4 Must-Watch Korean Dramas With a Sports Theme

Even people who are not into sports enjoy watching a good movie of TV series about athletes who TRIUMPH!

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(1) Rebound (2023) [movie]

STORYLINE: A movie made for basketball lovers. Perfect if you follow high school basketball teams. Kang Yang-Hyun coaches a high school basketball team and teaches players the value of persevering through challenges and dreaming BIG! Based on a true story.

• FUN FACTS: Basketball was introduced to Korea in the early 1900s, mainly through American missionary schools. The Korean Basketball Association (KBA) established in 1947 helped organize and promote the sport nationwide. The national team won the title in the 1997 FIBA Asia Championship. The South Korean national teams have faced off against American teams in international competitions.

Main Characters:

• Kang Yang-Hyun (played by Ahn Jae-Hong, “Secret Zoo”)
• Cheon Ki-Beom (played by Lee Sin-Young, “Captivating The King”, “CEO-dol Mart”)
• Bae Kyu-Hyeok (played by Jinwoon)
• Hong Soon-Kyu (played by Kim Taek)
• Jung Gang-Ho (played by Jung Gun-Joo, “Check in Hanyang”, “The Secret Romantic Guesthouse” )

Where to Watch

Viewership and Rating:

• IMDb: 7 out of 10 stars
• My Drama List: 8.3 out of 10 stars
• Viki viewers rated this film: 9.7 out of 10 stars
• Letterboxd: 3.5 out of 5 stars

LINKS OF INTEREST:

Film Review: Rebound (2023) by Chang Hang-jun | Asian Movie Pulse

‘Rebound’ review: A good watch from South Korea | CinemaBravo

25th Far East Film Festival: “Rebound” Review | VIEW OF THE ARTS

TRAILER/TEASER:

Far East Films. “Rebound (2023) 리바운드 – Movie Trailer – Far East Films.” YouTube, 27 Mar. 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I54mOtwoNbo.

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(2) Road to Boston (2023) [movie]

STORYLINE: “You can’t represent Korea to compete in the Boston Marathon, because Korea in 1947 is just a refugee country.”  Who says I can’t? Based on the true story of Suh Yun-Bok, a marathon runner. National Pride. Perseverance. Unconquerable spirit. It’s got all the good stuff! Makes the viewer feel even better when they know it’s a true story.

Main Characters:

• Suh Yun-Bok (played by Yim Si-Wan, “Unlocked”, “Tracer”, “The King Loves”, “Emergency Declaration”, “Strangers From Hell”)
• Head Coach Son Kee-Jung (played by Ha Jung-Woo, “Hijack 1971”)
• Coach Nam Seung-Ryong (played by Bae Sung-Woo)

Where to Watch

Viewership and Rating:

• IMDb: 7.1 out of 10 stars
• My Drama List: 8.2 out of 10 stars
• Viki viewers rated this film: 9.8 out of 10 stars
• Letterboxd: 3.5 out of 5 stars

LINKS OF INTEREST:

Powerful Drama – Road To Boston review (2023) | MovieHooker

2023 Korean movie ‘Road to Boston’ Review & Explained | Drama Potatoes ❤️

[Herald review] ‘Road to Boston’: uplifting tale of Korea’s heroic marathoners | The Korea Herald

TRAILER/TEASER:

Kdrama Zone. “Road to Boston (2023) Official Trailer.” YouTube, 28 Aug. 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyDIXa16s1U.

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(3) Racket Boys (2021); 16 episodes

STORYLINE: Welcome to the club! Let’s make the game of badminton exciting. Yoon Hyeon-Jong moved from the city because he accepted a job as a coach of a boys’ badminton team at a middle school in the countryside. His son had to move with him. The team is about to be disbanded. His job is to create MAGIC! They have to get better than the girls’ badminton which ranks #1. No pressure. LOL.

• FUN FACTS: Badminton is a big deal in South Korea. Players have won gold medals in the Olympics. There are Badminton Clubs all across the country for all ages. It’s a part of the youth development program and the Korean National Badminton Championship is a prestigious event.

Main Characters:

• Yoon Hyeon-Jong (played by Kim Sang-Kyung, “Poong, The Joseon Psychiatrist 1 and 2”)
• Yoon Hae-Kang (played by Tang Joon-Sang, “Move To Heaven”)
• Bang Yoon-Dam (played by Son Sang-Yeon)
• Na Woo-Chan (played by Choi Hyun-Wook)
• Lee Yong-Tae (played by Kim Kang-Hoon)

Where to Watch

Viewership and Rating:

• IMDb: 4.8 out of 10 stars
• My Drama List: 8.7 out of 10 stars
• Dramabeans: 9.2 out of 10 stars
• Common Sense Media: 3 out of 5 stars
• Google users shared a public rating: 2.6 out of 5 stars

LINKS OF INTEREST:

SBS to air sports drama ‘Racket Boys’ | The Korea Times

Review: Racket Boys | The Fangirl Verdict (“Wholesome and quite excellent …”)

Good Ol’ Review: Hopeful and Heartwarming, SBS’ “Racket Boys” an Absolute Joy to Watch | DryedMangoez.com

Review | K-drama review: Racket Boys – Netflix family sports drama champions the country life in South Korea | South China Morning Post

TRAILER/TEASER:

Netflix K-Content. “Racket Boys.” YouTube, 19 May 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKB11P9Na6g.

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(4) Baseball Girl (2019)

STORYLINE: Female high school baseball player has to break through the gender barrier. Joo Soo-in wants to be the first female professional baseball player. Somebody’s got to be the FIRST. Why not her?

• FUN FACTS: Baseball like basketball came to South Korea by way of the American missionaries. The Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) League was established in 1982. There is a women’s national baseball team and they compete in international events such as the Women’s Baseball World Cup and the Women’s Baseball Asian Cup. The first South Korean female baseball player to be recognized is Kim Ra-kyung.

Main Characters:

• Joo Soo-In (played by Lee Joo-Young, “The Ghost Detective”)
• Choi Jin-Tae (played by Lee Jun-Hyuk, “Love Scout”, “Vigilante”, “Stranger 1 and 2” “Along With the Gods 1 and 2”, “Dark Hole”, “365: Repeat The Year”, “Designated Survivor: 60 Days”, “Are You Human?”)
• Soo-In’s mother (played by Yum Hye-Ran, “The Uncanny Counter 1 and 2”)
• Soo-In’s father (played by Song Young-Kyu, “Destined with You”)
• Lee Jung-Ho (played by Kwak Dong-Yeon, “My Strange Hero”, “Queen Of Tears”, “Big Mouth”, “Vincenzo”)

Where to Watch

Viewership and Rating:

• IMDb: 6.5 out of 10 stars
• My Drama List: 7.7 out of 10 stars
• Letterboxd: 3.4 out of 5 stars

LINKS OF INTEREST:

Review: Baseball Girl | The Reel Bits

Baseball Girl (2019) ☆☆☆(3/4): You will definitely root for her | Seongyong’s Private Place

Film Review: Baseball Girl 야구소녀 (2019) – South Korea | Neo Film Shop

TRAILER/TEASER:

MagaZinema. “BASEBALL GIRL.” YouTube, 5 June 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_lFVR-SMkE.

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