Actor Lee Sang Yi emphasized the real action of Bloodhounds 2 rather than AI.
Netflix held a press conference for the new original series Bloodhounds season 2 on March 31 at the Ambassador Seoul Pullman hotel in Jangchung-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul. Lead actors Woo Do Hwan, Lee Sang Yi, Jung Jihoon (Rain) and director Kim Joo Hwan attended. Under the moderation of broadcaster Park Kyung Rim, they spoke with domestic reporters about the work.
Bloodhounds 2 is a drama that depicts how Geon-woo (played by Woo Do Hwan) and Woo-jin (played by Lee Sang Yi), who once beat a brutal illegal loan shark gang, deliver another satisfying straight hook against a global illegal boxing league ruled by money and violence. It is a sequel to the first season of Bloodhounds, an eight-episode series released in August 2023, and is drawing anticipation.
Lee Sang Yi brings interest as Woo-jin, who formerly served as Geon-woo's boxing coach. Woo-jin, who met Geon-woo as a rival in boxing tournaments and fought tough battles together while building their friendship, now becomes Geon-woo's reliable supporter outside the ring and joins him on his journey toward the championship. But his steadfast gaze that does not back down before foes still makes one expect Woo-jin's performance, with the heart of a boxer alive and breathing.
Lee Sang Yi said, "This is my first time in a seasonal drama. Even when we were shooting season 1, I wasn't thinking about season 2. I felt quietly proud that what we did seemed to be recognized."
Lee Sang Yi also revealed changes in Woo-jin. He said, "Through season 1, Geon-woo and Woo-jin became as close as brothers. Over the three years, as an older brother who cares for and loves Geon-woo, I clearly have a heart for boxing, but if the younger brother I care for and love can become a champion, I decided to give up being a boxer and become a coach. Then he meets Baekjeong anew and conflicts arise. But over the three years, the biggest change in season 2 is that both Geon-woo and Woo-jin have deepened and taken on more responsibility. Becoming a world champion is also a responsibility toward my profession, and meeting a person like Baekjeong deepened my responsibility to protect my family and people, so I think that is the biggest changed feeling or point in season 2," he emphasized.
Having made external changes such as wearing a headband, Lee Sang Yi explained, "In fact, I wore a headband. When we steel ourselves, don't we tie a band around our heads? Thinking of that, I tried wearing a headband with a 'let's go' mindset. After being a coach, I also stand on the ring again, and as a left-handed boxer, aiming for a counter with one punch is a difference."
Lee Sang Yi also said about the action in Bloodhounds 2, "It felt like real dancing. Because we worked together, moving through set choreography gave it a sense of rhythm, and I often felt like it was a couple dance. These days you see a lot about artificial intelligence and AI on the internet, but for us, I think we made the 'real' thing. It was analog, sweating for real, but we made the real thing entertaining and intense. I think that effort is well captured. Please look after it."
He added that reuniting with actors such as Park Hoon, who also worked with him in season 1, made him even more delighted, saying, "It was so fun. Maybe because it's a familiar flavor, there are fun scenes with actor Park Hoon and the marine corps spirit. As the absolute villain Baekjeong appears and gives us a hard time, and we receive help as in season 1, I hope viewers also enjoy the chemistry not only with Park Hoon but with the friendly older brothers."
Bloodhounds 2 will be released on Netflix on Apr. 3.
[Photo] OSEN reporter Park Joonhyung.
[OSEN]