Netflix Korea’s testosterone-driven series Bloodhounds (2023 to present) is returning for a second season, with K-pop star and actor Rain joining the fold as the new central villain.
Premiering on April 3, it picks up with Geon-woo (Woo Do-hwan) and Woo-jin (Lee Sang-yi), who previously dismantled a loan shark ring, as they take on a far more dangerous threat.
This time, the duo square off against a global underground boxing league fuelled by money and violence.
Speaking at a press conference on March 31, Woo, 33, reflected on the long-awaited return.
“I’m happy to be greeting audiences again through Bloodhounds after three years,” the South Korean actor said.
“Working on Season 2, it felt like we’d spent a long time together with Lee and the director. We were able to come back because of the love Season 1 received. It’s an honour.”
The first season was a breakout global hit, climbing to No.1 on Netflix’s TV chart within six days of its debut, driven by its visceral action and grounded bromance.
“Season 2 follows the two protagonists as they encounter a new antagonist and engage in an even more intense, ferocious battle,” he said.
“We thought carefully about what the audience loved in Season 1 and how to elevate it. The goal was to make the signature elements, like the boxing action and the chemistry between the leads, more stylish and more entertaining.”
A major focus this season was pushing the show’s signature realism further.
“The reason Bloodhounds was so well received was its boxing realism,” Kim added.
“This time, we asked ourselves how to take that further. The answer was to confront it head-on. We went deeper into boxing to deliver something more raw and authentic, and the entire crew committed to capturing that intensity.”
Season 2 also marks the arrival of Jung Ji-hoon – better known as Rain – who steps into the role of the season’s primary antagonist. According to Jung, 43, he signed on out of longstanding admiration for the filmmaker.
“I’ve long been a fan of director Kim and have followed his work,” he said.
“By coincidence, I came across Bloodhounds on Netflix the day I moved and ended up binge-watching the entire series. When the offer came, I felt it was fate.”
Rain added that he leaned fully into Kim’s vision, setting aside his own action instincts to focus on embodying a deeply villainous character.
Expanding beyond its original scope, the new season shifts towards a global stage. Kim said that while Season 1 centred on boxers navigating the loan shark underworld during the pandemic, Season 2 foregrounds boxing itself within a broader international arena.
“Considering themes like money and human relationships, a global boxing league felt like the most fitting backdrop,” he said.
True to its DNA, the second season opens with action and closes with it, with both cast and director pointing to the heightened fight choreography as the main draw.
“We wanted to deliver a kind of K-action that only our actors can pull off,” Kim said. – The Korea Herald/Asia News Network
