Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo (2016)

역도요정 김복주 (Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo, 2016) is a coming-of-age sports romance that follows Kim Bok-joo (Lee Sung-kyung), a spirited collegiate weightlifter navigating friendship, first love, self-discovery, and the pressures of competition. The title playfully combines “역도” (weightlifting) and “요정” (fairy) to highlight the contrast between Bok-joo’s powerful athleticism and her unexpected charm. Set on a university campus for elite athletes, the story portrays the highs and lows of youth with humor, sincerity, and heart. Bok-joo unexpectedly reconnects with her childhood friend Jung Joon-hyung (Nam Joo-hyuk), a carefree swimmer dealing with his own emotional baggage. As they grow closer, the drama explores what it means to be strong—physically and emotionally—while also learning to accept oneself.

Full Plates and First Crushes (episode 6)

In Episode 6, Bok-joo finds herself caught between two opposing forces: her identity as a competitive weightlifter and her desire to impress her secret crush, a doctor at an obesity clinic. Pressured by her coach to gain weight for her next competition, she’s expected to eat calorie-heavy meals—even when she’s not hungry. At the same time, she secretly visits a weight loss clinic, pretending to be dieting just to get closer to the doctor she likes. The result is both comical and emotionally revealing, as Bok-joo struggles to reconcile her professional goals with the vulnerability of first love.

One of the dishes featured in this episode is 불고기 (bulgogi)—thinly sliced beef marinated in a savory-sweet sauce and pan-cooked to tender perfection. The name literally means "fire meat," a nod to its traditional method of being grilled over an open flame. Flavored with soy sauce, garlic, sesame oil, and sugar, bulgogi is one of Korea’s most iconic comfort foods. It’s typically served with rice (밥) and various side dishes (반찬) for a complete and balanced meal. Link to a video recipe (불고기 만드는 법) 

In the scene, Bok-joo eats her bulgogi from a 식판 (stainless steel cafeteria tray)—a common sight in student cafeterias (학생식당) or workplace dining halls (구내식당) across Korea. The tray’s compartments hold rice, soup, protein, and side dishes, reflecting the Korean emphasis on variety and nutritional balance in daily meals. Bok-joo’s loaded tray becomes a quiet symbol of the pressure she’s under—not just to eat for performance, but to carry the emotional weight of trying to be two different versions of herself at once.

Later in the episode, when her coach discovers that Bok-joo has lost one kilogram, she urgently orders 보쌈 (bossam) as 배달 음식 (delivery food)—boiled pork belly served with leafy wraps, dipping sauces, and kimchi. The word bossam literally means “wrap,” as the meat is typically eaten wrapped in 배추 (napa cabbage) or 깻잎 (perilla leaves) along with condiments like 쌈장 (ssamjang) and 생마늘 (raw garlic). 

Bossam is closely related to 수육 (suyuk), which refers more broadly to boiled meat—usually pork or beef—simmered in a seasoned broth and sliced without the wrapping element. In fact, bossam is essentially a wrapped version of suyuk, with the emphasis placed on how it’s eaten rather than how it’s prepared. 수육 is often made in Korean households during 김장 (kimchi-making season)—a time when families gather to prepare large batches of kimchi for the winter. After hours of hard work, warm slices of pork are shared with freshly made 김장 김치, creating one of the most beloved and comforting seasonal pairings in Korean food culture. Link to a video recipe (수육 삶는 법) 

As a popular delivery food, 보쌈 is often ordered for group meals, celebrations, or simply when something indulgent and satisfying is needed. In Bok-joo’s case, her coach’s decision to order bossam is a practical response to her nutritional needs as a weightlifter. But it also reflects how, in Korean culture, food—especially shared meals—can be a quiet way of showing care, encouragement, and support.

Though Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo wasn’t a ratings sensation when it first aired in 2016, it has since become a beloved comfort drama, especially among younger viewers and international fans. Its down-to-earth storytelling, lovable characters, and focus on a strong yet vulnerable female athlete helped it stand out. Over time, it has earned lasting praise for its honest take on body image, growing pains, and the journey of learning to love oneself—with all the awkwardness, strength, and sweetness that come with it.

And perhaps that’s what makes the scenes with 불고기 and 보쌈 so memorable. These everyday dishes, served in ordinary settings like cafeterias and dorm rooms, carry more than flavor—they offer warmth, care, and a little bit of healing. In the world of Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo, food isn't just about eating. It’s about showing up, staying strong, and feeding not just the body, but the heart.