With the world set to focus on Paris and the Olympics in 2024, let’s swim through the pool of sports K-dramas for that adrenaline rush. Well, what could be more symbolic of the Olympic spirit than watching hours of pretty Koreans risking it all in athletic competitions, right? From archery where characters fight zombies to swimming where characters compete in K-pop – the drama provides a buffet of sports that will have you picking up your sweatbands and protein shakes. Whether you are a sports enthusiast or someone who runs only to the refrigerator once in a while, there is something here for you.
Image: YANG HAE-SUNG/NETFLIX
These 11 K-dramas prove not only Korea’s physical strength when it comes to sports but also the ability to create interesting plot around it. With drama, suspense, comedy, and romance, you will see nail-biting competition, and true stories of overcoming the odds. Therefore, while you are still waiting for the next Olympic event to begin, how about taking a virtual tour of Korea’s fictional sports world? You never know, there might be a scene where someone takes up archery or puts on a swimsuit or even does crunches in the next episode! Sit back, grab your popcorn or protein bar and let’s jump into these two Olympic-worthy K-dramas!
1. All of Us Are Dead
Who knew zombie apocalypses could be such great Olympic training? In this hair-raising thriller, high school archer Ha-ri proves she’s got more than just bullseyes up her sleeve. While her coach may have written her off as an Olympic has-been, Ha-ri’s zombie-slaying skills suggest otherwise.
Played by Ha Seung-ri, this cool-as-a-cucumber heroine trades gold medals for survival, using her bow to take down the undead with deadly precision. It’s like extreme target practice, with a side of brain-hungry monsters.
Fun fact: South Korea’s real-life archery team is so dominant, they might actually prefer zombies as competition. Since 1988, the women’s team has never lost Olympic gold. Talk about pressure!
So, grab your popcorn (and maybe a crossbow) for this thrilling mesh of sports drama and horror. It’s sure to hit the bullseye!
2. Revenge of Others
Talk about hitting two targets with one bullet! This K-drama serves up a double shot of thrills, blending competitive shooting with a gripping whodunit. Shin Ye-eun stars as Chan-mi, an air pistol prodigy who trades Olympic dreams for amateur sleuthing when her twin brother dies mysteriously. Transferring to his high school, she joins the shooting team – because nothing says “undercover” like showing off your marksmanship skills, right? With “All of Us Are Dead” alum Park Solomon as her sidekick, Chan-mi navigates a maze of twists that’ll leave viewers more breathless than a 10-meter sprint.
3. W
Talk about shooting for the stars! In this mind-bending K-drama, Lee Jong-suk plays a teenage Olympic gold medalist in pistol shooting who’s accused of offing his entire family. Talk about going from hero to zero faster than you can say “ready, aim, fire!”
But wait, there’s more! This isn’t your run-of-the-mill sports drama. Director Jung Dae-yoon throws in parallel universes and a dash of manhwa (Korean comics) for good measure. It’s like “Inception” met “The Hunger Games” at a comic convention.
Han Hyo-joo stars as a surgical resident trying to save both her father and her dimension-hopping beau. Because who needs a simple love story when you can have interdimensional romance with a side of murder mystery?
4. Lovely Runner
Just when you thought K-dramas couldn’t get any wetter, “Lovely Runner” dives in with a splash of swimming, a dash of time travel, and a sprinkle of K-pop stardom. Talk about a genre triathlon!
Byeon Woo-seok stars as Sun-jae, a high school swimming sensation who trades his Speedos for a microphone after an injury dashes his Olympic dreams. But fear not, aquatic enthusiasts! The show features a cameo by real-life Olympic medalist Park Tae-hwan, proving that even fictional pools can attract big fish.
Enter Kim Hye-yoon as Sol, Sun-jae’s number one fangirl, who’s so devoted she time-travels to save her idol from an untimely demise. Because nothing says “true love” like rewriting the space-time continuum, right?
While the series may not make a splash at the Olympics, it certainly earns gold in the “undying love and sacrifice” category. With chemistry that sizzles hotter than poolside concrete in July, “Lovely Runner” is sure to leave viewers swooning and reaching for their tissues.
5. Twenty Five Twenty One
This K-drama thrusts viewers into the high-stakes world of competitive fencing, where the points are made up and the sexual tension doesn’t matter. Well, mostly.
Kim Tae-ri stars as Hee-do, a high school fencing prodigy with dreams sharper than her épée. Nam Joo-hyuk plays Yi-jin, a former engineering student whose family fortune has been parried away faster than you can say “touché.”
But forget romance – this show is all about girl power and friendship. Hee-do’s frenemy rival (played by Bona) pushes her to new heights, proving that sometimes your biggest competitor is your best motivator.
While some viewers found the ending less than point-perfect, others hailed it as a masterpiece of self-empowerment.
6. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo
Who says you can’t have your protein shake and drink it too? This K-drama pumps iron and hearts in equal measure.
Lee Sung-kyung stars as Bok-joo, a college weightlifter who can clean and jerk your expectations right out of the water. When she falls for a dreamy doctor, Bok-joo attempts to swap barbells for salads, because nothing says romance like ditching your passion, right?
Meanwhile, Nam Joo-hyuk plays the doc’s brother, who initially describes Bok-joo as “pig-like.” Charming. But don’t worry, folks – in K-drama land, insults are just foreplay.
Loosely inspired by Olympic gold medalist Jang Mi-ran, this show bench presses important themes like body image and female empowerment. It’s a weighted win for representation!
