Lee Jun-young’s new K-drama “Pump Up the Healthy Love” or “24 Hours Health Club” was released on April 30, 2025 and premiered on KBS. The drama is all about romance and comedy. Yes, we’re going to see our Jun-young as a green flag this time, unlike in Weak Hero Class 2, where he played a villain.
In the first two episodes, we see that Do Hyun-joong (Jun-young) is very health-conscious and has a muscular body. Basically, he’s a fit, healthy, masculine guy who has won every fitness competition—even one in America. But now he has returned to Korea and is trying to run a gym because it’s his passion and he wants to help people get fit.
On the other hand, our female lead, Lee Mi-ran (Jung Eun-ji), is struggling with her boyfriend. We see her get dumped in front of Hyun-joong’s gym. We came to know that she’s been suffering since childhood because she never fit into beauty standards. She loves to eat and eats recklessly, which led her to gain weight from a young age. After getting dumped in the street, Mi-ran started crying uncontrollably. At that moment, she met Hyun-joong. Mi-ran had never had a boyfriend and had always longed for love but never found it. Frustrated with her situation, she decided to drink and go to a club. Upon arriving at the club, she noticed a poster that Hyun-joong had given her earlier on the street. She mistakenly thought it was a nightclub, but to her shock, it turned out to be a gym. Hyun-joong then offered her a membership, but Mi-ran declined because the cost was too high.
The next day, when she went to her office to speak with her boyfriend, he dumped her again in front of their coworkers. Now, all her colleagues are giving her sympathy, but they also talk behind her back. With all the heartbreak and frustration, she comes to Hyun-joong to change her life. She is beautiful as she is but still wants to get fit to take revenge on her ex-boyfriend. Hyun-joong starts training Mi-ran to help her achieve her goal. At first, he is surprised and frustrated by her stamina and lifestyle. He shouts, “What the Faat!” every time he sees someone not maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Things get tough for Mi-ran as she had never exercised in her life. After workouts, she can barely move and walks like a zombie, scaring everyone with her painful groans. Mi-ran now has to eat only vegetables and healthy food. Hyun-joong constantly encourages her and pushes her to achieve her goal. Mi-ran also tries hard to take revenge on her ex and fit into her dream dress. Eventually, she loses some weight and finally fits into it.
Mi-ran now has to attend a colleague’s wedding. All her colleagues know about Hyun-joong and think she’s dating him, so they tell her to bring him along. Mi-ran asks Hyun-joong to come with her, and he agrees. On the wedding day, Mi-ran dresses up beautifully—but she’s not wearing her dream dress. Her sister took it and gave Mi-ran her own dress instead.
They enter the venue, and everyone stares at them. When it’s time to face her ex, Mi-ran gets nervous and doesn’t want to go. But like always, Hyun-joong boosts her confidence, and she finally finds the strength to confront her ex. Her ex-boyfriend briefly regrets dumping her—until a dirty sentence lights up on her dress. It turns out her sister had prepared that dress for her to wear in front of her ex. When the sentence lights up, everyone gives Mi-ran a disgusting look. Her ex’s moment of regret fades, and he walks away just like before. Embarrassed and unsure what to do, Mi-ran tries to hide—but then her dress’s zipper rips
Buuuut, to save her from the embarrassment, Hyun-joong takes off his coat and covers her completely before leaving the venue with her. How sweet. But another thing happens: earlier, Hyun-joong had tried on a dress shirt for the wedding. But because of his muscular body, it didn’t fit—so he cut the back of the shirt and wore it under his coat. When he gives his coat to Mi-ran, his ripped shirt is exposed to everyone. He chose to protect Mi-ran over himself, and that’s where the drama’s first impression ends.
Now, should we continue the drama?
Obviously yes! In the next episode, we’ll see Hyun-joong scold Mi-ran for her lack of confidence, and Mi-ran will leave the gym. Then a new guy opens a gym across from Hyun-joong’s. Mi-ran starts going there instead. We need to see how Hyun-joong wins her back, how their love story develops, and where it ends.
Personally, I enjoyed the drama the entire time, and I’ll continue watching it—because it’s another green flag role for Jun-young, hahaha. No seriously, I loved the first impression and will continue it. I recommend you watch it too. And don’t forget to comment if you’re watching it as well. Let me know, Wavies! Till then, keep exploring.
