Pump Up the Healthy Love

Review

10/10 is my rating. I have watched over 400 Asian Dramas, and this is one of the most fun romantic comedies I’ve watched! It provides a blend of fitness, humor, and emotional growth. If you have ever been around body builders, you know how muscle building laser focused they can be. Do Hyun‑joong, a former world‑class bodybuilder turned gym owner represents an exaggeration of that body builder mind set. It pokes some fun at it. Hyun-joong obsessively loves all things muscle and protein. His antics had me laughing again and again, especially with exclamations like “What the fat?!” paired with "what the (fill in the blank) about everything. His amusing sayings and over the top fitness focus provided hilarious comic relief.

The chemistry between Do Hyun‑joong and Lee Mi‑ran, a travel agency assistant manager who joins the gym post-breakup, was natural and heartwarming. Their dynamic felt grounded and sweet, balancing gym intensity with emotional support.

Side characters like Rosa (the veteran trainer) and Alex (the baby-faced muscle assistant) added fun layers, especially with Rosa’s fierce attitude toward Hyun‑joong taking over her gym. Even the subplot featuring Mi‑ran’s sister (Lee Ji‑ran) and her boyfriend (Lee Sang‑jin) brought hilarious chaos and warmth to the story.

It’s impressive how well-developed each character was across the twelve episodes — rare in short K‑dramas but executed here with skill.

If you’re craving a lighthearted, funny, and affectionate rom‑com with emotional stakes, Pump Up the Healthy Love should be on your watchlist.

Spoilers

I’ve got to say, separation tropes feel overused in many dramas—it bothered me when Mi‑ran took off to Hawaii; it felt like a detour rather than an emotionally necessary shift.

I did not expect Sol—who wasn't on the full-time—to be as sweet and selfless as she was. I was certain she’d be scheming to win Hyun‑joong back, but instead she was a loyal friend to Mi‑ran. That made her tragic death hit even harder.

Mi‑ran’s sister and her boyfriend could be cringy at times. Hard to see what she saw in him but different strokes and all that.

Despite a few pacing and trope-related missteps, the finale gave a satisfying and emotionally resonant wrap-up. Every key arc was tied up and Do Hyun‑joong and Lee Mi‑ran closed with real payoff. Minor flaws aside, the humor, chemistry, and heartfelt moments made this a clear favorite in my book

Synopsis

This is a 2025 South Korean romantic comedy-drama with 12, 60-70 minute episodes. It provides a slice of the gym life and muscle building fitness fanatics.

Do Hyun-joong (Lee Jun-young), was a world-champion bodybuilder but he inherited a gym and took over as director. His unique spin on fitness and training where "no pain no gain" is taken to the extreme does not site well with some of the staff who believe a softer approach is more appealing to draw in and retain members. Despite being open 24-Hours and having a world class bodybuilder at the helm, the gym is struggling financially. Not everyone can take his brand of training, which is a lot of "suck it up sister or brother type of training" but Lee Mi-ran (Jung Eun-ji), a woman struggling from a break-up with a longer-term boyfriend, decides she needs someone who will keep her motivated. Especially since the reason her ex gave for the break up was he was not attracted to her unfit body. It is not an easy change for Mi-ran who is a foodie and likes to explore new places to recommend in her role as a travel agency manager. But Hyun-joong promises to transform her body and life so Mi-ran says sign me up. Hyun-joong is the type who will show up as you are about to put the donut in your mouth and smack it out of your hand which sets up a lot of hilarious moments as Mi-ran has always used food for comfort. Having someone solidly in your corner with life's many challenges proves to be what Mi-ran needed and her energy revives the gym and softens Hyun-joong's approach. This series is a journey for both dynamic characters who learn from each other about fitness, life and love.

#PumpUptheHealthyLove #Lee Jun-young #Jung Eun-ji