In 2023, a Korean reality show, Physical 100, captured international audiences and became the most-watched non-English-language show on Netflix. It features a hundred contestants competing in a series of physically demanding obstacles to claim the prize and honor of having the “perfect physique”. This study aims to understand how the “perfect physique” is conceptualized through the show's framing and the (re)production of mind–body discourse discussed by the contestants. Utilizing textual analysis, we examine body discourses and representation of the physical body through Anderson’s ideas on orthodox gender ideology (OGI) and Foucault's theory of technologies of self and body discourse while considering sociocultural characteristics of Korean society. Contestants mention physical prowess, performance, and mentality as key features of physique ideals. Male contestants with large muscles or “monstrous movements” are praised, while female contestants are typically not selected for team-based competitions and are regarded as physically and mentally weaker. Despite the show's supposed focus on the physical, contestants often emphasize mentality and willpower as key components of possessing the “perfect physique”. Overall, our Foucauldian-inspired textual analysis examines how reality shows like Physical 100 can challenge and reinforce orthodox gender ideologies related to the body and mind.
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