‘Physical: 100’ Controversies: From Lack of Doping Tests to Female Participant Accused of Bullying, More
"Physical: 100" is a show-stopping survival TV show as hundreds of participants, all with top-notch physical qualities, compete for the crown and cash prize of 300 million KRW (245,000 USD).
Apart from the jaw-dropping prize, participants will get to join a once-in-a-lifetime experience of joining one of the hottest South Korean reality shows this 2023.
However, although "Physical: 100" is among the most-watched Netflix programs, some of the cast found themselves in the middle of tough situations and a web of controversies.
From doping tests to harassment and bullying, here are the "Physical: 100" controversies that took the Korean entertainment world by storm.
Use of Doping Substance
At the height of "Physical: 100," viewers got to see a slew of contestants with impressive physiques. Besides proving their worth through surviving and winning tough challenges, participants were accused of using steroids to enhance their physique.
Also called dopping, this refers to the use of banned substances in competitive sports, to improve the contestant's performance.
In a report cited by a local media outlet, some questioned Netflix if the contestants underwent doping tests. Due to this, netizens took to Twitter to express their confusion, even joking that it should have been "Roids: 100" and not "Physical: 100."
READ ALSO: 'Physcial: 100' Contestant Yun Sung Bin Reacts to His Odd Strategy During the Boat Quest
Moreover, viewers also speculated Netflix producers "could have sorted out most of the current contestants" if they had only done proper steroid tests on all the participants.
However, according to a post on Nate, a "Physical: 100" official pointed out they did not conclude such tests because the show is "not an official sports game."
"No matter how much help a person receives from drugs, they cannot get a good physique without individual efforts," the show official furthered.
Kim Da Young Accused of School Violence
One of the controversies that surfaced on social media was with "Physical: 100" star Kim Da Young being embroiled in a school violence issue.
Several outlets noted that her former classmates shared a post in online communities, noting that a certain participant of the show used to be a bully during their high school years. The online user described the awful experience as if they "lived in hell for 1 year."
Although the post did not name any person, netizens speculated the clues pointed to Kim Da Young, who has restricted comments from her Instagram account.
As for the victims, all they want is a public apology and "a promise not to appear in the media anymore."
'Physical: 100' Contestant to Undergo Investigation Due to Ex-Girlfriend's Claim
From bullying to sexual harassment, one "Physical: 100" cast is reported to go under investigation after an ex-girlfriend claimed that he is an abuser.
According to reports, the former couple dated from September 2021 to May 2022, and in the latter part of their relationship, she wanted to break up with him but got furious about it. Her face was slammed into tables, and walls and said that she suffered trauma due to these.
Prosecutors reportedly called the reality star on February 20 for probing.
