Name: Hong Beom-Seok
Age: 39
Occupation: Fitness influencer and CEO of NED (No Easy Day) Gym
Status: Married with two sons
Food: Since I started HYROX, I don’t really need to watch my diet as my training intensity is quite high. My body fat is usually around 4 to 6%. I can eat anything I want, pizza, fried chicken, so long as I put in the work.
Exercise: I run for at least an hour every day, and then I do another hour or hour and a half of strength training. In total I train about two to three hours a day.
Were you actively involved in sports from a young age?
Yes, in elementary school I did a bit of track and field and I really liked soccer. I would play two to three hours of soccer every day! I wasn’t a professional athlete but I competed in many amateur competitions.
How did your fitness journey evolve as you got older?
I joined the Special Forces when I was 21. I wanted to do my military service in a special place and experience things you cannot do anywhere else. That’s where I started doing a lot of running and strength training.
I was in the counter-terrorism operations unit and I served a total of 11 years in the military. You can say fitness became a huge part of my life. After I left, I became a firefighter for five years and I needed to maintain fitness for the job.
I started out liking sports and working out, but eventually it became my profession and became my identity.
How has the Special Forces shaped you?
I spent my entire 20s there. All the experiences I had then, have shaped me into who I am now. Nothing is harder than those times and I probably wouldn’t have been able to overcome a lot of things.
Why did you choose firefighting?
I got married young, at 22, because being in the military meant being away from home a lot. Once we got married, my wife could come and live with me. We have two sons and I almost had no time to spend with them, so I ultimately chose to leave the force so I can take better care of my family. I switched to firefighting because I feel like I am able to save someone’s life with the abilities I have.
How did you start your reality TV career?
I won the World Firefighter Games and got casted for a military survival TV programme. From there, I started getting more opportunities and I also started my YouTube channel in 2022.
Let’s talk about your Physical: 100 experiences.
Yes, I was in Seasons 1 and 2. I got eliminated quite early in Season 1 and I was really disappointed by that. Then the producers decided to bring one person back for Season 2 and they chose me. I rejected them the first two times and finally agreed on the third call. I was really hesitant because I was afraid that if I get eliminated early again, my self-esteem wouldn’t be able to take it.
As for Physical: Asia, I had a surgery for my knee – which I hurt while filming a soccer reality show – during the filming period so I unfortunately had to decline.
How did it change your life?
It gained me international recognition. When I went to Taiwan for my first HYROX race, I was shocked because there were so many fans than I had in Korea. And in Singapore, I cannot walk freely without being stopped for photos.
You are very focused on HYROX now.
Yes, I travel a lot abroad for various HYROX races. I only started doing this two years ago and I’ve seen progress. There’s variety, I’m never bored, but it’s really tough. Sometimes while running the race, I wonder why I’m doing this, but when I cross the finish line at the end, these thoughts disappear and I start thinking of my next race.
My goal is to be the first Asian to go under one hour for the Men’s Singles Pro. I also look forward to partnering my son for doubles when he meets the age requirements next year.
Advice for people who are struggling on their fitness journey.
One might look at me and think that it’s very difficult to get to where I am with my fitness. I will say, we all start somewhere. It truly starts from the small things and if you stay consistent, at some point you will find yourself with a healthy body you are proud of. Don’t set goals that are too big, focus on what you can do right now, like running or walking 10 minutes a day.
