1I laughed, alright, but that's about it!
The main genres listed for this drama are comedy and romance, and to be very honest, it tanked in both. I was expecting a light, rom-com with some gym aesthetics here and there but what I got instead was a drama that tried too hard to be funny that it left the romance somewhere in a forgotten side plot, only to dust it off right towards the end (literally!)Do Hyeon Jung is a gym manager/trainer and is portrayed as someone who is obsessed with health and fitness while his business is actually sinking. His entire personality is this loud bloke with exaggerated facial expressions, comedic timing and a baffling lack of professional boundaries. And while I get it is all for the laughs, I was constantly teetering between what he meant well and what was wildly inappropriate. In a real-world context, If I had a gym trainer like that it would be uncomfortable for me.
I won't lie but I did enjoy the slapstick humour in the initial 3-4 episodes but after turning my brains off. He was fun and more of a comedic relief without any depth.
Coming to Lee Mi Ran, our FL had a food-loving or should I say junk food-loving personality. From the initial episodes, I was expecting her to be a bit more layered, someone who could balance the humor out in the drama with the depth of being unapologetically herself. But unfortunately, she was reduced to surface-level traits. I felt like her character was always orbiting around other character arcs. There were moments of vulnerability that could have been explored more deeply to give both the story and her character a bit more depth.
Also, I was searching and kind of expecting some body positivity message while advocating to maintain a healthy lifestyle and realistic take on fitness but the writers clearly decided to use the same "tired stereotypes" because this message might be too heavy! Because the FL really went 2 dress sizes down in like what 2 episodes?!! No. Sorry!
The romance in the drama felt like a forgotten gym membership, where it was paid in full and never used and is only activated towards the end out of sheer guilt. For a drama marketed as a rom-com, you better not blink because you will miss it. Every week I kept waiting for the actual sparks to fly, the emotional tension to build, anything... but instead, I got fitness montages, expected supporting characters' bizarre subplots out of nowhere. I felt both the leads had better chemistry with their ex than each other. By the time, it was "finally" happening, I had checked out of their romance. In the journey of pumping up the healthy love, love was lost along the way!
Don't get me wrong, I don't mind a comedy series with a bit of last-minute romance, but if I see a romcom ( see the main genre listed), I expect equal parts of comedy and romance in the driver's seat, not a setup where I have to wait 10 weeks for it to even begin and it still doesn't feel convincing till the end.
Coming to the supporting characters, they felt a bit blurry to me. Sure, each of them had their moments, but none of them really contributed to the main leads’ storyline, whether it was romantic or personal.
Lee Ji Ran and her boyfriend were just silly and I don't know if they were supposed to be the second couple but I am 100% sure the story will remain the same without both of them, that is the impact they had.
Honestly, you could branch out a whole different drama for each character: the gossip ladies who decide what to eat the moment they step into the gym, the young gym trainer with family issues or the female trainer who suddenly realizes she can be more. Individually, all these arcs are equally interesting, but the cohesiveness was kind of a mess. The way new arcs were introduced felt random like their relevance and timing just didn’t land right.
Acting-wise, I came from Weak Hero class 2 to watch Mr. Jun Young but was a little disappointed with the overall experience. He wasn't bad at all but the writing didn't support or uplift his acting. It was nothing I would run home about. Jung Eun Ji as Lee Mi Ran did a decent job based on what was given to her. Supporting characters stole the show for me in terms of acting.
Also, whoever designed the intro song should take a voluntary pay cut because it was just bizarre and if someone picks up the drama seeing the opening credits, I am sure they will decide otherwise.
Overall, despite my heavy-handed critique, this is a fun drama if you are in the mood for some over-the-top comedy. But if are expecting romance, please be very patient and do not be afraid of disappointment. I would personally not recommend this.
Also food for thought : Does it not rain in SK ? Will machines not malfunction if they are kept in open ??!!!
( Sorry had to say this outloud)
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Rebranding to sport sitcom with slice of life undertones and romance as a guest role.
I think it’s important to set something straight right away - this is not a romantic comedy. This is a full on comedy with a sports/health setting and the romance is more of a guest role in the story. The poster, trailer and genres are completely misleading. Does this make it a bad drama? No. But it for sure is not a good rom-com.Not what I think about it, the opening scene literally tells you all you need to know - the same way the gym with all the promotional material seemed like a club, when it was not. The same way this drama seemed like a rom-com, but it was not.
