Physical: 100 () is a South Korean reality competition series on Netflix created by MBC producer Jang Ho-gi. The first season premiered on January 24, 2023. The second season premiered on March 19, 2024. After the second season ended, a spin-off titled, Physical: Asia, was announced, and would include people from many countries in Asia.
The show's premise is to find the ideal human physique based on performance.
Format 100 competitors, all known for their well-developed physical attributes and physique, go head-to-head in various individual and team challenges, or 'quests' of strength, balance, agility, endurance, willpower and strategy. The competition is formatted like a tournament. After each quest, participants are eliminated until only one remains to win the prize of (≈ ). Every participant has a plaster cast of their torso on the set; when they are eliminated, they must destroy the cast with a sledgehammer.
The show has often been compared to Squid Game, a 2021 South Korean survival drama television series, for their similarities in the large scale competition-elimination format with elaborate challenges and set, as well as the same nation of origin.
Participants
Season 1 The show started off with 100 participants, 77 men and 23 women, with some being eliminated each episode. Many of the contestants were professional sportspeople for South Korea's national teams and fitness influencers.
+ List of season 1 participants Name Occupation / known for Agent H Korea Navy UDT/SEAL reservist (petty officer first class) and YouTuber Caro Fitness vlogger Cha Hyun-seung Dancer and model Cho Jung-myung Luger Choi Hyun-mi Boxer Choo Sung-hoon Former judoka and MMA fighter, television personality Dustin Nippert Baseball player Hong Beom-seok Retired firefighter and Korea Army Special Forces (707th Special Mission Group) master sergeant reservist Jang Seong-min Rugby player Jeong Bo-kyeong Judoka Jjang Jae Korea Navy UDT/SEAL reservist (petty officer first class) and YouTuber Kang Han Bobsledder Kim Kang-min Bodybuilder Kim Sik National team skeleton coach Kim Seong-hun Trainer Kim Seong-jun Fitness model Kim Ye-hyun Fencer Lee Yong-seung Bodybuilder Nam Kyung-jin Wrestler Park Jin-yong Luger Park Seon-kwan Swimmer Shim Eu-ddeum Pilates instructor and YouTuber Son Hee-chan Ssireum wrestler Son Hee-dong Wrestler Song A-reum Bodybuilder Woo Jin-yong CrossFitter and snowboarder Yang Hak-seon Artistic gymnast, 2012 Summer Olympics gold medalist Yun Sung-bin Skeleton racer, 2018 Winter Olympics gold medalist Kim Ji-han Volleyball player Yun Seok-hwan Swimmer Kim Gyeong-jin Farmer YoYo Model Kwak Myung-sik CrossFitter and MMA fighter Carlos CrossFitter Park Jung-ho Prison guard Kim Chun-ri Bodybuilder Kkang Mi Korea Army Special Forces (707th Special Mission Group) reservist (sergeant first class) An Da-jeong Bodybuilder Park Min-ji Ssireum wrestler Jang Eun-sil Wrestler Bbulkup Restaurant owner and YouTuber Ma Sun-ho Bodybuilder Kang Chun-il Dancer, model and stage actor Park Hyung-geun MMA fighter Jo Jin-hyeong Strongman and car dealer Miracle Nelson Dancer and model Kim Ji-wook Diver Seong Chi-hyeon Casino employee Yoo Sang-hun MMA fighter Joo Dong-jo MMA fighter Lee Guk-young Musical actor Lee Ju-hyung Ice hockey player Seo Ha-yan CrossFitter Choi Gyu-tae Ballerino Choi Min-yong Marathon runner Choi In-ho Trainer Florian Krapf Advertisement model Gil Hwan Scuba diver Kim Min-cheol Ice climber, Korea National Park mountain rescue ranger Kim Byeong-jin Taekwondo practitioner Kim Sang-wook MMA fighter, Korea Navy UDT/SEAL reservist (sergeant) Kim Eun-ji Fitness coach Kim Jeong-uk Restaurant owner Vita Mikju Pole dancer Park Jong-hyeok Illustrator Park Seong-hyeok Trainer Bang Ji-hoon Bodybuilder Hoju Tarzan Travel YouTuber Seol Ki-kwan Bodybuilder Shin Dong-guk Firefighter, Korea Army Special Forces reservist Shin Bo-mi-rae Boxer Shin Se-gye Stuntman Dbo Rapper