Physical: 100


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.
R/ Physical100

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.
NameOccupation / known for
Agent HKorea Navy UDT/SEAL reservist and YouTuber
CaroFitness vlogger
Cha Hyun-seungDancer and model
Cho Jung-myungLuger
Choi Hyun-miBoxer
Choo Sung-hoonFormer judoka and MMA fighter, television personality
Dustin NippertBaseball player
Hong Beom-seokRetired firefighter and Korea Army Special Forces master sergeant reservist
Jang Seong-minRugby player
Jeong Bo-kyeongJudoka
Jjang JaeKorea Navy UDT/SEAL reservist and YouTuber
Kang HanBobsledder
Kim Kang-minBodybuilder
Kim SikNational team skeleton coach
Kim Seong-hunTrainer
Kim Seong-junFitness model
Kim Ye-hyunFencer
Lee Yong-seungBodybuilder
Nam Kyung-jinWrestler
Park Jin-yongLuger
Park Seon-kwanSwimmer
Shim Eu-ddeumPilates instructor and YouTuber
Son Hee-chanSsireum wrestler
Son Hee-dongWrestler
Song A-reumBodybuilder
Woo Jin-yongCrossFitter and snowboarder
Yang Hak-seonArtistic gymnast, 2012 Summer Olympics gold medalist
Yun Sung-binSkeleton racer, 2018 Winter Olympics gold medalist
Kim Ji-hanVolleyball player
Yun Seok-hwanSwimmer
Kim Gyeong-jinFarmer
YoYoModel
Kwak Myung-sikCrossFitter and MMA fighter
CarlosCrossFitter
Park Jung-hoPrison guard
Kim Chun-riBodybuilder
Kkang MiKorea Army Special Forces reservist
An Da-jeongBodybuilder
Park Min-jiSsireum wrestler
Jang Eun-silWrestler
BbulkupRestaurant owner and YouTuber
Ma Sun-hoBodybuilder
Kang Chun-ilDancer, model and stage actor
Park Hyung-geunMMA fighter
Jo Jin-hyeongStrongman and car dealer
Miracle NelsonDancer and model
Kim Ji-wookDiver
Seong Chi-hyeonCasino employee
Yoo Sang-hunMMA fighter
Joo Dong-joMMA fighter
Lee Guk-youngMusical actor
Lee Ju-hyungIce hockey player
Seo Ha-yanCrossFitter
Choi Gyu-taeBallerino
Choi Min-yongMarathon runner
Choi In-hoTrainer
Florian KrapfAdvertisement model
Gil HwanScuba diver
Kim Min-cheolIce climber, Korea National Park mountain rescue ranger
Kim Byeong-jinTaekwondo practitioner
Kim Sang-wookMMA fighter, Korea Navy UDT/SEAL reservist
Kim Eun-jiFitness coach
Kim Jeong-ukRestaurant owner
Vita MikjuPole dancer
Park Jong-hyeokIllustrator
Park Seong-hyeokTrainer
Bang Ji-hoonBodybuilder
Hoju TarzanTravel YouTuber
Seol Ki-kwanBodybuilder
Shin Dong-gukFirefighter, Korea Army Special Forces reservist
Shin Bo-mi-raeBoxer
Shin Se-gyeStuntman
DboRapper
Austin KangChef
Yu Ga-ramRollerskater
Yun Jun-hyeoupModel
Lee Da-yeonSsireum wrestler
Lee Dae-wonTrot singer and MMA fighter
Lee So-yeongFitness model
Lee Jun-myeongCalisthenics coach
MihoFitness coach
Elaine Yuki WongActress
Jeon Min-seokCoast guard
Jeon YoungFilm choreographer and stuntman
Jeong Han-saemMusical actor
Jung Hae-minTrack cyclist
OVANSinger
Chae Wan-kiJiu-jitsu fighter
Ha Je-yongPower lifter and arm-wrestling champion
Hwang Bit-yeo-ulCrossFitter
Kim Kyung-baekKorea Navy UDT/SEAL instructor
Kim Da-youngStuntwoman
Lee Min-wooChef
Lee Ye-jiMMA fighter
Im Jeong-yunSports student
Jo Yeon-jooCheerleader
Jo I-taekActor
Choi Sung-hyeokPole dancer
Ko Da-youngPilates instructor
Park Ji-suRugby 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.
NameOccupation/known for
Kim Dong-hyunMMA Fighter
Hong Beom-seokFormer firefighter and Physical: 100 season 1 contestant
Sim Yu-riMMA Fighter
Kang Cheong-myeongKorea Coast Guard Officer
Lim Soo-jinBodybuilder
Ku Sung-hoeReserve Sergeant First Class
Ko Jong-hunSpecial Operation Unit Member
GibsonU.S. Army Major
Park Woo-jinKorea Coast Guard Officer
Seol Young-hoMMA Fighter
Jo Sung-binMMA Fighter
Ham Young-jinPolice Officer
Hunter LeeFBI Diplomat
Hwang Mun-kyeongFirefighter/Paramedic
Jang Sung-yeopBodybuilder
Lee Hyun-wooBodybuilder
Kang Eun-heeBodybuilder
Kim Nam-wookBodybuilder
Kim Min-suBodybuilder
Jung Ji-hyunWrestler
Jung You-inSwimmer
Shin Soo-jiRhythmic Athlete
Lee Won-heeJudo Athlete
Park Seung-hiShort-Track Speed Skater
Mo Tae-bumSpeed Skater
Andre JinRugby Team Athlete
Kim Do-hyeonBoxer
Kim Dong-hyunBobsledder
Kim Jee-hyukRowing Team Athlete
Kim Hyeong-kyuBoxer
Kim Hye-binWushu Sandy Team Athlete
Kang Min-suSports Climber
Park Da-solJudo Athlete
Park Yeon-suPowerlifter
Park Hee-junKarate Athlete
Seo Young-wooBobsledder
Kang Young-seoAlpine Skier
Eom Dae-hyunParkour Athlete
Lee Ye-jooKurash Athlete
Lee Jang-kunKabaddi Team Athlete
Chang Yong-heungRugby Athlete
Lee Hyun-jeongEducation Teacher
Jo Ha-rangHandball Team Player
Joo Min-kyungArm Wrestler
Choi Won-jaeCheerleading Team Athlete
Heo Kyung-heeRugby Team Athlete
Hwang Choong-wonProfessional CrossFitter
Lee Hyun-jinActor
Ko Hyo-jooSkateboarder
Hong Da-eunArborist
Power Who YamiCosplayer
Kim Ki-hyukAnnouncer
Kim AmugaeYouTuber
Ahn Sung-hwanCEO of a Food Service Company
Sim Sung-eonNurse
Son Yeong-seokOfficer Worker
Wi Sung-ohTrainer
Yoon Han-jinCollege Student
Jang Yoon-sungCEO of a Food Company Service
Jeon Hee-jeongStunt Performer
Jo HanCollege Student
Ju Sung-minDoctor of Korean Medicine
JuyangCEO of an Apparel Company
Kim Hee-hyunBallerino
Kim Bong-yunCarpenter
Kang Ji-kunJige Porter
Park Ha-yanHandball Player
Chong Te-seSoccer Player
Kim Ji-eunTrack and Field Athlete
Hwang Chan-seobSsireum Athlete
Kim Dam-biWeightlifter
Go Min-jungProfessional CrossFitter
Kim Yeong-chanTaekkyon Athlete
Ryu Si-hyunStreet Lifting Athlete
Amber YangProfessional CrossFitter
Lee Jun-haAmerican Football Player
Im Su-jeongSsireum Athlete
Kim Min-hoProfessional Wrestler
Jang Jun-hyukWrestler
Choi Soo-inBrazilian Jiu-jitsu Athlete
Hong Hyeon-junLong Driver Golfer
Ha Moo-kyungHandball Player
Lee Jae-yoonCanadian Actor
Kang So-yeonTV Personality
AmottiCrossFitter
KnucksDancer
Kwon Ga-youngFitness Model
Lee Jang-junLead Singer and Rapper of K-Pop Group Golden Child
Park Kwang-jaeActor
Lee Kyu-hoActor
GPTYouTuber
Noh Sung-yulMartial Arts Tricker
Lee Ho-yeonModel
Justin HarveyActor
Jeon Jong-hyeokSinger
Jung Dae-jinSports Model
Kang Seung-minYouTuber
Kim Woo-jooFashion Model
EmmanuelFitness Model
No 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 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 instructorWinner 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.

