If you loved 24-Hour Health Club, these K-dramas belong on your watchlist

Scene from Oh My Venus | Image Via: KBS2
Scene from Oh My Venus | Image Via: KBS2

24-Hour Health Club quickly rose to popularity with its unique premise. This K-drama gave us a fresh take on the aspect of self-improvement and discipline. 24-Hour Health Club depicts the realities of the struggles of maintaining a healthy life.

It is done in a nuanced manner. Through Hyeon-joon’s character, the viewers understand the sacrifices one has to make to achieve their goals. However, one should not let the goals destroy our lives and take over our whole being.

24-Hour Health Club is a must-watch because of this aspect. This handpicked selection of K-dramas offers similar aspects to 24-Hour Health Club. So, grab your snacks and prepare to add some fantastic K-dramas to your watchlist for your next binge-watch session.


If you loved 24-Hour Health Club, these K-dramas belong on your watchlist

1) Oh My Venus

Oh My Venus | Image Via: KBS2
Oh My Venus | Image Via: KBS2

In the 24-Hour Health Club, we see self-improvement as the core of the narrative. This K-drama is also based on the same perspective. The beliefs of John Kim are very similar to those of Hyeong-joong in 24-Hour Health Club.

John believes in staying healthy. It is his goal. His childhood illness left a significant mark on him. As a result, his concern remains constant. Gaining weight can often lead to many insecurities.

Once an ulzzang, Kang Joo-eun’s life takes a turn after she gains immense weight. Due to her weight, her relationship also suffers. She has a long-term boyfriend of fifteen years.

However, he leaves her on their anniversary. She decides to take matters into her own hands. John Kim and Joo-eun’s first encounter is filled with humor. It becomes a crucial turning point for her.

John Kim and Joo-eun start their journey of fitness with the goal of transforming Joo-eun and helping her lose weight. The emphasis on consistency in both the 24-Hour Health Club and this K-drama resonates with the viewers.

It cannot be denied that fitness is an ongoing journey. When we have people helping us and providing camaraderie in working towards similar goals, the path becomes easier.


2) Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo

Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo | Image Via: MBC TV
Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo | Image Via: MBC TV

Both the 24-Hour Health Club and this K-drama give us a heartwarming story of personal growth. Kim Bok-joo wants to become a well-acclaimed weightlifter. She is naturally gifted and works towards her goals with utmost passion.

At her sports university, she meets Joon-hyung, a fellow sportsman. Joon-hyung is a swimmer. His speed and agility are remarkable. Though he is also talented, he is suffering mentally.

On the surface, Joon-hyung pretends to be okay. However, he is not. He suffers from performance anxiety.

He constantly suffers because of it. This K-drama, just like 24-Hour Health Club, dives deep into the goals and aspirations people have in life. The characters from both the K-dramas work their way towards their goals.

This K-drama is heartwarming. It gives us a realistic portrayal of the world of sports. There is a balance between lightheartedness and deep themes in both stories.

Joon-hyung starts to piece together his broken self through therapy. This reminds us to be kind to ourselves. Especially when life becomes difficult.


3) Live Your Own Life

Live Your Own Life | Image Via: KBS2
Live Your Own Life | Image Via: KBS2

24-Hour Health Club focuses on personal training. This K-drama also has personal training and fitness as the main focus. This K-drama also teaches us the significance of creating boundaries.

Even when family is concerned, if we are not strictly creating boundaries in our lives, we will often get overwhelmed by catering to others. Lee Hyo-sim’s life is not easy. She is the third sibling of the family and is constantly taking care of the others.

She feels burned out. Kang Tae-ho’s character is quite different than Hyo-sim's. While Hyo-sim makes sure she is constantly handling the problems of her family, Tae-ho is focused on pursuing his own happiness.

This contrast between the two of them starts their relationship. Tae-ho starts to make her understand that she needs to prioritize herself before anyone else. Hyo-sim starts to be determined to break free from the chains of her family.


4) Fight For My Way

Fight For My Way | Image Via: KBS2
Fight For My Way | Image Via: KBS2

In the 24-Hour Health Club, Do Hyeon-joong’s main goal is to maintain his fitness, which slowly becomes his dedication. His priorities change. His only focus is to remain healthy.

