Why “Weightlifting Fairy, Kim Bok-joo” is No. 1

By Jae-Ha Kim
KOCOWA
August 26, 2021

Last month, I wrote about the Top 4 KOCOWA K-dramas. And, if I’m completely honest, I was surprised that the No. 1 viewed series on KOCOWA was “Weightlifting Fairy, Kim Bok-joo.” I thought it’d be something like “My Love from the Star,” “It’s Okay, That’s Love” or “Healer.”

“Weightlifting Fairy, Kim Bok-joo” is a cute, feel-good series, but it’s not the strongest work by the lead actor and actress. And some of the storyline (fat shaming, for instance) is downright problematic. So, what is it about this series that KOCOWA fans love so much?

What I’ve come to realize is that it’s the trifecta of cast, girl power and food that makes this series so relatable.

THE CAST

Inspired by real-life Korean Olympic gold-medalist Jang Mi Ran, this K-drama features Lee Sung Kyung, who had to gain muscle to portray the college weightlifting champion. Though she added about 10 pounds for her role, it was obvious that some of her clothes were padded to make her appear larger than she really is. So when the other characters in the series called her fatty or made fun of how obese she was, it didn’t really make sense. Nam Joo Hyuk plays her childhood friend, Joon Hyung, who’s an elite swimmer. Initially, he just views her as his overweight friend and treats her callously. It’s only after he gains maturity and insight that he realizes that the qualities that make a person attractive are more than external.

THE GIRL POWER

Bok-joo’s two best friends are fellow weightlifters, Nan Hee (Cho Hye Jung) and Seon Ok (Lee Joo Young). The trio are elite athletes, but are looked down upon because their appearance doesn’t suit the aesthetics of what people think a woman should look like. The petite gymnasts at their school turn their noses up at them. Though Bok-joo, Nan Hee and Seon Ok know their worth is more than how they appear to others, it’s also obvious that they want to be treated for who they are: young women whose physical prowess should be celebrated for bringing glory to their university.

THE FOOD

If you can go one episode without eating along with Bok-joo and her friends, you have more willpower than I do. In order to compete in their weight class, the women have to keep their weight above a certain level. And you know what that means? Eating lots of protein, like barbequed pork straight off the grill and delicious fried chicken. And when that’s been consumed, they’ll carb up with fried rice and naengmyeon (noodles served in a cold broth). I mean… delicious!

Being conventionally attractive is nice. We all want to be beautiful, right? But this series drives home that there’s so much more that encompasses a happy life. For instance, gorgeous Shi Ho (played by Kyung Soo Jin) was once a strong contender to compete as a rhythmic gymnast at the Olympics. Her family invested a lot of money into her career, in the hopes that an Olympic medal would ensure her future (and theirs). But as she grew out of her teen years and gained some weight — as is normal for young women — she lost her confidence, which in turn made her unable to perform on the same level she did when she was younger. And when Shi Ho sees her ex-boyfriend, Joon Hyung, falling in love with Bok-joo — someone she views as undesirable — she isn’t sure what to think anymore.

I think these are just some of the reasons why “Weightlifting Fairy, Kim Bok-joo” is the most popular K-drama on KOCOWA. What do you think? Do you agree with me? Do you think there are other reasons why this series is so popular? Let me know in the comments below!