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 medalistTeam Leader 2 – Nam Kyung-jin, wrestlerTeam Leader 3 – Kwak Myung-sik, crossfitter and MMA fighterTeam Leader 4 – Choo Sung-hoon, former judoka and MMA fighter, television personalityTeam Leader 5 – Hoju Tarzan, travel YouTuberTeam Leader 6 – Kim Sang-wook, MMA fighter, Korea Navy UDT/SEAL reservist Team Leader 7 – Ma Sun-ho, bodybuilderTeam Leader 8 – Jo Jin-hyeong, strongman and car dealerTeam Leader 9 – Jang Seong-min, rugby playerTeam 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.
TeamTeam 1Team 2Team 3Team 4Team 5Team 6Team 7Team 8Team 9Team 10
LeaderYun Sung-binNam Kyung-jinKwak Myung-sikChoo Sung-hoonHoju TarzanKim Sang-wookMa Sun-hoJo Jin-hyeongJang Seong-minJang Eun-sil
MembersKim SikJjang JaeKang HanShin Bo-mi-raeDboOVANKim Kang-minJung Hae-minKim Ye-hyunSeo Ha-yan
MembersCha Hyun-seungPark Ji-suLee Jun-myeongKim Min-cheolShim Eu-ddeumJoo Dong-joJeong Han-saemPark Jin-yongSeong Chi-hyunMiho
MembersSon Hee-dongSon Hee-chanLee Min-wooWoo Jin-yongIm Jeong-yunAn Da-jeongMiracle NelsonCho Jung-myungChoi Sung-hyukYang Hak-seon
MembersSeol Ki-kwanHwang Bit-yeo-ulPark Jong-hyeokDustin NippertBang Seong-HyeokBang Ji-hoonSong A-reumKim Da-youngLee Guk-youngPark Hyung-geun
Team 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.
Winning teamLosing team
Match #1Team 10
Team 2
  • Nam Kyung-jin
  • Jjang Jae
  • Park Ji-su
  • Son Hee-chan
  • Hwang Bit-yeo-ul
    • Match #2Team 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 #3Team 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
  • Choi Sung-hyeok
  • Lee Guk-young
    • Match #4Team 4
  • Choo Sung-hoon
  • Shin Bo-mi-rae
  • Woo Jin-yong
  • Kim Min-cheol
  • Dustin Nippert
    		• Team 5
  • Hoju Tarzan
  • Dbo
  • Shim Eu-ddeum
  • Im Jeong-yun
  • Bang Seong-hyeok
    • Match #5Team 8
  • Jo Jin-hyeong
  • Jung Hae-min
  • Park Jin-yong
  • Cho Jung-myung
  • Kim Da-young
    		• Team 3
  • Kwak Myung-sik
  • Kang Han
  • Lee Jun-myeong
  • Lee Min-woo
  • Park Jong-hyeok

