Why Jung Ji-hoon’s Transformation for ‘Hunting Dogs Season 2’ Is a Must-See: Behind the Scenes Secrets

Hunters Season 2 — Jung Ji-hoon / Photo: Courtesy of Netflix

[Sports Today reporter Song O-jung] Actor Jung Ji‑hoon said preparing for Hunters Season 2 was grueling, and that he’s eager for new challenges.

On April 8, at a cafe in Samcheong‑dong, Seoul, Sports Today met with Jung Ji‑hoon, who stars in the Netflix original series Hunters Season 2, to discuss the show.

The season premiered April 3. It follows Geon‑woo and Woo‑jin as they move from taking down a brutal loan‑sharking ring to landing another satisfying straight hook against a global illegal boxing circuit run by money and violence.

Jung plays the season’s primary villain, Im Baek‑jung. The role called for numerous shirtless scenes; Jung laughed, \”Maybe it’s time to stop taking my clothes off — I thought this should be the last time.\”

He explained that sculpting a body for stage work is different from preparing it for action. \”The director wanted me to be huge, like a butcher who slaughters cattle,\” he said. \”I worried a lot. It sounds cliché, but I trained to feel like a killing machine.\”

Even after filming wrapped, co‑star Lee Sang would bring him to the gym and push him through workouts. \”It was a cycle of reading the script, training and repeating,\” Jung said. \”It wasn’t easy, but I think we built something solid.\”

Jung said he gained roughly 6–7 kg for the role, but he’s done with that extreme bulk. \”I can’t do that anymore. I don’t want to,\” he said. He added that when he’s committed to a role he holds himself to a strict routine, because letting up even a little invites the perception that he’s checked out. \”I work out consistently now — a little every day — because restarting after a break is brutal,\” he said, admitting he sometimes feels like quitting but can’t let go of his self‑discipline.

Jung also said he’s open to taking risks with his image. \”If someone gave me the chance, I’d like to play a sloppy, unglamorous character. I love food — I’d even take a role that destroys my image. I want to try something completely different,\” he said.

All episodes of Hunters Season 2 are available to stream on Netflix.

[Sports Today reporter Song O-jung ent@stoo.com]
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