Netflix’s K-boxing action series “Bloodhounds” returns with heavier punches and a broader story line, as the Geon-woo and Woo-jin duo takes on a global illegal boxing league.
A production presentation for “Bloodhounds” Season 2, directed by Kim Joo-hwan, was held Tuesday morning at the Ambassador Seoul Pullman Hotel in central Seoul. Kim and cast members Woo Do-hwan, Lee Sang-yi and Jung Ji-hoon attended and discussed the new season.
Season 2 follows Geon-woo (Woo) and Woo-jin (Lee) after they took down a brutal illegal loan-sharking ring. This time, they face a larger opponent: an international underground boxing league ruled by money and violence, expanding the world introduced in Season 1, which premiered in 2023 and found global success for its bare-knuckle action.
Kim said he focused on intensifying what viewers liked in the first season. “I thought about how to show the boxing action and bromance that were loved in Season 1 in a stronger way,” he said. “I put the emphasis on making what people already know taste even better.”
Woo and Lee, reuniting after three years, said they worked to show their characters’ growth. Woo said he changed his physique to reflect Geon-woo’s drive to become a world champion. “To show that Geon-woo lived for three years with the goal of becoming a world champion, I gained 5 kilograms more than Season 1, for a total of about 15 kilograms,” he said.
“If Season 1 showed him as someone just starting out in society, this time I tried to show him as a bit more of an adult,” Woo added.
Lee said Woo-jin becomes Geon-woo’s coach and stays with him through every moment, describing the character with the keyword “responsibility.” “You’ll see how his sense of responsibility deepens as he tries to protect his people,” he said.
The two described their chemistry this season as “bromelo,” blending bromance and melodrama. Woo said they are “friends who have experienced losing someone precious,” adding that they are “a community of fate and a relationship like a support system.” Kim said, “When we filmed a scene where they cried together, I cried too. It’s the best bromance I’ve made.”
A major addition in Season 2 is Jung, who plays Baek-jeong, the ruthless architect of the illegal boxing league. The role marks Jung’s first time playing a villain since his debut.
“Playing a villain itself was a burden, but I had a thirst to try an evil role,” Jung said. “It felt good to be ‘trained’ by director Kim again after a long time. From an evil look to bulking up enough to box, I followed the director’s direction thoroughly.”
“I only thought about how to make the two main characters miserable,” he said. “You’ll end up hating me.”
The cast said the season’s draw is its rough-edged, straightforward action. Woo said that after Season 1 he wondered if there was more to show, “but there’s still a lot we can do with just our two fists.” Lee said that while AI is a trend, “for our project, we made it in an analog way, sweating for real.”
Jung also pointed to the dynamic among five members of the villain group. “The ‘bromance within the organization,’ where the bad guys envy and compete with each other, will also be interesting,” he said.
“Bloodhounds” Season 2 will be released April 3 on Netflix in more than 190 countries.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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