The large-scale Korean survival reality competition show "Survival King 2" wrapped up after 10 days of intense filming, holding its finale press conference on the 21st in Chiayi City, Taiwan. The "capable man" Kim Jong-kook led 12 celebrity contestants from Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and Malaysia in a group appearance. Speaking about his 10-day survival experience in Taiwan's mountains and forests, Malaysia team representative Hero Tai (许亮宇) admitted that the process was even tougher than filming, with not only huge physical demands but also extremely limited sleep and rest; in addition to the outdoor survival challenges, the show incorporated multiple physical tests, leaving him exhausted. However, he also joked that while the process was grueling, it was also a lot of fun.
The first season of "Survival King: Tribal Wars" aired in September 2024, led by Kim Byung-man, Lee Seung-gi, and others, who undertook a 10-day self-sufficient survival challenge in the jungles of Sabah, Malaysia. Its broadcast achieved a strong average cable TV rating of 3.9%. After a year and a half of preparation and on-site scouting, "Survival King 2" chose Taiwan as the new competitive survival stage, continuing with the high-intensity challenges. The show filmed at locations in Hualien County, Pingtung County, and Chiayi City, with Kim Jong-kook as the host.
Unlike the first season, which mainly featured Korean celebrities and athletes, "Survival King 2" took a unique approach. The winner of the first season, Kim Byung-man, leads the Korean team along with Ryu Jun-su and Kim Young-hoon (from THE BOYZ). The show also assembled 12 artists from regions including Taiwan, Japan, and Malaysia. Four teams embarked on a 10-day outdoor survival challenge, involving physical strength, intelligence, and teamwork.
The Malaysian team is made up of Zu Xiong, Hero Tai, and Pei Yong; the Taiwan team includes Tsao Yu-ning, Green Tea Lin Jun-yong, and Hsu Kai; the Japanese team features Yoshinari Fukushima, Shinya Matsunaga, and Shohei Matsushima.
Hero Tai shared that he joined with a mindset focused on learning and supporting his team, and in the process discovered Pei Yong's strengths—"turns out he was a boy scout." He noted that he, Pei Yong, and Zu Xiong worked together very well, their teamwork growing day by day, making the whole experience truly unforgettable. He also revealed that over ten years ago he was invited as a guest at Kim Jong-kook’s concert in Malaysia, so this time he specially brought their photo from back then to reunite with him, which was quite meaningful.
Zu Xiong shared that he was keen to take a photo when meeting Kim Jong-kook, describing him as "radiant but very approachable," and also fluent in English, with most communication during filming done in English. He revealed that during recording he suffered an injury that required stitches, coupled with a severe cold that left him temporarily voiceless and needing medical attention. As a new dad, he said emotionally that this "hellish ordeal" made him feel that "taking care of kids at home is much easier," and now he just wanted to quickly return to his wife Janna and hold his child.
Pei Yong brought his sense of humor, joking that he grew up watching Hero Tai and Zu Xiong's works and felt like a "superstar" when he got the show invitation. Seeing the international cast made him feel like he had stepped onto a global stage. He laughed, saying the most unforgettable thing was "squatting in the wild with my idols to use the toilet"—an experience he never imagined having in his lifetime.
"Survival King 2" is jointly produced by Chosun TV and Taiwan's Tongxin Entertainment, and is scheduled to air simultaneously on Korea’s Chosun TV and Netflix at the end of March this year.