    • Quest 2.5: Revival challenge

    Exclusively for those who were eliminated in Quest 2, contestants were taken to another room, where they found their torsos hanging from the ceiling.
    The game required all contestants to hold onto a rope connected to their torso, with 40% of the contestant's total body weight added, for as long as possible to prevent it from falling to the ground and breaking apart. The last five contestants holding their rope re-entered the competition for Quest 3.
    Winners
    • Kim Sang-wook, who was elected as leader of the surviving team
    • Seong Chi-hyun
    • Choi Sung-hyuk
    • Shim Eu-ddeum
    • Lee Jun-myeong

    Quest 3: Ship moving challenge

    In Quest 3, the six teams had to join forces to create three teams of ten. The teams spent some time debating how they would join, with the last two excluded teams being joined by default.
    The combined teams of ten had to each work together to dig up oak barrels from the sand and load them onto a 1.5-tonne ship. The additional weight of the oak barrels was 0.5-tonne, meaning the combined load weighed 2.0 tonnes. The teams then had to drag/push the ship off a wooden platform onto logs in the sand, across the sand-filled arena on the logs, then up a wooden ramp until they could pull a mooring rope over an iron stake.
    The two teams with the fastest time progressed to the next Quest, while the team with the slowest time was eliminated.
    Team 1Team 2Team 3
    Team Members
  • Ma Sun-ho
  • Kim Kang-min
  • Jeong Han-saem
  • Miracle Nelson
  • Song A-reum
  • Yun Sung-bin
  • Son Hee-dong
  • Cha Hyun-seung
  • Seol Ki-kwan
  • Kim Sik
  • Jang Eun-sil
  • Seo Ha-yan
  • Yang Hak-seon
  • Miho
  • Park Hyung-geun
  • Kim Sang-wook
  • Seong Chi-hyun
  • Choi Sung-hyeok
  • Shim Eu-ddeum
  • Lee Jun-myeong
    • Time13:3419:5522:15
    Team 1 and Team 2 won with times of 13:34 and 19:55 respectively. Team 3 lost with a time of 22:15 and was eliminated.

