KBS 2TV’s ’24-Hour Health Club’ Delivers Muscle-Fueled Chemistry and Comic Romance
KBS 2TV’s latest Wednesday-Thursday drama, ’24-Hour Health Club’, directed by Park Joon-soo and Choi Yeon-soo and written by Kim Ji-soo, has made a powerful entrance into the midweek drama slot. Produced by CJ ENM Studios, Bon Factory, Monster Union, and KeyEast, the series delivers an unexpected blend of comedy, romance, and fitness, creating a new genre dubbed ‘healing through muscle.’
The premiere episodes, aired on May 30 and June 1, showcased an eccentric gym owner Do Hyun-jung, played by Lee Jun-young, and an unmotivated gym newbie, Lee Mi-ran, portrayed by Jung Eun-ji. Their quirky interactions and conflicting energies have already captivated viewers, making muscles and emotions the main characters of the screen.
The first episode introduces Mi-ran, whose disastrous attempt at a romantic first night with boyfriend Yeom Joon-seok leads her to the gym by sheer coincidence. Witnessing her low point, gym owner Hyun-jung offers her a free trial. Mistaking the gym for a nightclub, Mi-ran waltzes in only to be met with Hyun-jung obsessively measuring her height and weight—pure comedy gold.
One unforgettable moment shows Mi-ran tearing up during their first fitness consultation, only for Hyun-jung to dry her tears and deliver the iconic line, ‘Crying causes muscle loss,’ seamlessly weaving together humor and heartfelt undertones.
In episode two, Mi-ran begins her transformation journey. Her stats are a personal trainer’s nightmare—zero strength, zero flexibility, zero endurance—but she signs up for a whopping 5 million won total care package. The physical comedy peaks during her carbohydrate temptations and Hyun-jung’s strict interventions, sparking laughter with relatable health struggles.
The drama achieves its high point when Mi-ran makes her ‘battle dress’ debut—squeezing into a body-hugging dress for a wedding, only to face her ex when the dress splits at the seams. Hyun-jung heroically covers her, creating a moment of protectiveness and subtly blooming affection.
The icing on the cake comes in the episode epilogue, revealing that Hyun-jung’s shirt also ripped during the chaos—a metaphor for their shared vulnerability and perhaps, growing connection.
Leading stars Jung Eun-ji and Lee Jun-young serve up wildly entertaining performances, walking the tightrope between comic chaos and romantic tension. Their irresistible chemistry elevates this drama beyond the typical rom-com fare, offering muscles, mishaps, and moments of genuine healing.
With strange gym scenarios and emotionally charged character growth around every dumbbell, audiences are eagerly anticipating what quirky developments will unfold. Episode 3 airs on June 7th at 9:50 PM KST on KBS 2TV.
