Who is the famous Korean MMA fighter Choo Sung-Hoon: on Physical:100? Everything you need to know about the viral Squid Game-like show

Korean-Japanese MMA fighter Choo Sung-Hoon is a participant in Physical:100, a South Korean extreme sports reality show that has become the latest worldwide Netflix hit.

A similar format to the critically acclaimed Korean survival drama series Squid Game, which broke streaming records on Netflix, has been cited as an inspiration for the show. The show features a diverse cast of 100 people regardless of age, gender, or race, who have impressive levels of physical prowess and compete in a series of extreme physical challenges to determine the winner. Easy-to-understand guidelines govern each game and competitors advance until a winner is determined. The winner receives 300,000,000 won (roughly $245,000 USD).

Choo Sung-Hoon, K-1 HERO's light heavyweight Grand Prix tournament champion, has competed in several prominent MMA organizations, including the UFC and One Championship over the years. Between 2009 and 2015, Sung-Hoone, a.k.a 'Sexyama', competed seven times under the UFC banner. He did not have a great run in the organization, losing five out of his seven outings.

Three years after his previous bout, Choo Sung-Hoon announced that he has signed a new contract with ONE Championship. Over there, he has fought three times and won his last bout against Japanese grappling legend Shinya Aoki in March 2022 via TKO. Previously, Sung-Hoon and his daughter Choo Sa Rang appeared on the wildly famous variety show, The Return of Superman, alongside a number of other prominent father-daughter duos.

Many viewers have likened Physical:100 to Squid Game because of its intense competition, near-superhuman contestants, and grueling challenges. The show's success can be attributed to its innovative concept and its brilliant execution, which involved gathering 100 of South Korea's most physically intimidating humans, creating athletic tests that pit them against one another in the most primal way possible, and wrapping it all up with compelling storytelling and production values reminiscent of Squid Game.

Check out fans comparing Physical:100 to Squid Game:

---

Choo Sung-Hoon addresses his fans following exit from Physical:100

In South Korea, Physical: 100 has acquired a devoted fanbase, and in the weeks since, the show's popularity has skyrocketed, propelling it to the top of the ratings in other nations. The contestants' tenacity and determination, combined with the show's thrilling premise, have captivated viewers all over the world.

In the pre-finals rounds, Choo Sung-Hoon competed in The Punishment of Sisyphus challenge alongside Olympic medalist Yun Sung-bin and bodybuilder Ma Sun-ho. Despite complaining that carrying the boulder up the hill was exhausting, he was off to a strong start in the challenge. Choo Sun-Hoon, however, was eliminated and claimed he hurt his ankle while attempting to roll the boulder up the slope, which hampered his performance.

Choo Sung-Hoon took to Instagram to reach out to his fans following the exit, stating:

“Thank you, thank you so much everyone for supporting me on Netflix’s Physical 100. I hate to admit it but I lost. But I am always trying to do more and more. I still can do.”

Check out the video below: