would be 'Long lost friends to lovers'

This drama is fantastic.

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Completed
thabadslandx
0 people found this review helpful
Feb 25, 2022
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 9.5
Just the cutest, most wholesome thing I've ever witnessed. Paper Rings by Taylor Swift is the exact vibe they give off.
The only thing I didn't buy was how they tried to make us believe that Kim Bok Joo was in any way ugly or "fat", but that's a given in narratives like this.
The relationship is truly so, so cute. It made me smile from ear to ear all throughout. I love everything about this romance, even the way the ML kept pestering the FL at the beginning lmao.
They had everything!!!!
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Completed
vildehmm
0 people found this review helpful
Jun 29, 2025
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 10

oct 12-13th 2021

This drama is what truly got me into k-dramas as a whole. This was the first k-drama I ever watched beside squid game. I watched all 16 episodes in a day which is absolutely crazy, I dont know what I was on back in 2021 but girl I must have enjoyed it to say the least. I will forever cherish this drama and will never forget how much of a masterpiece this is.

(As I haven't watched this in like 4 years I don't exactly know what to rate it but from what I remember it was a 10/10 so...)
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Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo poster

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  • Score: 8.7 (scored by 154,546 users)
  • Ranked: #223
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