Yes, I did enjoy it. Even with over the top comedy and at times unhinged jokes, they were still able to deliver more often than once truly heartwarming messages. I truly appreciated how the message was more about loving yourself and striving for improvement because of that, rather than trying to meet a certain goal to start loving yourself. It had sitcom branding and a slice of life spirit and it weirdly worked.
That said - it’s simply not what I was expecting and it took away quite a lot of my enjoyment. And it;s not on me for having wrong expectations. It’s on the production team for misleading advertisements. If I crave ramen, but get an ice cream, it does not matter how good it is, it’s not what I wanted at that moment. They made me excited for a lighthearted romance, and they never delivered.
Since the romance was honestly so insignificant, I actually believe the drama would be better if they completely removed it. Lee Jun Young and Jung Eun Ji did not really have much chemistry and the constant break from the romantic vibes, to insert a punch line ruined it for me till the end. The show just lacked balance.
I did like both leads as individual characters. Seeing Do Hyeon Jung open up to others and start to understand different perspectives was fun. Lee Mi Ran slowly learning how to love herself was touching. Their partnership was great and I adored the whole gym community they formed. While I loved Roy (or do I just love Kim Kwon?), I did feel like he was out of place more often than not.
Production wise it was great. I am honestly surprised how many aesthetically pleasing scenes they were able to believe without dropping that silly comedic tone. And I already added some songs to my playlist. Some special effects were more on the miss and Lee Jun Young’s body simply looked uncanny in episode one, but in general there was nothing major to complain about.
Overall, I am annoyed at the marketing of the drama because whatever the picture the poster, genres and trailers paint has nothing to do with the reality of what the drama actually is. If they were more truthful to the content with their advertisement, I’d for sure enjoy it more.
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Flex First, Feel Later
Pump Up the Healthy Love is a quirky drama that I really wanted to like more than I did. It tries to blend comedy, romance, and commentary on body image, but not with much finesse. It starts off strong with a setup that pulled me in: Mi-ran, a self-conscious woman picking up the pieces after a breakup, and Hyeon-joong, an over-the-top personal trainer with a booming voice and a surprisingly big heart. Their oddball dynamic forms the core of the show, and the gym setting makes for a fun backdrop to explore personal growth and romance.What kept me watching in the beginning was the tone. It’s light, whimsical, and full of visual gags, slow-motion dramatics, and fantasy cutaways. At first, that felt refreshing, like the drama wasn’t taking itself too seriously. But the novelty wore off quickly. The humour gets repetitive, especially all the shouting and muscle-flexing, and after a few episodes, I found myself wishing it would just calm down and let a moment breathe.
The show also tries to tackle some bigger themes like health, body image, and self-worth, but it doesn’t really stick the landing. At times, it feels like it’s heading in the right direction, especially when it nudges Mi-ran toward self-love and intrinsic motivation. But just when it starts to say something meaningful, it undercuts itself by focusing on visual transformation instead. It’s frustrating to watch the message shift back and forth without ever fully committing to one perspective.
That said, there are moments where the drama manages to slow down and tell a good story. Mi-ran has some genuinely powerful scenes, especially when she reflects on how much of her past behaviour was driven by insecurity and a need for external validation. Hyeon-joong also gets some nice development, especially when he starts to confront his own limits and failures.
Some of the side stories worked for me, too. Seong-im’s subplot about finding strength in the aftermath of a crumbling marriage was unexpectedly moving, and handled with more care than I thought this drama was capable of. But not all the supporting arcs hit the mark. Ji-ran and Kang Dan’s on-again-off-again relationship felt like filler more than anything else, and I struggled to care about where it was going.
Things started to fall apart when the show suddenly decided it needed to be serious. Sol’s backstory, dealing with chronic illness, emotional trauma, and eventual death, comes out of nowhere and is rushed through in just two episodes. I get what the writers were trying to do, but it felt like a tonal 180 that the show hadn’t earned. Then there’s Alex, with his tragic past and cartoonishly evil mother. By that point, it honestly felt like the writers were just throwing everything at the wall to see what stuck.
And yet… I kept watching. I think that says something. Despite all the chaos, Mi-ran and Hyeon-joong kept me invested. Their banter is genuinely fun, their emotional beats (when they’re allowed to breathe) feel real, and I found myself rooting for them. Their relationship isn’t perfectly balanced as Mi-ran definitely does more of the emotional work, but there’s still a sweetness there that holds the show together, even when everything else is flying off the rails.
