Weightlifting Fairy, Kim Bok Joo

“Do you like Messi?”

Hmmm…not really into soccer so I think I’m indifferent but I do like this drama so much! Hahaha.

Coming back from vacation last month, I wanted to start a new series instead of stressing myself out finishing a boring drama on my currently watching list. Judging from the buzz that Bok Joo has garnered among college students, I decided to check this series out.

It’s a coming-of-age story about a group of students attending a sports university, centring on a second year weightlifting major, named Kim Bok Joo. The drama will revolve on how these college athletes strive for their dreams, “experiencing and finding love in the process, and growing every step of the way.” (I just love how this was phrased so I’m directly quoting from it’s wikipedia page.)

I never expected that I would love this series this much. I still remember watching Lee Syung Kyung in Cheese in the Trap and it was definitely not a great sight. She was freaking annoying there, her voice, her face, her presence itself! Baek In Ha irks me to death that I couldn’t have imagined I’ll be going to like a character that will land to Lee Syung Kyung in the near future. That being said, Kim Bok Joo is definitely a complete 180 from that Cheese in the Trap‘s bitch. Hahaha.

Lee Syung Kyung as Kim Bok Joo

Bok Joo is such a heartwarming character that is quite different from other Kdrama leading ladies. The series doesn’t need to be all makjang for her character to shine. You’ll find joy in simply watching her deal with her daily stuff together with his friends and family.

Bok Joo (middle) with her girl friends Nan Hee (left) and Seon Ok (right)

It was really a shame to not be able to know Bok Joo when I was still in college. I could have cherish those moments better. (Ah, I’ve missed those times when all I worry about is studying.)

Nam Joo Hyuk as Jung Joon Hyung

As for Nam Joo Hyuk, I’ve previously noted that he always seems to portray the gentleman next door you can always lean into. Maybe they think it’s time for him to grab a role who is somehow childish and irascible but still very cute and charming at the same time. And he really did a great job in giving life to Jung Joon Hyung. I always find myself smiling whenever Bok Joo and him are together. The couple is just simply so adorable.

Joon Hyung and Bok Joo

And of course, the drama itself! It’s awesome how realistic the story is and how natural the scenes are, yet it’s all moving and gratifying.

One for word for Weightlifting Fairy, Kim Bok Joo? Swag!

Everyone spent their youthful years. It’s a time more beautiful because we’re immature and clumsy, a time when we sparkle brightly. We’re not afraid of anything, ’cause we have nothing to lose. Our heart flutters ’cause we can have everything.

Ah, age twenty-four, my youth. Although I’m still uneasy and nervous, I’m whole, without needing anything else.

P.S.
It’s a bit sad though that it seems like Korean viewers still don’t appreciate this kind of drama as much as the international audience do. I remember the exact same thing happened with Tomorrow Cantabile. Maybe they are so used to watching dramas with grandiose plot that for them series like this are nonsense and plain absurd. I just hope to see more of these Kdramas produced in the future and I’m pretty sure viewers will eventually learn to embrace them as much as we do.

P.P.S.
Too many Moon Lovers cast cameos on this series to think it was aired on a different TV network. I was almost expecting IU and Lee Jung Ki to pop out of the screen. Hahaha.