After the success of the grueling first season of Physical: 100, Season 2 had to go even bigger. The stakes are higher, the challenges more intense, and the filming location even more intimidating. The second season is subtitled Underground and is themed around a giant subterranean mine, with all the darkness and claustrophobia that entails.
Where was Season 2 Filmed in South Korea?
Physical: 100 Season 2 was filmed in Goyang, South Korea. As above, the backdrop was changed to a giant underground mine.
And it really is gigantic. In an interview with Lifestyle Asia, showrunner Jang Ho-gil revealed the set was much bigger than the previous season — in fact, almost double the size. Jang said: “I think this is probably the biggest studio for an unscripted show in South Korea.”
A mine-themed challenge in Physical: 100 Season 2 | Image via Netflix
Giant Underground Mine is the Theme in Season 2
The producer would go on to reveal the theme of the show, and the deliberate attempt to go in a completely different direction than the first season to create a show that feels refreshed after its first run. The theme of Physical: 100 Season 2 is an underground mine that captures the claustrophobic and imposing atmosphere of an underground arena, with Jang saying the set embodies “where all of someone’s greed, sacrifice, competition, and teamwork intertwine”.
The shift in timelines to the 50s and 60s inspired Jang, who chose the period when “mankind faced fierce competition and had to live against and fight against injustice.” The producers wanted to create a real atmosphere for this season, stating “(we) wanted it to feel like a whole universe that’s organically linked to each other.”
Does second season of Physical: 100 feel different?
Despite the different aesthetic, Physical: 100 Season 2 doesn’t feel a great deal different from its predecessor, which is what fans will have been hoping for. The idea of physique is still integral to the competition, as ultimately it is trying to determine which physique is the best — or at least most ideally suited to physical challenges. Molds of each contestant’s torso remain an important visual motif, however one key aspect of the second season that does make it feel slightly different is that the cast is more diverse.
Jang did mention this differentiator in the interview linked above, noting that the second season of the show includes more body types and people from different walks of life. This is reflected in the contestants, who range from the usual Olympic-level Judokas, MMA fighters, and CrossFit enthusiasts, to actors and influencers.
Physical: 100 was created by MBC’s producer Jang Ho-gi who would also direct the series. Season 1 was released from January 24 to February 21, 2023, and was the first unscripted Korean show to top Netflix’s non-English TV chart.
We’re also keeping track of all the Physical: 100 Season 2 results, if you want to follow along. We’ll have the latest winners and eliminations when Season 2 Episodes 5-7 drop on March 26.
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