Austin Kang Chef Yu Ga-ram Rollerskater Yun Jun-hyeoup Model Lee Da-yeon Ssireum wrestler Lee Dae-won Trot singer and MMA fighter Lee So-yeong Fitness model Lee Jun-myeong Calisthenics coach Miho Fitness coach Elaine Yuki Wong Actress Jeon Min-seok Coast guard Jeon Young Film choreographer and stuntman Jeong Han-saem Musical actor Jung Hae-min Track cyclist OVAN Singer Chae Wan-ki Jiu-jitsu fighter Ha Je-yong Power lifter and arm-wrestling champion Hwang Bit-yeo-ul CrossFitter Kim Kyung-baek Korea Navy UDT/SEAL instructor Kim Da-young Stuntwoman Lee Min-woo Chef Lee Ye-ji MMA fighter Im Jeong-yun Sports student Jo Yeon-joo Cheerleader Jo I-taek Actor Choi Sung-hyeok Pole dancer Ko Da-young Pilates instructor Park Ji-su Rugby player
Season 2 The show started out with a 100 contestants, 72 men and 28 women. Most of the contestants are sportspeople for South Korea influence. The list is broken down into 5 groups: warriors, national representatives, natural body competitors, superstars, athletic celebrities. + List of season 2 participantsNameOccupation/known forKim Dong-hyunMMA FighterHong Beom-seokFormer firefighter and Physical: 100 season 1 contestantSim Yu-riMMA FighterKang Cheong-myeongKorea Coast Guard OfficerLim Soo-jinBodybuilderKu Sung-hoeReserve Sergeant First ClassKo Jong-hunSpecial Operation Unit MemberGibsonU.S. Army MajorPark Woo-jinKorea Coast Guard OfficerSeol Young-hoMMA FighterJo Sung-binMMA FighterHam Young-jinPolice OfficerHunter LeeFBI DiplomatHwang Mun-kyeongFirefighter/ParamedicJang Sung-yeopBodybuilderLee Hyun-wooBodybuilderKang Eun-heeBodybuilderKim Nam-wookBodybuilderKim Min-suBodybuilderJung Ji-hyunWrestlerJung You-inSwimmerShin Soo-jiRhythmic AthleteLee Won-heeJudo AthletePark Seung-hiShort-Track Speed SkaterMo Tae-bumSpeed SkaterAndre JinRugby Team AthleteKim Do-hyeonBoxerKim Dong-hyunBobsledderKim Jee-hyukRowing Team AthleteKim Hyeong-kyuBoxerKim Hye-binWushu Sandy Team AthleteKang Min-suSports ClimberPark Da-solJudo AthletePark Yeon-suPowerlifterPark Hee-junKarate AthleteSeo Young-wooBobsledderKang Young-seoAlpine SkierEom Dae-hyunParkour AthleteLee Ye-jooKurash AthleteLee Jang-kunKabaddi Team AthleteChang Yong-heungRugby AthleteLee Hyun-jeongEducation TeacherJo Ha-rangHandball Team PlayerJoo Min-kyungArm WrestlerChoi Won-jaeCheerleading Team AthleteHeo Kyung-heeRugby Team AthleteHwang Choong-wonProfessional CrossFitterLee Hyun-jinActorKo Hyo-jooSkateboarderHong Da-eunArboristPower Who YamiCosplayerKim Ki-hyukAnnouncerKim AmugaeYouTuberAhn Sung-hwanCEO of a Food Service CompanySim Sung-eonNurseSon Yeong-seokOfficer WorkerWi Sung-ohTrainerYoon Han-jinCollege Student (Special PhysEd)Jang Yoon-sungCEO of a Food Company ServiceJeon Hee-jeongStunt PerformerJo HanCollege Student (Sports and Leisure)Ju Sung-minDoctor of Korean MedicineJuyangCEO of an Apparel CompanyKim Hee-hyunBallerinoKim Bong-yunCarpenterKang Ji-kunJige PorterPark Ha-yanHandball PlayerChong Te-seSoccer PlayerKim Ji-eunTrack and Field AthleteHwang Chan-seobSsireum AthleteKim Dam-biWeightlifterGo Min-jungProfessional CrossFitterKim Yeong-chanTaekkyon AthleteRyu Si-hyunStreet Lifting AthleteAmber YangProfessional CrossFitterLee Jun-haAmerican Football PlayerIm Su-jeongSsireum AthleteKim Min-hoProfessional WrestlerJang Jun-hyukWrestlerChoi Soo-inBrazilian Jiu-jitsu AthleteHong Hyeon-junLong Driver GolferHa Moo-kyungHandball PlayerLee Jae-yoonCanadian ActorKang So-yeonTV PersonalityAmottiCrossFitterKnucksDancerKwon Ga-youngFitness ModelLee Jang-junLead Singer and Rapper of K-Pop Group Golden ChildPark Kwang-jaeActorLee Kyu-hoActorGPTYouTuberNoh Sung-yulMartial Arts TrickerLee Ho-yeonModelJustin HarveyActorJeon Jong-hyeokSingerJung Dae-jinSports ModelKang Seung-minYouTuberKim Woo-jooFashion ModelEmmanuelFitness ModelNo Seung-HyukDance Artist
Quests
Each quest differs regarding both the physical challenge as well as the number of contestants at risk of elimination.
