On December 26, a video titled “People Who Chased and Were Chased” was uploaded to actor Lee Jong-hyuk’s YouTube channel “Seondo Bujang Lee Jong-hyuk”. The episode featured Lee Jong-hyuk, Jang Hyuk, Oh Ji-ho, Han Jung-soo and Lee Han-wi reminiscing about their time filming The slave hunters.
Reflecting on the drama’s appeal, Lee Jong-hyuk said, “Some actors got a lot of exposure, some didn’t. Since it was such a masculine drama, it wasn’t just women, but male viewers loved it too.”
Naturally the conversation turned to body management and fitness. Oh Ji-ho commented, “Since the focus was on the men fighting and the action scenes, I’m sure everyone worked hard on their bodies.” Then he singled out Jang Hyuk, saying: “The most hardcore was him. There were scenes shot in the hills, and he actually climbed the mountain to train. His manager took exercise equipment up there. We didn’t go that far.”
Actor Han Jung-soo supported the story with even more details. “I felt bad, so I never carried heavy equipment. I used resistance bands that were light and easy to carry. But Jang Hyuk had 15kg to 20kg dumbbells. They were climbing mountains and his manager carried them,” he revealed. “I remember thinking, ‘The manager is training more than the actor.’”
The cast couldn’t resist joking about it. Lee Han-wi joked, “Jang Hyuk’s managers must have had a high turnover rate.” Han Jung-soo quickly clarified with a laugh, “In reality that coach was a former career soldier, his physique was already amazing”.
Lee Han-wi added, “So he hired someone perfectly suited for the job.” Han Jung-soo ended the story by joking, “When the drama ended, the manager’s body was better than Jang Hyuk’s.”
Known for his discipline and intense preparation, Jang Hyuk has long been respected for his commitment to particularly physically demanding roles such as The slave hunterswhich remains one of the most iconic sageuk action dramas in Korean television history.
These lighthearted revelations once again reminded fans why The slave hunters was not only memorable for its story, but also for the sheer dedication of the cast behind the scenes.
Sources: Naver