In the end, Pump Up the Healthy Love is loud, silly, sometimes thoughtful, and often frustrating. It wants to be deep, and occasionally, it almost is. But mostly, it’s a chaotic ride that never quite figures out where it’s going, but insists on flexing and shouting the whole way there.
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“Pump Up the Healthy Love”
As of episode 4, I’m struggling to stay optimistic about this show. While it’s marketed as a health-themed romantic comedy, what we’ve gotten so far feels more like a shallow excuse to promote toxic body standards—especially through the male lead’s constant flexing and fat-shaming behavior. His character isn’t just unlikable; cringe-worthy obsession with his own muscles and an arrogant attitude that makes it hard to root for him.That said, the bright spot in all this is the female lead. She brings some much-needed humor and charm to the screen, and her comedic timing keeps the show from being a total flop. Alex’s character also adds a bit of balance and groundedness to the chaos.
But again, it’s too early to tell… maybe the writers have a redemption arc in mind. Here’s hoping they do more than just flex it out.
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meh
I liked it at first honestly. I liked the female lead in sassy go go and was excited to see her in this drama. But to be honest I feel like the story is all over the place. There is no story line to begin with. It started out with her wanting to lose weight. But right now I'm not sure what exactly is going on besides them wanting to.. work out? is that it? Is there more to it? I was thinking it might turn out like oh my Venus but nope. Then I thought okay maybe it's like welcome to waikiki it had similarities. But I just think they pushed the gym as a overall idea and went with it. It's kinda boringWas this review helpful to you?
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No heavy spoilers
Kinda cringe! Became hilarious halfway through but the plot was all over the place. None of the characters were utilized to their full potential. Could've been so much more.But the thing that annoys me most is tge fact thst there was absolutely no romance until the very last episode and even then the actors toyally lacked chemistry. The only good thing about the entire drama was probably Sol and her friendship with Miran, albeit shortlived.
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What the fresh kdrama.
So hinged with this kdrama. From the start i was so excited for this one and yaah it doesn't disappointed me. Jun-young is such a fine nice actor I love every role he plays. Also for FL i haven't watched her drama that much but she super cute and talented. Every single cast of this drama is so wholesome.There aren't so many dramas where they talk about someone's way of looking, their body, insecurities and the problem they are facing because of society's beauty standards.You should watch this.☺️Was this review helpful to you?
kinda cringe at first but hilarious
First of all, if brain-rot comedy is not your thing, then this drama may not be for you. The only way to watch this drama is to acknowledge and accept the over-the-top comedy as granted and just take everything at face value. 'Pump up the healthy love' is not for serious watching. If you can get past that, this drama is really good and totally worth watching.Personally, over-the-top comedy is not my genre. I started this because of Lee Jun-Young and my initial thought was what even is this? But once you get used to the comedy, this drama is actually hilarious and good for light-watching. Since the main setting of this drama is a gym, we can also see them trying to tackle issues like beauty standards, body-shaming, being underweight, etc. while still in the comedic context.
The main characters themselves are flawed individuals with kind of biased mindsets, so it's interesting to see their characters slowly grow too. Do Hyun-Joong is basically a fitness fanatic to whom all the problems in life can be solved by going to the gym. Your boyfriend doesn't like you? Workout. Can't stand up for yourself? Workout and gain muscles. Your toddler is too energetic? Workout and built stamina. Can't eat or sleep? You guessed it, the answer is always workout. As the story progresses, he slowly learns that not everything can be solved like that but at the same time, the viewers are also shown a subtle link that while working out doesn't make our problems go away, sometimes it gives us enough confidence and strength to face them. And this is reflected in Lee Miran's journey as she goes from working out for others to doing it for herself.
As for the romance, the english title is kind of misleading. The korean title '24 Hour Health Club' is more fitting as most of the story takes place in the context of gym, and romance is somewhat a subplot. It is gradual throughout the drama and develops mostly in the last few eps. But romantic or not, Lee Jun-Young and Jung Eun-Ji has really good chemistry and both their characters are crazy, hilarious and a compatible duo which makes them really fun to watch.
Overall, if you are looking for something light and fun to watch, this is definitely worth a shot.
