The winners of the first season of Physical: Asia, Netflix's gladiator-style competition, have been revealed. The show, a spin-off of South Korean reality show Physical: 100, upped the stakes by pitching eight countries against each other, with teams battling for national pride as well as a cash prize of 1 billion Korean won ($6.8 million).
The first three episodes of the show were released on October 28, with new episodes dropping every week as countries were eliminated with each challenge. The final three episodes were released on Tuesday, revealing the winning team.
Who won Physical: Asia season one? (Spoiler alert)
South Korea emerged victorious after a hard-fought battle of wits and endurance against Mongolia that tested all the participants' teamwork. The sixth and final challenge, a six-on-six team match, comprised three games and the team who won two out of the three games was named the eventual winner.
“It's really hitting me now. It's unreal,” said an emotional Dong-hyun Kim, South Korea's team leader who took part in season two of Physical: 100 but was eliminated earlier in that show.
Amotti, one of the star athletes of Physical: Asia and winner of Physical: 100 season two, said: “In season two I experienced this joy alone, but I'm so happy to share this with my team.”
Ranking of countries based on eliminations:
8. Thailand - eliminated via Death Match
7. Indonesia - eliminated via Death Match
6. The Philippines - lost Team Rep Challenge
5. Turkey - lost Team Rep Challenge
4. Australia - eliminated via Death Match
3. Japan - lost Castle Conquest Challenge
2. Mongolia - lost final challenge
1. South Korea - Winner
What is Physical: Asia about?
Similar to Physical: 100, contestants – both women and men – went head-to-head in challenges that tested strength, endurance, willpower and strategy. But instead of individual contestants, Physical: Asia was a showdown of countries, each selected for their sporting histories and distinct characteristics, according to Netflix.
A total of 48 athletes featured in Physical: Asia, six each from eight countries: South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Mongolia, Turkey, Indonesia, Australia and the Philippines.
Who were the star contestants?
Famous contestants included Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao, the only eight-division world champion in history. Pacquiao, however, exited the show earlier in the competition, and was replaced by CrossFit athlete Justin Hernandez. Australian UFC middleweight champion Robert “The Reaper” Whittaker led Team Australia.
Fans of the original Physical: 100 will be familiar with some of the members of the South Korean team, which includes season two winner Amotti, UFC star Dong-hyun “Stun Gun” Kim from also from season two, and wrestler Jang Eun-sil and skeleton racer and Olympic gold medallist Yun Sung-bin from the first season.
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1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
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8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
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Dr Mark Mann, scientist
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