Kim Kyeong-Baek, an instructor in South Korea’s Underwater Demolition Team, Hong Beom-Seok, a former firefighter, and Song Chi-Hyun, a model and casino dealer were among the contestants who were injured during the 2 seasons of Physical: 100.
Jang Ho-Gi’s Physical: 100 is a South Korean reality competition series that features a hundred contestants at the peak of their fitness journeys. The show premiered in 2023 on Netflix. The contestants in the show compete with each other in individual as well as team challenges. Through these demanding trials, the contestants test the limitations of their physical capabilities.
The show invites participants who are Olympic athletes, military officers, and fitness influencers, among others. It follows strict elimination criteria with the winner receiving a cash prize worth 300 million won, which approximately equals USD 206,000.
“Physical:100” at present has two seasons streaming on Netflix, with an upcoming Season 3 confirmed to air in 2025. The new season is expected to expand its search across Asia in search of the “most perfect physique.”
Who got injured in Physical: 100?
Kim Kyeong-Baek’s Arm Injury
Kim emerged as the winner of Season 1’s pre-quest mission, popularly known as the “hanging challenge”, gaining acclaim from contestants and viewers. Olympics gold medalist Yang Hak- Seon was the runner-up in this round. Both contestants managed to hang from the beams for over fifteen minutes.
However, in an Instagram post from 2023, Kim revealed that while he had initially expected his arm to recover quickly, it did not. He experienced severe numbness in the area for nearly two months.
Injuries in Physical: 100’s Season 1’s One-on-One Death Matches
Elaine Wong, a former K-pop idol and contestant from Season 1, shared in an interview with AsiaOne, that several contestants had experienced injuries during the second challenge. The Death Match, which required the competitors to obtain a mudball, reportedly led to multiple injuries.
She mentions that some participants nearly drowned in the muddy pool of one of the two arenas in question. Another contestant sustained a leg chafing injury from the sand in the area. She further revealed that the competitors in the show have suffered through broken ribs, torn ligaments, and fractured knees.
Contestants continued competing despite their conditions. Despite not being shown on screen, ambulances were on standby and reportedly often transported participants in need of medical attention to the hospital.
Song Chi-Hyun’s Knee Injury
Song injured his knee during a Death Match contest on the show. He revealed his long recovery journey via an Instagram post in January 2023. The reel shows Song navigating his rehabilitation progress with resilience, initially using a wheelchair, and crutches to walk. However, the post did not confirm whether his injury resulted from his time on the show.
Hong Beom- Seok’s Severe Knee Injury
Hong initially competed in Season 1. However, he exited the show following a Death Match against finalist Jo Jin-Hyung. He returned in Season 2 and eventually sustained a severe knee injury in the final round while competing against Amotti.
During the challenge, Hong kept pushing himself to the limit, leading to his knee bending at an unnatural angle. He collapsed shortly after and was promptly treated by the medical team present before being transported to the hospital. Despite this setback, Hong graciously accepted his position as a runner-up and congratulated his opponent. He later shared the details surrounding his injury on YouTube.
Also Read :
list of episodes in physical 100
what is physical 100 about
FAQs about Physical: 100
A. Chang Yong-Heung left due to his commitments with the national rugby team.
A. The show is originally in Korean but has subtitles and dubbing available in several languages.
A. There is no officially available information about contestant payments. However, the winner receives a prize of 300 million won.
