In case you missed it, Physical: Asia is the international spin-off series from the popular reality strength competition – Physical: 100. Instead of 100 contestants, teams of 6 from 8 countries are battling it out to represent Korea, Japan, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Mongolia, Türkiye, and Australia.
Whether you’ve seen Physical: Asia or are planning to start on the series, here are some fun facts you may or may not know about the show and its contestants. Don’t worry, no spoilers ahead.
Image credit: Netflix
Like many of us, you might be wondering why Singapore wasn’t chosen to be part of Physical: Asia. The show’s creator, Jang Ho-gi, said that these 8 countries were selected for their traditional sports and large sports fan bases.
Superbon from Thailand, Recep Kara from Türkiye & Orkhonbayar Bayarsaikhan from Mongolia (left to right).
Image adapted from: @superbon_banchamek, @kararecep52 & @matjaztancic via Instagram
In Thailand, they have Muay Thai; in Türkiye, they have oil-wrestling; and Mongolia has bokh – a traditional style of Mongolian wrestling. Being the melting pot that Singapore is, we don’t have a specific traditional sport that represents us. If we had one, it would be being the fastest walker and rushing into the MRT trains during the “Singapore Olympics”.
Image adapted from: Netflix K-Content via YouTube
While the show focuses on the teams and competitors from the other Asian countries, Jang still wanted to showcase Korean culture, and he did so through the referees’ attire.
Unlike the bright pink jumpsuits worn by the guards in Squid Game, he chose to pay homage to Korea by having the referees don a traditional Korean gat or hat. The rest of the outfit was a mix of the Korean Royal Guard uniform and that of Jeoseung Saja – the Grim Reaper.
Image credit: Netflix
Many viewers noted its resemblance to the outfit worn by the Saja Boys in KPop Demon Hunters.
Image credit: Netflix
After the first season of Physical:100, Mongolian sports content and marketing company, Spark Agency, reached out to the producers and suggested a Mongolia vs Korea spinoff series. However, at that time, the crew had just started shooting Physical:100 Season 2, and planned to expand the series internationally.
After they wrapped Season 2, Netflix extended an official invitation to Mongolia to participate in Physical: Asia. Jang felt that it was important to include other Asian countries on the show to demonstrate that Asian people, though genetically smaller in stature, are still strong.
Image credit: Netflix
4 members of Team Korea are alumni of Physical: 100. With only 6 people on each team, that makes more than half of Team Korea’s competitors. Wrestler Jang Eun-sil and former skeleton racer Yun Sung-bin were in Physical: 100 Season 1, with the latter making it to the semi-final; while in Season 2, MMA fighter Kim Dong-hyun and Crossfitter Amotti were hot favourite contestants. In fact, Amotti was the Season 2 winner.
While it might seem like an unfair advantage, Jang assures viewers that it was not, as the other competitors in Physical: Asia were picked for their prior experience in similar survival games.
Image adapted from: @_yushin_okami_ via Instagram, Attack on Titan
Not many can say they inspired a character in the pop-culture zeitgeist. Aside from being a renowned MMA fighter, Yushin Okami from Team Japan was also the inspiration behind the Attack Titan from Attack on Titan. If you’re unaware, Attack on Titan is a popular manga and anime from Japan. It was so popular that there was even an Attack on Titan exhibition in Singapore back in 2022.
Much like Yushin Okami, the Attack Titan is known for its strength, speed, and endurance. While it might seem like a reach, Hajime Isayama, the creator of Attack on Titan, confirmed that he wanted the titan to have the physique of a middleweight MMA fighter and used Yushin Okami’s body as a model for the character.
Image credit: @domtomato via Instagram
Dominic Di Tommaso, better known as Dom Tomato, from Team Australia, is a parkour and freerunning athlete who gained a huge following on Instagram and YouTube by performing death-defying flips and twists over obstacles and large gaps. Unlike other athletes who trained in a specific sport from a young age, you might be surprised to know that Dom did ballet and competitive figure skating as a child. He also worked as a garbage man before becoming the Red Bull athlete he is today.
Image credit: Dom Tomato via Facebook
This change in sporting ambitions could be said to be a full 180-degree about-turn, but perhaps we wouldn’t have real-life Spider-Man Dom today without ballet Dom.
Image credit: Netflix
This is the elephant in the room with no answers. Many viewers, including us, have wondered why Australia is competing in Physical: Asia. We can give Türkiye a pass, as its land sits more in Asia than Europe. If this show were Physical: APC, we would understand, but Asia?
Whether you’re looking for your next fitspo or series to binge with snacks – we won’t judge, but at least now you know a few fun facts about Physical: Asia that would hopefully make you appreciate the show more.
Read more about other series:
Cover image adapted from: Netflix, Netflix K-Content via YouTube, @_yushin_okami_ via Instagram
Technically, this is the second time Singapore has qualified for the Asian Cup.
This is your call to get up earlier for work.
As if we need another reason to visit the mall.
Look forward to free model-building workshops.
Earn some extra money on the side.
Mark your calendars for 15th December 2025.