Pump Up the Healthy Love

Made to make you laugh

this is such a good vibe to watch. its made for you to laugh at it hence the over-acting unrealistic expressions, like you're watching a cartoon or an anime. at first, i thought it would be really cringy, but i enjoyed it as the series goes. i also love that despite "losing" some of the characters, it wasnt as sad or as stressful as i thought it would be. another thing is, i couldnt imagine at first how JunYoung would act in a romcom, since he always play villain roles in the past kdramas that i have watched, but he is such a good actor!! love the ending as well. it was satisfying.

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The Most Entertaining Watch of this Year!!!

My Wednesday’s & Thursday’s are going to be so boring!

When I started with this show, it didn’t enamour me. The storyline seemed slightly dry with excessive emphasis given to exercising. But with time, the characters slowly grew one, especially Do Hyeon Jung. He might seem like a dim witted guy who nothing except training his clients, but underneath he is a kind-hearted man who cares for one of his customers. He caters to their needs, prepares them training schedule according to their body needs and even if they themselves give up, he doesn’t. To me, exercising is a religion, and he is the fitness fanatic. His entire life revolves around his 24 Hrs Gym and its members. I liked how the show didn’t entirely focus on the romance between the main leads, it was subtle and unhinged; instead the storyline was focused on their individual struggles. It shaped them and their choices, but in a way it made the show so much more enchanting!

Read the complete article here-

https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2025/06/06/pump-up-the-healthy-love-series-review/#more-1871

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"Pump Up The Healthy Love" is a fitness drama.

Mi Ran doesn't have luck with love, she was basically dumped by her boyfriend because of her looks, so she decides to start working out to change her life. The person who helps her is the gym director, Hyeon Joong, a man who is obsessed with fitness and a total weirdo. These two, along with the other gym members, are the main characters in this story.

It was the first drama I watched that focused on a gym and I loved the way they developed this environment, it made it clear that the gym is not just a place for thin or muscular people, that exercising is not just for those who want to lose weight, but to get healthy, that the standard of beauty does not have to be the same for everyone, we are beautiful the way we are, self-love is the first step to healing.

The romance is not really the strong point of this drama. In fact, I didn't care if Mi Ran and Hyeon Joong became a couple or not. I didn't see much chemistry between them, so when they did become a couple, it was cute, but nothing really interesting.

The drama is light, funny and easy to watch, but something that ruined it a bit for me was the way they used CGI in some scenes, especially when it involved Hyeon Joong. Lee Jun Young is a very fit actor, but he doesn't have the body of a bodybuilder, so they just put his head on someone else's body. Why didn't the writers cast a more muscular man or even a real bodybuilder? It would have given the drama more credibility.

Yun Sung Bin's cameo was amazing <3

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A fun watch and this is comedy first, romance later

TL;DR:
A hilarious and oddly inspiring fitness com-rom (since this is comedy first, with hint of romance) that leans into absurd comedy before bringing out the romance. Come for the laughs, stay for the glow-up — both physical and emotional.

24-Hour Health Club is a solid comedy-first, romance-later kind of drama. It tells the story of Do Hyun-Joong, a ridiculously successful international bodybuilder who ends up running a dingy basement gym called 24-Hour Hell's Club (a wordplay on “Health Club”), and Lee Mi-Ran, an overweight woman who gets dumped and accidentally stumbles into the gym — and his life.

The series kicks off when Mi-Ran, heartbroken after a breakup, tries to relieve her stress by going to a club — only to end up at 24-Hour Hell's Club instead. Waking up sore and confused, she’s greeted by Hyun-Joong, who has a strange talent: he can read people’s lifestyle and health history just by looking at their bodies. After some persuasion (and comedy), she signs up for a 5 million won training package to lose weight before attending her friend’s wedding — where her ex will be.

From there, the show takes us on a wild and exaggerated ride full of workouts, strict dieting, protein obsession, and Mi-Ran’s chaotic lifestyle slowly being reshaped. But what’s refreshing is how the show, while not leaning into the current wave of body positivity rhetoric, still avoids shaming or mocking. It plays things for laughs, but Mi-Ran’s journey isn’t just about appearances — and that’s where it really lands.

Originally working out purely to look good and show off, Mi-Ran gradually learns to enjoy fitness for herself — especially for the health benefits and how it makes her feel. And interestingly, by the end of the show, she flips the dynamic: the ultra-disciplined Hyun-Joong also learns from her that life doesn’t have to be 100% protein powder and chicken breast. She ropes him into small acts of rebellion — delaying protein intake, sneaking in tteokbokki nights — showing that “cheating” now and then isn’t failure, it’s balance, and they can sweat it out later by working out.

One standout element: the actress gained 9 kg for this role, and fans of K-ent might be surprised to find out she’s a former idol. Her performance is funny, endearing, and grounded, capturing Mi-Ran’s vulnerability and growing confidence.

The acting overall leans into exaggeration, but given the show’s tone, it works. It’s not a serious melodrama; it’s a feel-good, over-the-top comedy with just enough emotional weight to keep you invested.

The music is honestly the weakest point — passable, but forgettable. It doesn’t elevate the scenes much or linger in your memory.

Rewatch value is above average. With only 12 episodes, each filled with laughs and lighthearted moments, it’s a great show to revisit when you need something fun and uplifting.

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It is painful to watch- just a little bit

I’m waiting to watch Jun’s new rom-com. He’s a very, very talented actor—especially when he plays villains. He’s amazing at that. But when it comes to romantic comedies… sorry, he just doesn’t seem to pick the right scripts.

In this one, his character doesn’t even feel human. People who go to the gym aren’t that extreme. It’s so unrealistic. Extreme, unrealistic comedy. He is so obsessed and repeating the same things.

And I think we all know Eun Ji… she can’t show her potential in this script. I’ve watched almost all of her dramas.
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Jun’s body is sometimes very big , sometimes turn normal size. Unrealistic shape. I can’t focus on the story very well to focus his body size. His head is getting smaller. I hope production time get attention this problem.

There are also three women at the gym who get way too much screen time—and honestly, they’re just annoying. Same goes for the sister and her boyfriend. None of them talk about anything meaningful—no real conversations about life or anything deeper. They’re rude, shallow, and honestly painful to watch. It feels like they’re just there to waste time.

What’s wrong her mom? Can we beat her mom just once? Her mother is problem her sister is problem. I’m really sad for her.

But I really love watching Jun and Eun Ji. If the main leads were played by anyone else, I probably would’ve stopped watching already. But I just can’t let them go :( Let’s continue to watch
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I can't continue. Really sorry:/

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I dropped the show almost reluctantly at episode 7 but i had no choice, i was bored.
While the show had its charm, it ultimately couldn't hold my attention. The handsome male lead and surprisingly realistic gym scenes were definite highlights—it’s rare to see fitness depicted with this much authenticity in a rom-com setting. The show balanced hilarious, over-the-top humour with heartfelt moments in the beginning, and when it clicked, it clicked.
However, that spark wasn’t consistent. The tone started to feel forced, and what initially felt like conscious exaggeration for comedic effect eventually became repetitive and boring. The female lead, despite being written as quirky and passionate, just didn’t land emotionally for me—something about her lacked appeal or depth. It felt like the story was trying to do a lot without fully committing to any of its threads.
Overall, it was a fun concept with a strong start, but to me it was a missed opportunity in execution. With tighter writing and more balanced character dynamics, this could have been a standout.

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