Physical: Asia creator reveals how he convinced boxer Manny Pacquiao to join show

SEOUL – Netflix Korea’s smash-hit reality franchise Physical (2023 to present) is back. This time, it is on a continental scale with Physical: Asia, featuring sports icons from across the region battling it out to be crowned the “top physical”.

Building on the global buzz of its first two seasons in 2023 and 2024, Physical: Asia marks the franchise’s first nation-versus-nation competition.

The new season brings together 48 contestants from eight countries – Australia, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Mongolia, the Philippines, Thailand and Turkey – in a test of physicality, wit and teamwork.

Each six-member team is led by some of its nation’s most celebrated sports personalities.

They include Team Korea’s Ultimate Fighting Championship pioneer Kim Dong-hyun and Physical: 100 Season 2 winner Amotti, along with Japan’s mixed martial arts legend Yushin Okami and Thailand’s muay thai world champion Superbon.

But

one of the most high-profile participants

is undoubtedly the Philippines’ Manny Pacquiao, the boxing legend and the only eight-division world champion in the sport’s history.

Series creator Jang Ho-gi, speaking at a press conference in Seoul on Oct 24, revealed how he managed to bring Pacquiao, 46, on board.

“We reached out to Pacquiao several times. He invited us to his home in the Philippines, where we got to watch him train and even shared a home-cooked meal together,” Jang said. “I explained the concept of the Physical series to him and he immediately agreed to join the show that same day.”

Jang described Physical: Asia as a fresh, Olympic-style competition exclusive to Netflix. In addition to the athletic spectacle, he said the series weaves in cultural elements.

“There was a strong interest in Korean culture,” he said. “We wanted to capture a range of Asian cultures with Korea at the centre, so we designed quests inspired by (former royal palace) Gyeongbokgung’s (main hall) Geunjeongjeon and incorporated drums as a tribute to the 1988 Seoul Olympics.”

He added: “I think discovering elements of Korean culture, history and broader Asian traditions will be another fun aspect for viewers.”

Some, however, have raised eyebrows at the inclusion of Australia and Turkey under the banner of Asia.

While Australia is often grouped with the region for geopolitical and economic reasons, it is geographically part of Oceania. Turkey, meanwhile, is a transcontinental country, spanning both Asia and Europe.

Addressing the debate, Jang said: “What sets our programme apart from other sports shows is that we look for the best physical abilities regardless of race or gender. In Season 1, we even had a participant from the US (former Major League Baseball player Dustin Nippert), and from the start, our goal has been to go beyond those boundaries.”

He added: “The use of the term Asia was meant to suggest expansion, not restriction. It was never about gathering only Asian participants.”

The first four episodes of Physical: Asia premiere on Netflix on Oct 28. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK