Korean Male Actors Who Showed Exceptional Physical Ability — Some Even Inspired Named Challenges

Kim Mu-yeol’s on-screen force in the Netflix original series True Education—where his character Na Hwa-jin’s strength is explained by past service in a special forces unit—draws on the actor’s well-known dedication to fitness. Kim Mu-yeol—who plays Na Hwa-jin and is well known as a fitness enthusiast—recreated the character’s overwhelming strength so convincingly that he earned the nickname 'Korea John Cena.' Actors who portray powerful figures in films and series typically bulk up and cut fat to realize that presence. Here’s a look at the training methods these actors have shared publicly after displaying standout physical performances on screen.

The Kim Mu-yeol Challenge

Kim Mu-yeol has even inspired a workout challenge bearing his name. It started with the drama My Beautiful Bride. In that story, Kim Do-hyung, played by Kim Mu-yeol, is pursued by police who suspect him and by a shadowy organization after his fiancée Yoon Joo-young (Go Sung-hee) disappears. Having barely escaped encirclement, Kim Do-hyung trains his body to reset his mind. The push-up sequence Mu-yeol performs in that training montage quickly became a talking point. From a push-up position he bends his arms, puts his elbows down on the floor, slides his whole body backward, then pulls it back and straightens his arms. That motion, dubbed the 'Kim Mu-yeol challenge,' has been referenced every time he takes on a role that requires intense physical conditioning. More precisely, the move is called the moving push-up; it provides the basic benefits of a push-up while challenging the core even more. If you try it, make sure you practice on a floor where your elbows won't hurt when they touch, and wear socks or shoes so your feet can slide easily. Around the release of another film, Kim Mu-yeol appeared on Kim Jong-kook's YouTube channel and showed just how serious he is about training. Before talking about the movie he grinned and said, 'I came to work out with hyung,' and under Kim Jong-kook's coaching he repeatedly expressed amazement, genuinely showing his enthusiasm for training. Kim Jong-kook also praised Kim Mu-yeol's physical performance and complimented his usual fitness level.

Kim Ji-hoon Has a Challenge, Too

Like Kim Mu-yeol, Kim Ji-hoon has a challenge tied to his name. It’s a move that pushes core strength to the limit by combining an ab rollout with a push-up. While holding an ab roller (often called an ab slide), you perform a push-up and then extend the roller as far as possible before pulling it back in. Because this challenge demonstrates whole-body athletic ability, it has become a low-key proving ground among fitness enthusiasts. During the COVID-19 pandemic Kim Ji-hoon discovered a taste for training on a home pull-up bar and later, on the variety show I Live Alone, successfully completed ten bodyweight muscle-ups on the bar. Since then he has continued to develop his body by combining bodyweight exercise with yoga. He recently made a brief appearance on the YouTube channel of Oh Yo-han, who appeared on Steel Troops 3, and described bodyweight training as 'an exercise of taking one steady, turtle-like step at a time for the version of me that grows from yesterday,' adding that one particular benefit is that 'it really makes your body beautiful.'

Yu Ji-tae, a Bulking Powerhouse

Among actors who have recently shown strikingly different physical transformations, Yu Ji-tae stands out. Once known for a tall, well-lined, 'gentle' image, Yu displayed a heavy, bear-like physique as Jo Heon in the drama Vigilante. At the time the casting was announced some questioned, 'Yu Ji-tae as Jo Heon?' but when production stills were released the reaction turned to applause. Yu runs his own YouTube channel, sharing videos of his daily life and workouts. While preparing for Vigilante, he bulked up by doing 200 push-ups, 300 squats and 1 km on a rowing machine. He later worked with a trainer to cut fat, and during that period he performed everything from pull-ups to overhead extensions. He has, in fact, consistently trained even when his image was more 'gentle,' inviting guests such as comedian Yoon Hyung-bin, former AFC Angels Fighting featherweight champion Hong Jun-young, and 'Korean Zombie' Jung Chan-sung to appear on his channel. Yu has also built out his channel with a wide range of fitness content—a 6 km run, honest reviews of gym equipment he bought himself, and trying flying yoga—reinforcing his image as a tireless advocate for exercise.