Is Singapore in Netflix’s Physical: Asia? 8 nations revealed for October premiere

Streaming giant Netflix has revealed the eight countries that will be represented in its upcoming South Korean reality TV competition series Physical: Asia.

Set to premiere in October 2025, Netflix made the announcement in a YouTube video trailer on Sept 2 by revealing the flags of the participating countries: Australia, Philippines, Thailand, South Korea, Mongolia, Japan, Indonesia, and Turkey.

“The best athletes of Asia get physical. Among the eight flags competing, which will be the last one flying?” it said in the video description.

Physical: Asia is a spin-off of the hit South Korean series Physical: 100.

According to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, it will expand on Physical: 100’s original premise, which will see top athletes from various countries divided into teams to take part in a series of physical challenges.

But what raises the stakes is that when one team member fails in a challenge, the whole team gets eliminated.

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The series enjoyed instant international popularity after its premiere in Jan 2023, with its first season reaching No. 5 on the streaming platform’s global chart three days after it was launched.

In February, Netflix announced that famed boxing star Manny Pacquiao will represent his country, the Philippines, in Physical: Asia.

“Pacquiao, revered worldwide as the only boxer in history to acquire titles in eight weight divisions, brings his formidable talent and indomitable spirit to this team-based clash of champions,” said Netflix in a statement then.

“His participation signals the show’s expanded ambition: a fierce face-off among Asia’s finest, with national pride on the line.”

Meanwhile, Netflix has said that more versions of the TV show are in the works, including one in the US and Italy.

This article was originally published in The Straits Times.