Woo Do-hwan Discusses Intense Preparation for Netflix's 'Bloodhounds 2'

Actor Woo Do-hwan opens up about maintaining a boxer's physique for the Netflix series 'Bloodhounds 2'. His dedication to self-discipline not only resulted in an impressive physical transformation but also showcased his passion for action and deep affection for the project.

On October 9th, Woo Do-hwan shared insights into his preparation process during an interview for 'Bloodhounds 2' at a café in Samcheong-dong, Seoul. The series follows Geon-woo and Woo-jin as they take on a global illegal boxing league after dismantling a notorious loan shark organization. Woo Do-hwan plays Geon-woo, while Lee Sang-yi portrays Woo-jin.

Woo Do-hwan revealed that he focused on building a more robust physique for season 2 compared to season 1. "In season 1, I just had a boxer's body, but for season 2, I had about 3-4 months to prepare," he said. "I ate four meals a day. Eating continuously until bedtime made my face a bit fuller."

He added, "After workouts, I always ate chicken breast, and when I got tired of it, I ordered chicken from Zicoba and ate it with rice. I consumed four bowls of rice a day."

Woo Do-hwan continued, "From morning until bedtime, I only exercised. I went to action school in the morning, hit the gym at noon, rested, and then ran at night. Maintaining stamina was crucial to avoid injuries."

Despite achieving a physique beyond that of a human weapon, Woo Do-hwan faced challenges during filming. "I lived with muscle pain during the shoot and took muscle relaxants daily," he explained. "There were many running scenes. In episode 1's ending, I ran barefoot, and in episode 3, I had to follow a parkour expert. My thigh muscles were exhausted."

Nevertheless, Woo Do-hwan finds a unique charm in action scenes. "You can tell if an action scene is good or not just by watching the rough cut. It's precise, which I like," he said. "When an action one-take goes well, adrenaline kicks in. It makes me feel alive."

While 'Bloodhounds 2' delivered top-notch fight sequences, there were some shortcomings. The storytelling of characters like Choi Sa-jang (played by Heo Joon-ho) and Cha Hyun-joo (played by the late Kim Sae-ron) in season 1 was so strong that the action in season 2 seemed merely a means to an end.

Woo Do-hwan commented, "Since Geon-woo and Woo-jin's narratives were already established in season 1, I thought there wasn't much more to add. Including too much of the villain's story could make it drag. We aimed for more density by reducing the episodes from 8 to 7."

He added, "The director seemed to want to eliminate sympathy for the villains, allowing viewers to fully support Geon-woo and Woo-jin. I also played a villain in the director's previous work 'The Divine Fury' and was instructed not to evoke any sympathy for my character."

With the success of seasons 1 and 2, anticipation for 'Bloodhounds' season 3 is already building. The ending of season 2 hints at a potential continuation, sparking speculation that it could become a series akin to Ma Dong-seok's 'The Outlaws'.

Woo Do-hwan humorously remarked, "Like 'The Outlaws', our work might be a frontrunner in Korean action films. Even though it's boxing, Ma Dong-seok has his unique action style, and we have ours. We have two leads (Woo Do-hwan, Lee Sang-yi), which gives us an advantage." He shyly smiled, recalling a chance encounter with Ma Dong-seok where his action skills were acknowledged.

Given the lengthy preparation and filming periods, Woo Do-hwan's affection for 'Bloodhounds' and his character is evident. At the end of the interview, he expressed a special attachment to his character.

"If I have a son in the future, I want to name him Geon-woo. Woo Geon-woo. Geon-woo is diligent, responsible, thinks of others before himself, and is transparent. I hope my son Woo Geon-woo will be like that."

By Yeji Ryu, TenAsia Reporter ryuperstar@tenasia.co.kr