Insanely hilarious romantic comedy "Pump Up the Healthy Love"
A fitness freak embodied by Lee Jun Young whips Jung Eun Ji, who plays Lee Mi Ran, into fighting shape to fight the demons of insecurity, emotional weakness, and lack of confidence.
Pump Up the Healthy Love is an overly dramatic K-drama that will make you chuckle out loud in succession. One of my favorite romantic comedy-dramas is about a fitness-obsessed gym owner; he is more eccentric than I expected. And a woman just starting her fitness journey, featuring engaging characters and a lighthearted storyline. I eagerly wait for the new episodes to drop on Viki so I can escape reality and connect with pure fun and joy.
Genre: Romantic comedy
Language Korean
Episodes 4
Network KBS2
Release date April 30, 2025
"Pump Up the Healthy Love," as the title suggests, is a South Korean romantic comedy-drama that centers on the journey of Lee Mi-ran, a travel agency manager new to fitness, who joins a 24-hour gym run by Do Hyeon-joong, a passionate former bodybuilding champion (and yes, he is wearing a fake muscle suit for this role). The series explores themes of personal growth, resilience, and the positive impact of love and support in overcoming life's challenges, set against the backdrop of a lively gym environment. Oh, how I searched for a women’s-only gym to learn MMA, but no luck.
Main Premise and Characters
The story follows Lee Mi-ran, a woman looking to turn over a new leaf after a difficult breakup, as she embarks on a fitness journey. And I was taken aback by the correlation that was depicted when Lee Mi-ran was romantically rejected due to her appearance. Please exercise not to show or prove anything to others but for yourself and make yourself feel better.
Do Hyeon-joong, a former top bodybuilder, owns and operates the gym, bringing his expertise, eccentric charm, and unique passion for health and fitness to the lives of his members.
SUPPORTING CHARACTERS
Lee Mi Do as Rosa: The gym’s no-nonsense veteran employee who keeps everything running smoothly. Beneath her tough exterior lies a deep care for the gym and its members.
Lee Seung Woo as Alex: The gym’s “who have baby-faced muscle man” who idolizes Hyun Joong. His journey from a shy newcomer to a confident trainer is both endearing and inspiring.
Park Sung Yeon, Lee Ji Hye, and Hong Yoon Hwa as the “Witch Trio”: a comedic and inseparable group of gym-goers who add humor and warmth to every scene. Their friendship is a reminder that sometimes, the people who push you the hardest are the ones who care the most.
Their interactions blend humor, heartfelt moments, and inspiring transformations, highlighting both physical and emotional development throughout the show.
Genre and Tone
The drama combines romantic comedy with heartfelt dramatics, maintaining a light, comedic tone with occasional over-the-top humor.
The narrative balances fitness themes with some body shaming, solely focusing on empowerment and self-confidence enhancement.
Broadcast and Availability
Premiered on April 30, 2025, on KBS2, airing Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:50 KST.
Also available for streaming on Viki and select regions on Viu.
Production Details
Directed by Park Jun-soo and Choi Yeon-soo.
Written by Kim Ji-soo.
Stars Lee Jun-young as Do Hyeon-joong and Jung Eun-ji as Lee Mi-ran.
Audience Reception Highlights
Praised for its refreshing take on romance and fitness.
The male lead’s humorous and unique catchphrases have resonated well with viewers.
The chemistry between the leads brings an engaging and charming dynamic to the story.
Why Watch?
Offers an inspiring and entertaining story about change, fitness, and new beginnings.
Blends comedy and romance with motivating messages about health and self-improvement.
Appeals to viewers who enjoy character-driven dramas with heart and humor.
This series invites viewers to witness a compelling transformation journey filled with laughter, motivation, and warmth—making it a must-watch for fans of romantic comedies with a fitness twist. Episodes release weekly, making it easy to join the journey right from the start.
Enjoy the blend of humor, romance, and personal growth in a drama that proves it's never too late to pump up the healthy love! I made my profile on dating apps; what a load of crap to choose from! I deleted them. I'd rather live peacefully in delulu land than jump into this mess. Not only physically ugly, but boring, no personality, lying about age and profession, and also the parents are psycho; they want to choose who even meets their adult children. No wonder people are choosing not to get married nowadays, especially women. If you are looking for maids, hire her and pay her. Don’t disguise a relationship for convenience in the household because you are lazy. I didn’t bust my behind building a career and upping my emotional intelligence to be served this petri dish of nonsense.
To drown out your worries, laugh out loud by watching this trailer: