From Triumph To Heartbreak: 7 Sports K-Dramas That Tug At Your Heartstrings

The sports genre in the movie industry is popular with filmmakers and audiences for a reason. When there is a clear goal to achieve (like winning a big competition or breaking out of underdog status), the story and its characters become so much more compelling and relatable.

In K-dramaland, there are quite a few dramas made in this genre. Like almost every South Korean series, these stories have romance in addition to the excitement of athletic triumph and defeat, which makes them even more emotional.

Here are seven sports K-dramas that fans say you can't miss.

My Lovely Boxer (2023)

IMDb rating: 7.3/10

Where to stream: Prime Video, Viki, Kocowa, Wavve

Lee Kwon-sook is a boxing genius who became a star in the women's boxing arena at the age of 17. Since then, however, she has suffered some setbacks in her career and family life and has become isolated from the world. Now, when she meets a cold-blooded agent, the girl faces yet another phase in her life.

Run On (2020)

IMDb rating: 7.4/10

Where to stream: Netflix

The ensemble cast consists of four leads: a former sprinter who aspires to be a sports agent, a film translator who grew up an orphan, the CEO of a sports agency who fiercely fights for her place in the world, and an art student who channels his feelings into his paintings. Their destinies intertwine, creating a compelling story you can binge in one sitting.

Love All Play (2022)

IMDb rating: 7.7/10

Where to stream: Disney+

This is the story of the tumultuous relationship between two badminton players. For Park Tae-joon, the sport is just a way to make money. But when he meets Park Tae-yang, who is obsessed with badminton, his outlook on life and the sport changes.

Fight for My Way (2017)

IMDb rating: 8.1/10

Where to stream: Netflix, Viki, Kocowa, Aha

The drama is about four young people trying to find their way in life. One of them is Ko Dong-man, who was a teenage taekwondo champion and now has his sights set on the cutthroat world of professional mixed martial arts fighting. In addition to his athletic path, Dong-man has a cute friends-to-lovers romance during the course of the show.

Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo (2016)

IMDb rating: 8.3/10

Where to stream: Prime Video, Viki

The show is set in a sports college, so it will be a good fit for all fans of fictional uni life. Kim Bok-joo is an outgoing, talented weightlifter who has a crush on her best friend's older brother. At first, her friend, a talented swimmer, helps her pursue the unlikely relationship, but then he realizes he may be in love with Bok-joo himself.

Hot Stove League (2019)

IMDb rating: 8.3/10

Where to stream: Netflix, Viki, Kocowa

This is one of the few K-dramas without a love arc. Baek Seung-soo is a star sports manager with bad luck - somehow all the teams he manages end up folding due to circumstances beyond his control. Even though he has zero baseball experience, Seung-soo is hired to help a losing baseball team become the best in the league. And this time, he is not going to fail.

Twenty-Five Twenty-One (2022)

IMDb rating: 8.6/10

Where to stream: Netflix, TVING

The story revolves around Na Hee-do during two periods of her life. In the 1990s, she is a fencing prodigy who does everything she can to build a sports career amidst the financial crisis. In the present, she is a mother who inspires her daughter with the story of her past.