Cover Watch K-drama athlete Kang Si-eol fall for a centuries-old gumiho in ‘No Tail to Tell’. Soccer, fate and supernatural forces collide in the rom-com that also stars Kim Hye-yoon (Photo: SBS)
Watch K-drama athlete Kang Si-eol fall for a centuries-old gumiho in ‘No Tail to Tell’. Soccer, fate and supernatural forces collide in the rom-com that also stars Kim Hye-yoon (Photo: SBS)
1 / 1
Meet the athletes from K-dramas who prove romance can happen off the field
Athletes in K-dramas don’t just compete on the field—they also capture hearts in the most unexpected ways. While some fall for fellow athletes, like weightlifting fairy Kim Bok-joo (Lee Sung-kyung) and swimming champion Jung Joon-hyuk (Nam Joo-hyuk) in Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo, others find love in the unlikeliest of places.
From a mysterious gumiho and a soccer player to a sprinter and a film translator, these K-drama athletes discover that romance doesn’t always follow the rules of the game. Whether it’s overcoming curses, defying fate or the coming together of entirely different worlds, their love stories prove that even the most disciplined athletes can be swept off their feet by fate—and sometimes, by someone who couldn’t be more unexpected.
In case you missed it: 10 of the biggest K-dramas to watch, from ‘Squid Game’ to ‘World of the Married’
Soccer player and gumiho: Kang Si-eol (Park Solomon) and Eun-ho (Kim Hye-yoon) in ‘No Tail to Tell’ (2026)
Above A soccer player and a gumiho fall in love. No, it’s not the start of a dad joke. It’s a K-drama starring Park Solomon and Kim Hye-yoon
The latest addition to the list of K-drama athletes who have found unexpected romance is Kang Si-eol (Park Solomon) from No Tail to Tell. Si-eol is a star soccer player whose life takes an unexpected turn when he crosses paths with Eun-ho (Kim Hye-yoon), a centuries-old gumiho, or nine-tailed fox, who has spent generations manipulating humans for her own gain.
At first glance, they couldn’t be more incompatible. Si-eol is brash, proud and used to getting his way, while Eun-ho is mischievous and unapologetically self-serving, but when fate intervenes, there’s not much soulmates can do. Not even karma, deities, shifting timelines—or even death—can keep them apart.
See more: 3 things to know about ‘Lovely Runner’
Archer and shaman: Bae Gyeon-woo (Choo Young-woo) and Park Sung-ah (Cho Yi-hyun) in ‘Head Over Heels’ (2025)
Above ‘Heaven and Earth Fairy’ Park Sung-ah is determined to lift the curse on archery champ Bae Gyeon-woo
The unlikely object of this K-drama athlete’s affection is a shaman. Bae Gyeon-woo (Choo Young-woo) is a high school archery champ with a curse hanging over him. Enter “Heaven and Earth Fairy” Park Sung-ah (Choi Yi-hyun), a young shaman who gets hit with Cupid’s arrow the moment Gyeon-woo walks through the door. Determined to save him from his fate, she does everything in her power to protect him and lift the deadly curse he is under.
It’ll take a while before Bae Gyeon-woo returns her affection. Having been scammed by shamans his entire life, he harbours a deep-seated mistrust of them. But it’s hard to resist the cheery Park Sung-ah, so, despite himself, he eventually falls head over heels for the shaman fairy.
See more: 10 must-watch TV shows with Choo Young Woo before the release of ‘Love Doctor’
Track and field sprinter and film subtitle translator: Ki Seon-gyeom (Im Si-wan) and Oh Mi-joo (Shin Se-kyung) in ‘Run-On’
Above Im Si-wan plays a K-drama athlete who falls for a translator in the slow-burn romance, ’Run-On’
Ki Seon-gyeom (Im Si-wan) and Oh Mi-joo (Shin Se-kyung) meet-cute not once but three times—four, if you ask Seon-gyeom—and in K-dramaland, that could only mean one thing: they’re meant for each other.
The road to romance doesn’t run smoothly for our couple, though. Coming from different worlds, there’s plenty that gets lost in, well, translation. It often feels like Seon-gyeom and Mi-joo are speaking different languages. Only through honest communication and understanding do they finally find common ground.
Fencer and journalist: Na Hee-do (Kim Tae-ri) and Baek Yi-jin (Nam Joo-hyuk) in ‘Twenty Five Twenty One’ (2022)
Above Na Hee-do, played by Kim Tae-ri, is a fan-favourite K-drama athlete
Easily one of the most beloved K-drama athletes is Na Hee-do (Kim Tae-ri) from Twenty Five Twenty One. A promising young fencer, Na Hee-do overcomes fierce rivalry, the South Korean IMF Crisis and growing pains to become a top national athlete.
Through all her struggles—both in sports and in life—she finds a steadfast ally in Baek Yi-jin (Nam Joo-hyuk). What begins as a tender friendship in youth slowly grows into a sweet romance in adulthood. But as Yi-jin pursues his career as a journalist, distance and the realities of adulthood begin to test the relationship between the fencing star and the reporter who once stood by her side.
MMA fighter and announcer: Ko Dong-man (Park Seo-joon) and Choi Ae-ra (Kim Ji-won) in ‘Fight for My Way’
Above In the K-drama ‘Fight for My Way’, Park Seo-joon and Kim Ji-won pursue their dreams
Another fan-favourite K-drama athlete is Ko Dong-man (Park Seo-joon) in Fight for My Way. The series is reportedly inspired by the real-life love story of mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Choo Sung-hoon and his wife, model Yano Shiho.
The coming-of-age rom-com follows childhood friends Ko Dong-man and Choi Ae-ra (Kim Ji-won) as they chase their dreams while navigating life’s disappointments and uncertainties. Dong-man, a one-time taekwondo prodigy, finds his second chance in MMA. Ae-ra, meanwhile, pursues her own dream of becoming an announcer. Through setbacks and small victories, the two remain by each other’s side, and before they know it, their longtime friendship blossoms into a heartfelt romance.
See more: Park Seo-joon: 9 things you may not have known about the actor
From overcoming life’s challenges to surviving supernatural encounters, these K-drama athletes show that love can be just as thrilling as any competition. Whether on or off the field, their unexpected romances remind viewers that the heart often follows its own rules, proving that love is the ultimate victory.
Maggie Adan is a content writer, editor, and strategist with extensive experience across print, digital, and social media publishing. Formerly editor-in-chief at K-Zone Philippines, Summit Books and Content Lab, she has written lifestyle stories covering everything from entertainment and travel to beauty and wellness. A storyteller at heart with a keen editorial eye and a passion for narrative, she contributes to various publications and helps brands create and curate content for their social media platforms.
