Kyung Su-jin up for sports campus drama Weightlifting Fairy

31 July 18, 2016July 18, 2016

Kyung Su-jin up for sports campus drama Weightlifting Fairy

by girlfriday

Ah, how I wish she were the lead. I really adore up-and-coming actress Kyung Su-jin (Bluebird’s House, Plus Nine Boys), who has a natural charm about her and a warmth that comes across onscreen. She’s been steadily working her way up with supporting roles (Secret Love Affair, Shark) and is currently considering an offer to join MBC’s new sports campus drama Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-ju, alongside Lee Sung-kyung (Doctors) and Nam Joo-hyuk (Cheese in the Trap). No one has been confirmed for the series yet, which is due to air as a Wednesday-Thursday drama this fall.

The new coming-of-age series comes from the writer of hilarious comedies Oh My Ghostess and High School King of Savvy, and the PD of A Daughter Just Like You. It’s set on a college campus full of Olympic hopefuls, and tells the story of a female weightlifter, a character inspired by Olympic gold medalist Jang Mi-ran.

Lee Sung-kyung is up for the title role, weightlifter Kim Bok-ju. She was named after a soju brand by her weightlifter father and has been physically strong her entire life, but she’s really just a shy, insecure girl with a fragile heart, and the drama will be about her discovering love for the first time. Nam Joo-hyuk is up for the role of a naturally gifted swimmer, though he’s held back by his own trauma that began when he made a false start at his first big international competition and got disqualified.

Kyung Su-jin is considering the role of a rhythmic gymnast who won a silver medal at the Asian Games at the age of eighteen, and has since held the top spot in her sport in Korea. She’s an overachiever under constant stress about her developing figure, and the psychological pressure gets to be so much that she breaks up with her boyfriend, and later comes to regret it. I hope she’s a likable and well-rounded character, because I don’t want to see Kyung Su-jin wasted on just your standard dramaland mean girl. Seriously though, I don’t know how anyone could endure that kind of body stress without turning a little mean.

Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-ju will follow Shopping King Louie (after W–Two Worlds) in November.

Via IS Plus

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1 PeepsLeAwesomePotato

July 18, 2016 at 3:26 AM

What does "developing figure" mean? Because I thought ladies were all developed by that time or at least mostly developed...??

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Goo Ma Ri

July 18, 2016 at 3:45 AM

I think it's because her breasts are developping and she's becoming more "feminine"
when I watched " break it or make it " ( an american series about gymnastics ), the girls were always scared of becoming feminine ( they are prohibited from having physical relationships so that their hormones won't increase )
Intense training can lead to the bloccage of the hormone production so the athletes won't "develop" .. That's why, if they are changing they would feel disturbed ..
maybe a developped girly body would make their moves harder ?

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Oshi

July 18, 2016 at 3:46 AM

I'm going to go ith no one knows about her except her mom and the gold medal community,

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mary

July 18, 2016 at 6:13 AM

"I thought ladies were all developed by that time or at least mostly developed"

*checks self*

Nope... still nothing. < /3

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angieya

July 18, 2016 at 7:25 AM

Awww. <3
I'm also a member of the "I have nothing.... nothing... nothiiiiiiiinnnnnggggg"-club.

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Chiisan

July 18, 2016 at 8:23 AM

Pffft the most appropriate time to sing like Whitney Houston xD

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mary

July 18, 2016 at 8:30 AM

Don't make me fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit one more A
I don't wanna hurt anymore
Stay in my chest if you dare
Or must I imagine you there?
Don't just metaboliiiiiiiize
I ate protein, protein, proteeeiiiin...
Still I don't have youuuuuuu~

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PeepsLeAwesomePotato

July 18, 2016 at 10:34 AM

An A's pretty convenient though... why do people like being large chested?

purpleowl

July 18, 2016 at 2:07 PM

@peeps

"The grass is always greener on the other side?" I have such a complex about my being a DDD or E. When I was on the edge of being underweight, the only positive to me was that I was a D or DD again. But now that my weight is semi-healthy again, I went back up.

And then other women don't get my concern, small or larger chested. The ones smaller than me are like "be happy with your curves". And the ones larger than me disregard my concern "it could be worse, you could be like me"

Shake my head, people. Always turning everything self-centered and into a competition.

Flightey Gazelles

July 19, 2016 at 12:33 PM

Bwahahahaha! Brilliant!

purpleowl

July 18, 2016 at 1:37 PM

Not really. I'm going on 21 and my body is still surprising me, lol. My body type is settled but my weight has a mind of its own.

If we're going by Korean age 18 means an international body age of just over 16. And her stress about developing would have started before winning the silver medal. We're looking at a mental stress from age 13 or so and possibly before that as a 7 year old hearing about the troubles of "developing" from other athletes and coaches, worse probably her mom-manager.

So the character has had 10+ years worring about something as natural as growing up. If she is still under 23 & based on her genes her body could still be developing and settling. And there is @maria1992 point about relationships and hormones.

