LayarHijau – Woo Do-hwan returns with a fiercer presence in Season 2 of Bloodhounds, taking the action and intensity to a whole new level. The Korean actor shared that the latest installment demanded everything from him—physically and mentally—as he worked to elevate the series beyond its first season.
After the global success of Season 1, expectations for the sequel soared. However, Woo admitted that once filming wrapped on the first season, he was left completely drained, even questioning whether he had the strength to go through it all again. That hesitation disappeared once the second season was officially confirmed.
Next articles
“But once Season 2 got the green light, it felt like stepping onto a battlefield,” he said, describing how the project immediately reignited his determination.
He emphasized how different this series is compared to typical dramas, explaining, “Unlike other dramas, this one demands everything — body and soul — leaving no room for anything else. Even off days mean training, building strength for the fight ahead. But when Season 2 was confirmed, excitement took over. I trained harder than ever.”
In the new season, Gun-woo and Woo-jin—played by Woo and Lee Sang-yi—are thrown into a brutal global underground boxing league, where violence and high stakes dominate every match.
To convincingly portray the evolution of his character, Woo underwent a significant physical transformation, gaining 13 kilograms through a more disciplined and systematic training routine. He explained that Gun-woo in Season 1 still carried a sense of innocence and emotional awkwardness, but that version of the character is long gone.
“Season 1’s Gun-woo was still a boy — awkward with emotions, smiles, even basic social graces. The title match was a rookie showdown. But Season 2 opens with a world title bout,” he said. He further added, “That meant three years of grueling prep to claim that belt, which ended for me with questions about how much more powerful and defined his body needed to be. There were no hard metrics, so I just gave it everything. Whatever limit I hit, that’s where I landed.”
The emotional journey also takes a darker turn. The losses Gun-woo experienced in Season 1 reshape him into someone far tougher and more guarded. Woo explained, “You can’t stay soft if you want to protect loved ones.” He continued, “Season 2 drives that home: With evil still lurking everywhere, they end up realizing boxing alone won’t cut it. In the finale, Gun-woo fights smarter — pressing wounds, stomping feet — showing a boxer’s heart isn’t about strictly following rules. It’s about guarding the people he loves. That’s how he grows.”
Beyond character development, Woo takes pride in how Bloodhounds distinguishes itself from other action dramas. He noted, “Just as not all melodramas feel the same, this boxing series delivers a fresh spin despite the familiar punches.” He added, “Our edge is speed. I always approach action like playing drums — mapping out the rhythm, beats and tempo to never lose that momentum. That’s our secret weapon.”
Behind the scenes, the physical toll was relentless. Woo revealed that he relied on muscle relaxants to get through filming, endured constant soreness, and even suffered aftereffects like his neck locking up days after intense action scenes. There were moments when he had to ask the physiotherapy team for help just to recover enough to continue shooting.
Despite the hardship, he spoke enthusiastically about the appeal of action itself. “Action has this instant appeal that comes straight from the set,” he said. “With melodrama or comedy, you add music and editing to build the narrative — that’s when the tenderness or pathos really hits. But with action, even rough set footage tells you right away if it worked or flopped, if you need to reshoot. That precision feels satisfying.”
Describing the thrill of executing action scenes perfectly, he said, “When you nail a rehearsed sequence perfectly in one take and high-five your co-star, you feel that action-fueled mix of dopamine and adrenaline kick in.”
That experience also changed how he views high-risk stunts performed by global stars like Tom Cruise. “Even attempting a few of those stunts, you feel that electric tension — it makes you feel alive,” he explained.
Season 2 closes with a teaser hinting at a continuation, raising anticipation for what’s next. Woo expressed his hope that the story won’t end too soon, saying, “I wonder now if I could ever deliver action this intense without ‘Bloodhounds.’ Ending it at Season 2 would feel too soon. I want to take this story as far as X-Men Wolverine’s endless saga — the possibilities feel infinite.”
