Stronger Than Ever! Netflix 'Physical: Asia' Global Production Presentation Successfully Held!

Netflix's entertainment show 〈Physical: Asia〉 successfully held its global production presentation. The physical competition 〈Physical: Asia〉 featuring 8 Asian countries with their national flags took place on the 24th at the Harmony Ballroom of the Westin Seoul Parnas, attended by PD Jang Ho-ki, Kim Dong-hyun, Yoon Sung-bin, Kim Min-jae, Amoti, Jang Eun-sil, Choi Seung-yeon, the Philippines' Manny Pacquiao, Australia's Robert Whittaker, Japan's Okami Yushin, Thailand's James Rusa Mikae, Mongolia's Erkhengbayar Bayarsaihan, Turkey's Recep Kara, and Indonesia's Igetz Executioner.

PD Jang Ho-ki stated, “〈Physical: Asia〉 is a new form of national competition that can only be seen in the Netflix 〈Physical〉 series,” adding, “Please look forward to the legendary athletes from 8 countries who are giving their all for their national pride, and the birth of new characters that have not been seen in Korean content.” He continued, “This season expands from Korea to neighboring countries,” and emphasized, “We made efforts to invite sports athletes representing countries with distinct characteristics and high interest in sports. The competition venue themed around Gyeongbokgung Palace's Geunjeongjeon, traditional drums, and elements inspired by Asian origins will be fun points to explore Korean and Asian cultures.”

〈Physical: Asia〉 has a prize pool of 1 billion won. PD Jang Ho-ki emphasized, “Beyond the prize money, all athletes gave their best with pride in their country and physical prowess,” stating, “Since various cultures came together, we made sure there were no cultural discomforts or difficulties.”

〈Physical: Asia〉 features 48 participants, with 6 from each of Korea, Japan, Thailand, Mongolia, Turkey, Indonesia, Australia, and the Philippines, competing fiercely for national pride. The intense competition of hexagonal physical athletes challenging human limits, along with the diverse tactics, strategies, and teamwork from each country, is highly anticipated. Most importantly, the gathering of traditional sports athletes representing each Asian country's unique characteristics, from Korean wrestling to Mongolian wrestling, Turkish oil wrestling, and Thai Muay Thai, adds to the excitement.

Kim Dong-hyun, the first Korean UFC fighter known as 'Stun Gun', leads the Korean team. Kim Dong-hyun stated, “As I participated with the national flag on my chest, I approached it with the mindset of a national representative,” adding, “There was a casting that kept us on our toes and an atmosphere where everyone worked hard. We also approached it with the mindset of pouring everything we have into it.” Former skeleton national team gold medalist Yoon Sung-bin recalled, “In 〈Physical: 100 Season 1〉, it was an individual competition, so I didn’t feel the pressure of being on a team, but this time it’s a team competition, so I worked even harder and built stronger relationships with my teammates.” Wrestling champion Kim Min-jae expressed, “I felt a lot of pressure representing wrestling, and I worked even harder thinking that if I didn’t do well, it would harm the team.”

Former national wrestling representative and strong physical presence in 〈Physical: 100 Season 1〉, Jang Eun-sil revealed, “Since I was representing my team and country, I felt a greater sense of responsibility and increased my training volume to avoid being a burden to my teammates.” Amoti, the winner of 〈Physical: 100 Season 2 - Underground〉, added, “It was my responsibility if I didn’t perform well during 〈Physical: 100 Season 2 - Underground〉, but representing my country this season was a burden. I approached it with the thought that I must trust my teammates and work even harder.” CrossFit Asia champion Choi Seung-yeon stated, “I felt grateful yet pressured to represent Korea and worked hard to avoid being a burden.”

Philippine legend Manny Pacquiao, who made history by winning titles in 8 weight classes, expressed, “I was grateful to be part of 〈Physical: Asia〉,” stating, “The Philippines has a perfect combination of fast and strong athletes. The process of planning how to compete against other countries was exciting.” Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker from Australia said, “I am very proud of my Australian teammates who have excellent skills and capabilities,” emphasizing, “The strong power and capabilities are the strengths of the Australian team. The overwhelming scale of 〈Physical: Asia〉 was impressive.” Japan's fighting legend Okami Yushin, who holds the record for the most wins in UFC Asia, stated, “It is an honor to participate representing Japan,” adding, “Top athletes from judo, wrestling, mixed martial arts, baseball, swimming, etc., gathered, and I approached it with the determination to represent Japan. I was amazed by the endless sand dunes, the massive shipwrecks, and I believe global viewers will be surprised as well.”

James Rusa Mikae, a former volleyball player turned actor from Thailand, stated, “I was amazed by the massive scale throughout the filming,” adding, “I participated joyfully and happily. The Thai team also engaged actively and joyfully.” Mongolian traditional wrestler Erkhengbayar Bayarsaihan expressed, “Mongolia's strength lies in the athletes who have competed in various fields,” stating, “Please look forward to the patience of Mongolians. It was exciting to challenge in a tense situation where the scale of the venue was enormous and we didn’t know what kind of matches awaited us next.” Turkey's oil wrestling champion Recep Kara remarked, “Representing my country in 〈Physical: Asia〉 was a very good experience,” expressing gratitude to the production team for creating a perfect venue. “It was a time to fully experience Korean culture. We fought for the honor of our country, and it was an honor to compete without holding back.” Indonesian bodybuilder Igetz Executioner stated, “Indonesia's strength is its unity,” adding, “All athletes competed with passion, and the venue filled with Korean and Asian culture was amazing. It was a competition that was not just about physical prowess but a stage where passion and culture came together, and I hope this competition inspires viewers worldwide.”

The physical competition 〈Physical: Asia〉 featuring national flags will be released worldwide on Netflix on the 28th (Tuesday) at 4 PM. Following that, episodes 5-6 will air on November 4th (Tuesday) at 5 PM, and episodes 7-9 on November 11th (Tuesday) at 5 PM, and episodes 10-12 on November 18th (Tuesday) at 5 PM.