One cannot deny that it requires immense dedication and determination to maintain such a life. It is truly remarkable. Similarly, in this K-drama, we see the same dedication and determination.

Both the lead characters are driven towards their goals. Choi Ae-ra and Ko Dong-man’s dedication to achieving their dreams is remarkable. Dong-man’s goal is to regain his past fame.

The grounded realism in both the 24-Hour Health Club and this K-drama is remarkable. This K-drama beautifully depicts the power of friendship and the significance of a support system.


5) The Potato Lab

The Potato Lab | Image Via: tvN
The Potato Lab | Image Via: tvN

24-Hour Health Club brings us a story about passion and dedication. Similarly, this K-drama depicts similar aspects. Kim Mi-kyeong’s dedication to her research is remarkable.

Her passion towards her work shows us how often we get engrossed in the work we do. On the other hand, So Baek-ho’s character is quite different than hers. The aspect of self-improvement in both stories resonates with the viewers.

This K-drama shines bright by blending romance with a journey of self-improvement.


6) One Spring Night

One Spring Night | Image Via: MBC TV
One Spring Night | Image Via: MBC TV

If you enjoyed the depiction of the complexities of love, relationships, and the complexities of life in 24-Hour Health Club, then this K-drama is right for you. This K-drama offers a mature outlook on the world of relationships.

Ji-ho is a single father and works as a pharmacist. After their paths cross, a simple encounter becomes something profound and deep. This K-drama is truly deep.

The story grapples with social expectations that people have to face on a daily basis. The characters feel real and relatable. Much like 24-Hour Health Club, this K-drama is incredibly well portrayed.

The viewers genuinely root for the protagonists. The significance of unspoken emotions in both K-dramas makes a thought-provoking statement.


7) My ID is Gangnam Beauty

My ID is Gangnam Beauty | Image Via: JTBC
My ID is Gangnam Beauty | Image Via: JTBC

Self-image and insecurities often become the driving factor for a person. In both 24-Hour Health Club and this K-drama, these aspects are given importance. Mi-rae suffers because of her looks.

She is not considered conventionally beautiful by others; hence, she faces numerous problems because of it. From bullying to derogatory comments, she faces it all.

She decides to undergo plastic surgery. However, even after her surgery, her internal battles rage on. It shows us that even after one achieves outward beauty, if inner struggles are not checked and catered to, then the struggle remains.

Mi-rae constantly compares herself with her peers and others. It quickly becomes her habit. She starts to rate them. Only after Kyung-seok points this out to her does she realize the problem.

This K-drama, much like 24-Hour Health Club, brings us the internal struggles people face.


8) Because This Is My First Life

Because This Is My First Life | Image Via: tvN
Because This Is My First Life | Image Via: tvN

Just like the 24-Hour Health Club, this K-drama is filled with numerous humorous and heartwarming moments. Nam Se-hee and Yoon Ji-ho’s story starts off with confused identities.

Se-hee thinks that Ji-ho is a man. Ji-ho thinks that Se-hee is a woman. This causes them to become tenant and landlord. As they spend more and more time together, things start to change between them.

Slowly, they understand each other. They start to be by one another’s side. This K-drama excels in depicting the development of relationships in a realistic and nuanced manner.

The smart writing of this K-drama is worth appreciating. The viewers see the tenderness and genuine introspection of their relationship.


9) Thirty But Seventeen

Thirty But Seventeen | Image Via: SBS TV
Thirty But Seventeen | Image Via: SBS TV

On the surface, 24-Hour Health Club’s premise might seem quite different than this K-drama. However, there are many similarities between the two. Especially the aspect of developing relationships and the significance of human connection in both K-dramas.

After being in a coma for 13 years, Seo-ri wakes up. She is confused and bewildered. To wake up one day and see that you have become a 30-year-old can be difficult to stomach.

She starts to find answers. She starts off by finding her uncle and aunt, but to her dismay, they do not live in the same house anymore. This incident leads her to meet Goo Woo-jin.

Woo-jin blames himself for the death of his childhood crush. As a result, he spends most of his time alone. As Goo Woo-jin and Seo-ri’s paths encounter, their story begins.

This K-drama brings out the tones of healing and self-discovery, just like 24-Hour Health Club. Hence, if you enjoyed 24-Hour Health Club, this K-drama would be a great watch for you.


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Edited by Sroban Ghosh