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On April 8, Lee Sang Yi sat for an interview for his latest action K-drama Bloodhounds Season 2, during which he spoke about the possibility of a new installment, the success of Season 2, and the efforts he made in preparation for the new season.
Bloodhounds follows two young boxers who take down a powerful loan shark. Returning with Season 2, it is now set against the backdrop of a global underground boxing league, where Geon Woo (Woo Do Hwan) and Woo Jin (Lee Sang Yi) face off against Baek Jeong (Rain).
First released in 2023, Bloodhounds thrilled audiences worldwide with its intense action, as two young boxers faced off against illegal loan sharks with nothing but their fists. The series returned for a second season, promising a grander scale and intense action.
Lee Sang Yi commented on the production and release of Season 2, saying, "It was only possible because so many Netflix viewers watched and supported it. I'm very grateful. Since this is my first time doing a multi-season series, when you look at American dramas, they often go on to Season 7 or 8, don't they? If given the opportunity, I hope it can continue [for further seasons]."
Lee added, "It would be a lie to say we didn’t have any concerns about Season 2. Among ourselves, we thought a lot about how it could be [made] better than Season 1. Since it's an action drama, we focused on what kind of visually exciting action and performance we could bring." "Following the instruction to show more growth than in Season 1, instead of portraying a boyish image, we aimed for a more mature, youthful (young adult) side [for the characters], and it seems the director wrote the script with that in mind."
Talking about the possibility of Season 3, Lee Sang Yi said, "I honestly don't know about a Season 3. The decision for the next season isn't up to us. It's up to Netflix. A post-credits scene (seeming to tease Season 3) was shown, wasn't it? We didn't really know while filming, but we found out afterward, so I'm not sure about Season 3 either. Watching the post-credits, it definitely felt like it was made with a third season in mind. It was fun."
Bloodhounds 2 ranked No. 2 on Global Netflix Top 10 (non-English) just three days after its release. "It's a bit of a shame since it was so close to reaching No. 1. Since we're doing it anyway, I wish it could have gone all the way to the top. But I'm very grateful even for No. 2 as well."
Lee Sang Yi also shared about building his physique for Season 2. "Since I had already properly built my body during Season 1, it wasn't as difficult this time compared to then. For Season 1, my body fat was around 7–8%, and although I didn't check it with an InBody scan this time, I think I was able to reach the condition I wanted pretty quickly." "Filming started around December the year before last and seemed to have wrapped up around last summer, while [I started] working out and getting in shape around March or April. Since (Woo Jin) is a coach, there weren't many scenes early on where I had to show my body, so I worked out for about 4–5 months while also starting to learn boxing. This time, because he's a coach, I approached building my physique with more of a late-starter mindset."
He continued, "In terms of character-specific action, Woo Jin is left-handed, so rather than just learning boxing through action school choreography, I also trained a lot in real, practical boxing. Since his fighting skills aren't really [emphasized a lot], we decided to focus on landing a one knockout punch. Because Woo Jin is witty and playful, we worked on [the kind of] action that targets the opponent mentally."
Lee Sang Yi also revealed that he even participated in an amateur boxing competition. He said, "I'm still really into boxing. After filming, my physical condition was at its best. My coach asked if I wanted to try competing, so I quietly entered without telling many people. Because it could've been embarrassing if I lost. Thankfully, I didn't lose. I'm not sure if I'll compete in more competitions, but I'm still working hard."
The actor also spoke about his diet, "I love food, but when I decide that I need to get in shape, I think I'm pretty good at switching 'on and off'. I would eat clean for about four to five days, then enjoy something tasty for a day or two, so it wasn't too difficult overall. Just like athletes have on-season and off-season periods, I exercise regularly, so it didn't feel especially hard. I freeze rice in plastic containers and eat it that way. I mainly eat brown rice, chicken breast, zero-calorie soda, and vegetables. I don't think I'm a picky eater. I'm the type of person who's fine eating the same thing over and over again."
Lee Sang Yi said that, at the suggestion of director Jason Kim, films like X-Men and Avengers were used as references. He explained, "I think the director wanted to create a realistic hero story rather than a Korean-style superhero. Each character has his own specialty and weapon, and it seems he wanted to portray a real-world version of a hero story where they push through and overcome challenges [in a] realistic [way]. It seems the director likes 'the real thing'. Even if it's not flashy, I think if it's real and sincere, it connects with people. That's why we aimed for action that feels like it could be possible in real life."
"Bloodhounds feels real. The sheer amount of practice we put in feels real. There are moments where you inevitably have to show your body, and those are things that simply can't come across unless you've genuinely trained and put in the effort. I think those efforts really show on screen." Also, "While training in boxing, my coach told me that, among all athletes, boxing is considered one of the toughest sports. You have no weapons. Only your two fists to face your opponent. So although boxing action is the most difficult, I think it's also what contains the most sincerity."
"In terms of acting, I think there are moments where you can see that Woo Jin, who used to be carefree and just funny, has become more thoughtful and [emotionally] deeper as he cares more for his family." "The scene in episode 5, where Geon Woo (Woo Do Hwan) is struggling and sitting alone in a hotel room, wasn't easy. I had a lot of discussions with the director about it. About half of that scene was ad-libbed, and Do Hwan fully received and carried it. I heard the director even cried while watching that scene. In that sense, I think my relationship with Do Hwan and the director deepened and became stronger."
Bloodhounds Season 2 is streaming on Netflix.