7. Fight for My Way
Kick off your Olympic viewing with this taekwondo-themed dramedy that packs more punch than a roundhouse to the face! Park Seo-joon stars as Dong-man, a former high school taekwondo champ who hangs up his dobok after a match-fixing scandal. Talk about tapping out of your dreams! Enter Kim Ji-won as Ae-ra, Dong-man’s childhood bestie and aspiring news anchor whose career has been pinned down faster than you can say “breaking news.” Their will-they-won’t-they dance is more intricate than any Olympic floor routine. But wait, there’s more! This show dropkicks serious issues like slut-shaming and the trials of Korean wives faster than you can say “gold medal.” It’s like watching the Olympics, a rom-com, and a TED talk all rolled into one delicious kimbap of entertainment. So strap on your metaphorical black belt and get ready for a binge-worthy bout!
8. Bloodhounds
Float like a butterfly, sting like a K-drama! This hard-hitting series packs more punches than an Olympic boxing tournament. Woo Do-hwan and Lee Sang-yi star as Geon-woo and Woo-jin, two boxers who trade jabs for bromance faster than you can say “TKO.” These Marine vets decide to take on the city’s shadiest loan shark, because who needs a gold medal when you can have street cred? With bone-crunching fights that’ll make you wince more than watching synchronized swimming, “Bloodhounds” delivers knockout entertainment. And just when you think it’s down for the count, the finale throws in a butt-kicking female archer. Talk about a cross-genre uppercut!
9. Racket Boys
Serve up some charm with this heartwarming tale of shuttlecocks and rural shenanigans! Tang Joon-sang stars as Hae-kang, a city slicker forced to trade his baseball bat for a badminton racket when he moves to the boonies. Talk about a curve ball!
Watch as our reluctant hero transforms a ragtag team of country bumpkins into badminton sensations. It’s like “The Mighty Ducks” met “Green Acres” and had a K-drama baby. But it’s not all about smashing birdies. This feel-good series explores small-town life with more warmth than a post-match group hug.
10. Prison Playbook
Batter up for a curveball of a K-drama that’ll have you rooting from the sidelines… of a prison yard! “Squid Game” star Park Hae-soo trades in his tracksuit for prison stripes as Je-hyuk, a baseball ace who accidentally kills a rapist. Talk about a foul ball! Our golden boy finds himself behind bars faster than you can say “strike three.” Watch as Je-hyuk navigates prison life with all the grace of a newborn giraffe on ice skates. From dodging money-hungry guards to fending off amorous inmates, our pitcher learns that life inside is a whole new ballgame. Luckily, his childhood bestie (played by “Hospital Playlist’s” Jung Kyung-ho) works at the prison. Because what’s a K-drama without a convenient coincidence? While Je-hyuk’s story takes center stage, the show knocks it out of the park with compelling subplots that’ll have you more hooked than a fish on opening day.
11. Like Flowers in Sand
Grapple with mystery in this thrilling tale that proves traditional Korean wrestling isn’t just about beefy guys in loincloths! Jang Dong-yoon stars as Baek-doo, a former ssireum prodigy who’s now the family disappointment. Think “The Wrestler” meets “Hot Fuzz,” but with more sand and fewer explosions. Our 30-something man-child must decide between retiring (as promised during a soju-fueled night) or giving the ring one last go. Because nothing says “midlife crisis” like body-slamming other grown men in a sandpit, right?
But wait! There’s murder afoot in this sleepy town. And a mysterious woman (Lee Ju-myoung) who claims she doesn’t know Baek-doo. Amnesia or just really good at ghosting? While ssireum isn’t an Olympic sport (yet), this series will have you body-slamming the replay button faster than you can say “Greco-Roman wrestling.” Jang’s earnest likability carries the show, even when the plot twists harder than a ssireum champion’s loincloth. Grab some popcorn and get ready to rumble!
Conclusion
With the world looking forward to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, viewers can get into the mood with these 11 K-dramas. Whether it is a thrilling story of post-apocalyptic archery tournament or a warm story about a rural badminton team, everyone will find something to their liking. These shows show that sports drama is not just about the game but it can make viewers realize the struggle, friendship, identity, and spirit.
Despite the fact that not all of the shown sports are Olympic disciplines (where’s our beloved zombie archery?), these dramas embody the spirit of athletic perseverance and the desire to win. They also prove Korea’s ability of mixing genres, providing audiences with plots that are as unexpected as they are intriguing.
And thus, whether you are an avid sport lover or a fan of athletics mixed with romance, time-travel, or even a hint of murder, this list caters to all. Why not warm up with these fictional Korean athletes before the real-world feats of athleticism expected in Paris? Who knows – you might just find yourself inspired to pick up a new sport… or at the very least, a new Korean drama obsession.
FAQs
Q1: Are all the sports featured in these K-dramas Olympic events?
No, not all sports featured are Olympic events. While some like swimming, archery, and fencing are Olympic sports, others like traditional Korean wrestling (ssireum) are not.
Q2: Do I need to be a sports fan to enjoy these dramas?
Not necessarily. These shows blend sports themes with various genres like romance, mystery, and even horror, making them enjoyable for a wide audience.
Q3: Are these dramas suitable for all ages?
Content varies by show. Some, like “Racket Boys,” are family-friendly, while others may have more mature themes or violence.
Q4: Do these dramas accurately portray the featured sports?
While they take creative liberties for storytelling, many shows do feature authentic training and competition scenes.
Q5: Where can I watch these K-dramas?
Availability varies by region, but many can be found on streaming platforms like Netflix, Viki, or other services that specialize in Korean content.
Amit Gupta is a 2015 graduate of RTU in Rajasthan, India. After working over a decade as an additional writer at News article, he decided to start his own news publication. He mainly focuses on entertainment, Movies, Web series articles and editorials. He likes to listen to music and play cricket in his free time. Follow On Facebook.
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