InterviewWoo Do-hwan pushes his limits for Netflix’s 'Bloodhounds'

Actor Woo Do-hwan / Courtesy of Netflix

Since his 2011 debut, Woo Do-hwan has forged a reputation as a relentless actor, infusing gritty action series and soulful dramas alike with his singular intensity. Netflix’s crime thriller “Bloodhounds” has now thrust him onto the global stage.

Woo said that after wrapping Season 1, exhaustion left him doubting whether he could summon the strength for more. “But once Season 2 got the green light, it felt like stepping onto a battlefield,” he told The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul, Thursday.

“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,” he said.

“Bloodhounds” Season 2 sends Gun-woo (Woo) and Woo-jin (Lee Sang-yi) into the brutal arena of a global underground boxing league, where money and mayhem reign, unleashing another barrage of crowd-pleasing hooks.

For Season 2, Woo bulked up 13 kilograms through more systematic training.

“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. “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.”

Woo Do-hwan is seen in a scene from the Netflix action crime thriller "Bloodhounds" Season 2. Courtesy of Netflix

Personality-wise, Season 1 cost Gun-woo so many people — it had to harden him.

“You can’t stay soft if you want to protect loved ones. 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.”

He takes pride in leading the pack among action dramas. “Just as not all melodramas feel the same, this boxing series delivers a fresh spin despite the familiar punches,” he said. “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.”

He shared grueling behind-the-scenes tales: surviving on muscle relaxants, haunted by constant soreness, begging the physio team to loosen his thighs just once more so he could run again and even shooting so many hard-hitting scenes that his neck locked up days later.

Still, he lit up discussing action’s thrill. “Action has this instant appeal that comes straight from the set. 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," he said.

“It definitely triggers a dopamine rush,” he added. “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.”

Woo said before Season 2, he’d marvel at Tom Cruise from afar, but now he gets it. "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 Season 3, fueling buzz for what’s next. “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," he said.