Netflix Korea’s hit reality competition Physical is back — and this time, it’s going regional. The streaming giant has announced Physical: Asia, its “most ambitious edition yet,” featuring a high-stakes, nation-versus-nation battle among sports legends and celebrities from across the continent.
“What’s definitely different in this season is the sense of pride that comes from representing one’s country. It’s much stronger than I had imagined,” said producer Jang Ho-gi during the show’s press conference in Seoul.
An expansion of Physical: 100, the new edition transforms the individual battle royale into a regional face-off. Eight teams — from Australia, the Philippines, Thailand, Korea, Mongolia, Japan, Indonesia, and Turkey — will compete for national glory and a 1 billion won grand prize, more than triple the previous season’s reward.
“This season doesn’t just have the intense individual competition you saw in seasons 1 and 2. It also shows contestants giving their absolute best, representing their countries. And beyond the nation-versus-nation battles, there are plenty of stories and emotional moments that unfold, which I think make it unlike any other survival show you’ve seen before,” said Jang.
Each six-person squad features national icons, from Olympic medalists to martial arts champions. Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao leads Team Philippines; Australia’s lineup is fronted by former UFC champion Robert Whittaker; Korea’s team includes Olympic skeleton gold medalist Yun Sung-bin; and Japan’s is led by MMA fighter Yushin Okami.
Pacquiao, considered one of the greatest boxers of all time, said he didn’t hesitate to join. “I’ve been following the show for a long time and have always been very interested in it,” he said through a video call on Friday. “When the producer reached out to me, I immediately said yes, and I also wanted to show what I’m capable of physically.”
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While the title Physical: Asia sparked debate over its geographic scope, Jang clarified the show’s intent. “Although we named it ‘Asia,’ I think it would be best to see it as a show that’s expanding its reach across the region, since the show originally started in Korea,” he said. “Within that concept, we first selected countries that have distinct characteristics and a strong passion for sports.”
Rooted in Korean cultural aesthetics, Physical: Asia integrates regional traditions into its challenges — from judges donning the gat (traditional Korean hat) to the sound of the buk (Korean drum) echoing through the set. “We aimed to showcase various Asian cultures with Korea at the heart of it,” said Jang. “We designed the quest around Gyeongbok Palace’s Geunjeongjeon Hall, imagining what it would have been like if a sports event had been held at the place in the past. We even used buk as an homage to the 1988 Olympics.”
The show’s massive set, complete with a wrecked ship and ruined castle wall, also left contestants in awe. “Every time you walked in there, every time you felt the atmosphere, you felt like you were competing in an arena of the world, and it just added to, I guess, the atmosphere and the energy of every competition,” said Whittaker.
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A blend of athletic grit and cultural homage, Physical: Asia promises a spectacle of regional pride unlike anything Netflix has staged before.
The 12-episode series premiered its first four episodes on Tuesday, with new episodes released weekly.