Every ounce makes a difference in gymnastics. Even if she done developing in terms of her figure type being done and chosen, most women's weight is at a high at 17 years old. Which is when she got national recognition. Then it may go down until 20 or so. And then after that, as we all know, the trajectory is random as all get out.

Not good for an athlete of a sport where weight is almost as important as it is in the modeling industry.

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2 immawish

July 18, 2016 at 3:29 AM

Recently i jusr found out her special drama with choi wooshik and omfg it was so good T_T Plotline is fine but too many makjang. Hers and Choi Wooshik's acting are so carefree and likeable. Tbvh wasn't really interested in her at the beginning of plus nine boys but as i watched iy further she really does good to the character :( i do hope she passes this one for something better tho

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3 Goo Ma Ri

July 18, 2016 at 3:46 AM

I'm still hoping for LSK to decline !

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4 michykdrama

July 18, 2016 at 4:17 AM

Hmmm. Am I reading too much into it by thinking that by this they are trying to address the issue of body image in young girls?

And yet, they are casting a stick thin actress as a champion weightlifter. Ironic, no?

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5 Mohammed

July 18, 2016 at 4:44 AM

It would be ideal if she was lead instead LSK because this actress gained weight for Secret Love Affair compared to her other roles, she played a buff, mean looking body female gangster friend of Sun Jae in SLA.

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6 fab

July 18, 2016 at 5:20 AM

Ha Jae-suk who's currently in Beautiful Mind would be perfect for the role of Jang Miran. She looks the part, can act and is hella cute.

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7 kles

July 18, 2016 at 5:45 AM

Kyung Sujin is definitely a better actress than Lee Sung Kyung, IMHO...

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8 Hannah Kim

July 18, 2016 at 5:55 AM

Is this drama all somewhat based on famous athletes? At first glance, NJH's description reminds me alot of Park Taehwan's infamous false start in his first Olympics.

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mary

July 18, 2016 at 6:14 AM

That's what I thought too!

I wonder how many sports references they're gonna put in the show itself.

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Hannah Kim

July 18, 2016 at 7:51 AM

I read KSJ's description more closely, and while it doesn't fit perfectly, "top rhythmic gymnast" makes me think an awful lot of Son Yeon-jae. I wonder if they're going to throw a figure skater in the mix for fun as well...

Either way, this is sounding like quite the ambitious sports drama with 3 (!) different sports in the mix.

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brian

July 18, 2016 at 11:40 PM

no figure skating -- it wouldn't fit with the timing and everything and training -- it's a winter olympic sport.

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9 paroles

July 18, 2016 at 8:15 AM

Sports dramas are bleh to me. It doesn't really help that they chose some of the least exciting sports (apologies if I offended anyone by saying that). Even when the sport is more popular (e.g. basketball), the casting is so bad. There's no way I'm going to be convinced that guys who are barely 6ft can play power forwards (bb) or centre backs (football), and girls who are stick thin can lift. Sports really just belong to 1. animes and 2. movies.

That being said, I do hope this becomes KSJ's breakout role. She really needs to take a step forward now.

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juniper

July 18, 2016 at 10:25 AM

Agreed about anime being a better format, all the more because they get slice of life in a way kdramas just don't, which so important to getting why we care so much about sports, what winning means to the players and their families/communities, etc. I've rewatched Cross Game and Touch so many times.

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10 Chiisan

July 18, 2016 at 8:26 AM

I don't know why but I've never been sold on Kyung Sujin. She's good looking and not bad at acting, but there's something really awkward and slightly bitchy about her that never sold the nice characters to me. I'm glad she's been offered a second female lead role because I'd love to see her unleash her bitchiness. Some actors really shine in antigonist or antihero roles, you know.

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11 aicaramba

July 18, 2016 at 11:50 AM

I swear she looks like Han Chae Ah in that photo.

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12 sardines

July 18, 2016 at 1:57 PM

First time hearing about her. I thought it was Yejin Son. I think I found her doppleganger(:

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13 Iris

July 18, 2016 at 2:34 PM

I hope Lee Sung -Kyung confirms for the lead. Kyung Su-jin's character in "Bluebird House" was unbearable. I could not stand her.

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14 ObsessiveCompulsive

July 19, 2016 at 11:22 AM

Hmmm this sounds interesting enough. Loved Kyung Su-Jin in Plus Nine boys. I really like LSK as well, ppl who havent seen her in roles other then being a "mean" are missing out and their opinions are a bit biased. I can't stand her in doctors now, but I cant stand PSH either, the whole show is a big mess. 1 out of a 100 kdrama's are appealing though.

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15 Flightey Gazelles

July 19, 2016 at 12:28 PM

Bwahahahahahaha! I actualy read it with the tune! My God,so hilarious!

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16 Flightey Gazelles

July 19, 2016 at 12:28 PM

Bwahahahahahaha! I actualy read that to the tune! My God,so hilarious!

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Flightey Gazelles

July 19, 2016 at 12:31 PM

Urgh! That was @the ever fantabulous mary.

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Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-ju