    Quest 4: Team delegate challenge

    The remaining 20 contestants returned to their original teams of five, deciding who among them would compete in each of five different games based on ancient mythology. The winner of each game would advance to the final, while the remaining contestants would be eliminated.
    Game 1: Punishment of Atlas
    The Punishment of Atlas had contestants hold a rock for as long as possible, until only one was left standing.
    Winner
    • Jo Jin-hyeong
    Eliminations
    • Shin Bo-mi-rae
    • Kim Kang-min
    • Kim Sik
    Shin Bo-mi-rae was unable to lift the stone above her shoulders at all. Kim Kang-min dropped out after about 15 minutes. At just past the two hour mark, Kim Sik also dropped out, leaving Jo Jin-hyeong as the winner. Jo later commented that he was near his own breaking point.
    Game 2: Fire of Prometheus
    The Fire of Prometheus had contestants running through an obstacle course in repetition to grab a torch; the person holding the last torch would win.
    Winner
    Eliminations
    Nippert stumbled on the first obstacle in the first rep, and never regained the pace of the other three. The remaining matches were closer, hinging on Park Jin-yong scaling the obstacle cleanly and landing in a position to immediately begin running, while Miracle's body was twisting as he came over, leaving him just a moment slower to start running towards the torches.
    Game 3: Wings of Icarus
    The Wings of Icarus had contestants climb a rope and endure climbing for as long as possible, until only one contestant remained.
    Winner
    • Kim Min-cheol
    Eliminations
    • Song A-reum
    • Kim Da-young
    • Son Hee-dong
    Song A-reum and Kim Da-young, the last two women in the competition, dropped out first. Son Hee-dong lasted a little bit longer, but ice climber Kim Min-cheol was easily able to secure victory.
    Game 4: Tail of Ouroboros
    The Tail of Ouroboros had contestants chase each other around a track in a bid to tag out the person ahead of them, until only one remained.
    Winner
    • Woo Jin-yong
    Eliminations
    The Punishment of Sisyphus had contestants push a 100 kg boulder up and over a hill every 40 seconds, as many times as possible, until only one remained.
    Winner
    • Jung Hae-min
    Eliminations
    All four were able to push the boulder over the hill many times, with the winner having the greatest stamina and cardio endurance.

    Quest 5: The final quest

    The five survivors who competed in the final quest of Physical: 100 were Jo Jin-hyeong, Park Jin-yong, Kim Min-cheol, Woo Jin-yong, and Jung Hae-min. They competed in four games, with one contestant being eliminated in each game. The contestants started in a pentagonal formation, reducing at each stage until it became a dot.
    Game 1
    The first game was a five-way tug of war, with all contestants trying to secure a key in front of them in order to unlock their padlock. Kim Min-cheol and Woo Jin-yong were the last two to unlock their padlocks, and did so nearly simultaneously.
    Replays showed that Woo unlocked himself about a second before Kim did, resulting in Kim being eliminated even though he was a favourite to win following his victories in many of the prior quests.
    Game 2
    The second game was a "square flip" challenge. The remaining four contestants split into teams of two and tried to flip as many tiles as possible for five minutes. The playing field contained 66 tiles, with 33 of each colour facing up to begin the match. One side of each tile was white and the other was black, and the team with most tiles flipped to their colour won. The losing team had to compete with each other one on one for three minutes.
    Jung Hae-min, as the first competitor to release himself in the tug-of-war game, was allowed to select his partner. After first selecting Woo Jin-yong, he changed his mind and instead selected Park Jin-yong. This team won the first team round by a score of 37–29. This left Jo Jin-hyeong and Woo Jin-yong to go head-to-head to progress to the third game. The smaller and quicker Woo easily won the head-to-head round 48-18, meaning Jo Jin-hyeong was eliminated.
    Game 3
    The third game was a triangular shuttle run, with the remaining three contestants forced to run back and forth between their start point and the "next apex" before the next start signal. As the game progresses, the time to complete the shuttle runs gets shorter.
    The contestant who could not make it back to their original point before the next signal lost the game. After 85 reps, done without cease, Park Jin-yong collapsed at his starting position, which led to his elimination.
    Game 4
    The fourth and final game was infinite rope-pulling. The two contestants had to pull their rope until it was loose, grab the other end of the rope, and then destroy their opponent's torso.
    Woo Jin-yong won the final game and thus won Physical: 100, while Jung Hae-min was eliminated. Woo was personally covered in both Insider and The Straits Times after his victory on the show.

    Season 2

    Quest 0: Treadmill Run

    Contests ran on manual treadmills for 10 minutes. 50 contestants with the highest total distance ran for an additional 7 minutes. From that group, 10 contestants with the highest total distance ran for a final 5 minutes. Contests were then ranked from 1 to 100 with 1 assigned to contestant who ran the farthest distance, and 100 assigned to contestant who ran the shortest distance.