Season 1
Quest 0: Hanging challenge The 100 contestants were split into two groups of 50 (based on a chosen number) and competed to hang from a bar raised above water for as long as they could. The contestants were ranked according to how long they hung onto the bar before falling into the water.
Winner from Group 1 – Kim Kyung-baek, Korea Navy UDT/SEAL instructor Winner from Group 2 – Kim Min-cheol, ice climber and Korea National Park mountain rescue ranger
Quest 1: Death match challenge Contestants compete one-on-one to gain possession of a ball. The contestant with possession of the ball at the 3-minute mark proceeded to the next Quest, while the other contestant was eliminated.
Before the quest, contestants were ranked based on their Quest 0 timing, and contestants that were ranked higher had the benefit to choose their opponent and the type of Battle Arena they want to compete in:
Battle Arena A included many obstacles, emphasizing contestant agility and speed. Battle Arena B was simpler, with a large flat area of sand with a pool of water in the middle, emphasizing contestant strength and grappling ability.
If neither contestant had possession after three minutes, the game was restarted with one minute on the clock. Half of the contestants were eliminated in the process (50).
Quest 2: Moving sand challenge Before Quest 2, the remaining 50 contestants were required to choose three contestants with whom they wanted to team up. The ten contestants with the most votes were declared team leaders and were ranked based on the numbers of votes they received.
Team Leader 1 – Yun Sung-bin, skeleton racer, 2018 Winter Olympics gold medalist Team Leader 2 – Nam Kyung-jin, wrestler Team Leader 3 – Kwak Myung-sik, crossfitter and MMA fighter Team Leader 4 – Choo Sung-hoon, former judoka and MMA fighter, television personality Team Leader 5 – Hoju Tarzan, travel YouTuber Team Leader 6 – Kim Sang-wook, MMA fighter, Korea Navy UDT/SEAL reservist (sergeant) Team Leader 7 – Ma Sun-ho, bodybuilder Team Leader 8 – Jo Jin-hyeong, strongman and car dealer Team Leader 9 – Jang Seong-min, rugby player Team Leader 10 – Jang Eun-sil, wrestler
Contestants lined up for the team leader they wanted to join. In order of their number of votes, each team leader picked four members to form a team of five. Contestants who were not chosen had to pick another team. +TeamsTeamTeam 1Team 2Team 3Team 4Team 5Team 6Team 7Team 8Team 9Team 10Leader Yun Sung-bin Nam Kyung-jin Kwak Myung-sik Choo Sung-hoon Hoju Tarzan Kim Sang-wook Ma Sun-ho Jo Jin-hyeong Jang Seong-min Jang Eun-sil Members Kim Sik Jjang Jae Kang Han Shin Bo-mi-rae Dbo OVAN Kim Kang-min Jung Hae-min Kim Ye-hyun Seo Ha-yan Cha Hyun-seung Park Ji-su Lee Jun-myeong Kim Min-cheol Shim Eu-ddeum Joo Dong-jo Jeong Han-saem Park Jin-yong Seong Chi-hyun Miho Son Hee-dong Son Hee-chan Lee Min-woo Woo Jin-yong Im Jeong-yun An Da-jeong Miracle Nelson Cho Jung-myung Choi Sung-hyuk Yang Hak-seon Seol Ki-kwan Hwang Bit-yeo-ul Park Jong-hyeok Dustin Nippert Bang Seong-Hyeok Bang Ji-hoon Song A-reum Kim Da-young Lee Guk-young Park Hyung-geunTeam colour After selecting their team members, team leaders picked the team that they would like to compete against, not knowing what the quest challenge would be.
For Quest 2, each team of five had to work together to build a bridge, and then carry bags of sand across the bridge. Teams were not allowed to pass bags of sand to another team member; they had to carry the bags of sand individually to the other end. After twelve minutes, the team with the least amount of sand accumulated was eliminated.
+Quest 2 Challenge ResultsWinning teamLosing team Match #1 Team 10 Jang Eun-sil Seo Ha-yan Yang Hak-seon Miho Park Hyung-geun Team 2 Nam Kyung-jin Jjang Jae Park Ji-su Son Hee-chan Hwang Bit-yeo-ul Match #2 Team 7 Ma Sun-ho Kim Kang-min Jeong Han-saem Miracle Nelson Song A-reum Team 6 Kim Sang-wook OVAN Joo Dong-jo An Da-jeong Bang Ji-hoon Match #3 Team 1 Yun Sung-bin Son Hee-dong Cha Hyun-seung Seol Ki-kwan Kim Sik Team 9 Jang Seong-min Kim Ye-hyun Seong Chi-hyun