10 Best South Korean Sports Dramas That Ooze Ted Lasso Vibes

Fans of South Korean dramas know that the genre offers the most compelling plots with unexpected twists and turns. And it doesn't matter if it's a simple feel-good rom-com or a gripping thriller. They always leave fans wanting more and thinking about the story long after the show is over.

However, Korean sports dramas are even bigger because they combine the ultimate spirit of a series about fierce competition and dream fulfillment with the much-loved K-narrative. So here are the ten most popular sports dramas in South Korea.

1. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo (2016)

The first show that would be perfect for sport fans to watch is Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo. The series follows a college girl with immense strength who, despite her athletic gifts, is completely insecure about herself. And all the pressure of being a student and sportswoman doesn't help her feel better.

However, her life changes for the better when she meets Jung Joon-hyung, a very skilled swimmer who has a much different outlook on life than she does. They become friends and support each other in their sports careers, and it's just so amazing to watch.

2. Racket Boys (2021)

The story of this series is set in a small town where nothing much happens. At the center of the story is Yoon Hae-kang, a talented badminton player who at some point in his life stopped caring about the sport. However, his father has found a way to encourage him to get back into the game. With the help of another coach, he formed a team of players, the Racket Boys, and made sure they made their way to stardom.

3. Twenty-Five Twenty-One (2022)

This sports K-drama has a very inspiring story at its core. The series focuses on Na Hee-do, a young fencer who really enjoys what she does. But due to the financial crisis in Korea, her school's team is shut down and she is left alone without her true passion. Along with her story, we witness the hard life of Baek Yi-jin, who is also struggling to find himself.

The series shows us an example of real support between young people and their determination to achieve their goals no matter what.

4. Prison Playbook (2017)

At the center of the story is an innocent man who is imprisoned after an unfortunate accident. The new life hits him hard, so he has to adapt to it in any way he can. Kim Je-hyuk is a very talented baseball player, and he is determined to use his skills to form an athletic community with his fellow inmates.

5. Hot Stove League (2019)

At the heart of this series is the typical story of an underdog baseball team and their struggles to become champions. However, the plot of this K-drama and the characters are so compelling that you don't even realize how you're rooting for them from the very beginning. The team manager, Baek Seung-soo, will do everything in his power to help the team called Dreams become the best.

6. Fight For My Way (2017)

The show follows two childhood friends, Ko Dong-man and Choi Ae-ra, and explores the deep and meaningful relationship they have formed over the years. Dong-man used to be a taekwondo athlete, but after health problems he gave up the sport. However, he never stopped dreaming of returning to the game. And Ae-ra is a very ambitious woman who also has a dream: she wants to be an announcer.

7. Mental Coach Jegal (2022)

Another K-drama that has a former taekwondo athlete as a main character. Je Gal-gil was forced to quit his career after a huge scandal, but after recovering from this harsh psychological trauma, he came back stronger than ever. However, he returns not as an athlete, but as a mental health coach who will help retired or depressed athletes.

8. Sassy Go Go (2015)

This classic teen drama revolves around two rival cheerleading teams: The Real King, who only have the best students, and the Baek Ho, who represent the bottom of the class. In the middle of this beef is Kang Yeon-doo, who tries to do everything to unite the two groups. The series blends heartfelt scenes with quirky humor to keep the viewers engaged in the story.

9. Short (2018)

Kang Ho-young suddenly discovers that he has extraordinary skills on the ice, and his talent also attracts the attention of a prestigious university famous for its short-track speed skating program. He enters the program, and thus begins a fierce competition with the already super famous Park Eun-ho, which leads them both to the true journey of self-discovery.

10. High School King of Savvy (2014)

The main character of the series is Lee Min-seok, a skilled hockey player in high school. But after an unexpected chain of events, he is forced to take over his brother's job because he looks exactly like him and so becomes the youngest executive in the company. The poor kid has to juggle his two new lives into one and try to keep his sanity in the meantime.