    Quest 1: Death Match Challenge

    Same as season 1 except for changes to the arenas - there are now 3 arenas to choose from:
    • Playground
    • Water
    • UFC cage

    Quest 2: Maze Race

    Quest 2 in Season 2 is similarly a five-on-five death match, except in this case sand in bags ranging from six kilograms to 20 kilograms are placed in the center of a maze, special supplies weigh more and are hiding in the corners of the maze. Three balancing scales are distributed across the maze. The team with control of 2 out of 3 scales by the end of 15 minutes wins the match and the other team is eliminated.

    Quest 2.5: Pillar Challenge

    Contestants eliminated during quest 2 are given an opportunity for redemption. Contests must secure one of 1 to 10 poles by hugging it and being in control of the pole by the end of each 3 minute round. A single winner chose 4 fellow contestants to return to the game as a 6th 5-member team.

    Quest 3: Mine Challenge

    Teams select who to participate in each of 4 rounds. First place team in each round earns 3 points, second place earns 2 points, and third place earns 1 point. Every team member must participate at least once. The team with the lowest points at the end of the 4 rounds is eliminated. In case of a tie in points, the team with the higher overall time is eliminated.
    Round 1
    Two contestants take turns pushing mine carts down a track, loading it with sand bags weighing 40 kilograms each, and pushing the loaded mine cart back to the starting position. The total weight is 2 metric tons.
    Round 2
    A single contestant uses the same mine carts and track to transport 1.2 metric tons of sandbags.
    Round 3
    Two contestants participate in a relay race where each contestant must travel the length of the course on monkey bars while pushing a bag on a sliding track.
    Round 4
    A single contestant completes both laps on their own.

    Quest 4: Hi-Roller Challenge

    Team members compete with each other in a survival race. For each team, each team member must run to one end of course and drag a roller weighing 150 kilogram back to the start. They repeat this for a second roller before running across the course one last time. The slowest contestant is eliminated and the race is repeated until only one team member remains. This is repeated until only one team member remains per team. Lee Hyun-Jeong, Park Ha-Yan, and Jung You-In were the remaining 3 women in the competition and were the first ones to drop out in each heat.

    Quest 5: World's Strongest Man

    The Final Four athletes compete for the title with one athlete being eliminated in each round. This challenge is called World's Strongest Man. It consists challenges for 3 rounds, torso hoist, infinity coal squat, and clockwise pole push.
    Round 1
    Similar to the redemption challenge in Season 1, each contest holds a rope connected to a pulley and their plaster torso plus additional weight adding up to 40% of their body weight. The first person to drop their plaster torso is eliminated.
    Justin John Harvey was eliminated.
    Round 2
    Contestants must squat increasingly heavy weights in response to a timer. The contestant who fails first is eliminated.
    Andre Jin was eliminated.
    Round 3
    Contestants must push a bar from opposing ends to knock over a pole. Best 2 out of 3 wins the title.
    Hong Beom-seok won the first round. Amotti won the second round. Amotti won the third round.
    Hong Beom-seok was eliminated.
    Amotti won the title of Physical 100 Champion.

    Reception

    Viewership

    The show rose to be the most popular non-English show on Netflix on the third and fourth week after its release.

    Critical response

    The show received positive remarks from critics for destroying misconceptions around Oriental bodies and expanding the definitions of strength. Some critics praised the show for "shattering the gender barrier" by showing women competing on par with elite male athletes, though others, such as Rachael Joo, an associate professor of American studies at Middlebury College, pointed out that the show coincided with a heightened attitude against gender equality in South Korea by designing stages favorable to those with a male body.

    Controversies

    While the production team stated that there was no rematch in the final game, semi-finalist Jung Hae-min claimed that the final game was filmed twice. In the initial match, the game was halted by Woo's complaints of the equipment and again halted by the production team to oil the machines. When Jung was about to win again, the production team asked to move to a different location, citing issues with audio recording.
    Many viewers alleged on social media that there was steroid use among the contestants. Some viewers also alleged that one of the contestants, Kim Da-young, was a school bully, and claimed that it was ironic for her to appear on a show that is not supposed to condone violence.

    In popular culture

    On February 15, 2023, Netflix posted a tweet commending the women appearing on the show.
    A TikTok challenge called the "hanging challenge", inspired by Quest 0 of the show, encourages participants to hang from a bar to test how long they can hold on. Participants often use the same hanging style of the show's contestants to hold on for a longer time.