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A Quirky Gym Romance That's Not for Everyone
"Pump Up the Healthy Love" is a 2025 rom-com that’s quirky, loud, and a little over-the-top—but that’s also part of its charm. It centers on a former bodybuilder (Lee Jun-young) who runs a hardcore gym and a heartbroken office worker (Jung Eun-ji) who stumbles into his world. Their odd pairing leads to chaotic, funny, and surprisingly sweet moments.Why you might want to watch Pump Up the Healthy Love:
It’s fun, silly, and has a fresh take on romance. The main leads—Lee Jun-young and Jung Eun-ji—have great chemistry, and the whole fitness-gym setting is unique. If you like quirky, lighthearted shows with a bit of heart, you might enjoy it.
Why you might skip it:
The humor can be too exaggerated or cringey for some. It feels more like a cartoon than a real-life story at times. If you prefer realistic or emotionally deep dramas, this might not be your thing.
Simple verdict: Watch it if you’re in the mood for something goofy and different. Skip it if you want a grounded, serious love story.
Final Thoughts
“Pump Up the Healthy Love” offers a unique blend of fitness culture and romantic comedy, characterized by exaggerated humor and distinctive characters. While its bold style may not appeal to everyone, viewers seeking an unconventional K-drama experience might find it worth exploring.
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WHAT THE PERFECTION!
If chaotic humor is your thing—this drama is for you!A dopamine rush of wild, unserious fun that’ll make “WHAT THE” your new catchphrase. Sometimes, you just need a show that lifts your mood and gives you endless rewatch-worthy moments. If slapstick comedy isn’t your thing, you might hesitate—but trust me, I did too. Then "Trauma Code" and "Study Group" changed my mind. And with Lee Jun Young leading the cast, skipping this was never an option! Let’s dive in:
➥ Story
Set in a gym, this drama hilariously tackles deep-topics of beauty standards, body-shaming, and how weight struggles seep into various aspects of daily life. The main leads are flawed initially with biased outlook on certain things but grow over time, realizing that workouts won’t fix everything—but they give you the confidence to face challenges head-on. I loved how even the side characters had meaningful arcs instead of being mere background fillers.
➥ Comedy
Unhinged. Over-the-top. Pure gold. Just when you're about to get serious—BAM!—something ridiculous happens, and you're in stitches. If you thrive on chaotic humor, this is a gem.
➥ Romance
The English title might be slightly off you—romance is subplot here. Even the cast calls this COMANCE, with comedy elements being main theme but still delivering those sweet, heart-fluttering moments with our main couple.
➥ Acting
Lee Jun Young is phenomenal—seriously, is there a role he can’t ace? Easily one of K-drama’s most diverse actors. Jung Eunji, another idol-actress, continues to impress me, in what is my second drama of hers. Both of them as the leads are chaotic, adorable with amazing chemistry. Think Business Proposal or Strong Woman DBS, but with a different flavor. Their expressions, dialogues, voice shifts are flawless - WHAT THE CUTIES! 💖 Even the rest of the cast is highly impressive - iconic and memorable in their own rights as they bring their roles to life.
➥ Music
Every song is a treat, but the real star? A parody belted out by the FL in Ep 3—roughly titled The Gym You Live In. No official release yet, so until then, rewatch Ep 3 and check out the lyrics: https://kisskh.at/profile/omo-omo-omo/feeds/8W0BZh6
➥ Overall Recommendation: BINGE IT.
A riotous comedy with slow-burn romance (comance) wrapped in a fitness-center setting. Absolute fun from start to finish!
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That said, some moments with the male lead’s arrogance and body obsession still make me cringe, but it fits the quirky, over-the-top vibe of the show. The mix of humor, chaos, and sweet scenes keeps things fresh and entertaining.
Overall, it’s a fun, heartfelt rom-com that balances serious themes with comedy pretty well. Definitely worth sticking with if you’re into something different and lighthearted!
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IT'S NOT A ROMCOM
The title is misleading because of the "love" in it, so is the poster which I would say looks kinda romcom-y. Don't be fooled - it's 90% comedy and 10% romance.This show was pure fun!!!
It goes to my top 3 kdrama comedies, together with Welcome to Waikiki and Gaus Electronics. I especially encourage you to give PUTHL a chance if you liked these two shows💗
I fell in love with all the characters and ML ruined me because I can't stop saying "WHAT THE" + some random word, and english isn't even my native language.
It was my first time seeing both of the leads on-screen and they left a very good impression, even though the romance was subtle they had so much chemistry😍 I will watch more things from Eun-ji and Jun-young for sure.
My favorite kdrama of 2025 so far, definitely recommend if you want to laugh
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