For 11 days, he was completely cut off from everyday life and immersed in the game. Even going to the bathroom required pressing a bell and obtaining permission, while he spent two full days locked inside a prison. TV personality and YouTuber Kim Ddol-ddol endured the challenges of Disney+’s Deadly Tag, determined to overcome his physical limitations with intelligence. He ultimately survived until the semifinals, proving his presence in the competition.
On October 29, TenAsia met Kim Ddol-ddol, a contestant on Deadly Tag, at his home in Dongjak-gu, Seoul. He warmly welcomed the reporters and even prepared snacks for the interview himself.
Deadly Tag is an immersive chase-survival variety show combining high-speed pursuits with psychological battles against hidden chasers. It is directed by producer Hyun Jung-wan, who previously worked on the Bloody Game series. A graduate of Sungkyunkwan University, Kim Ddol-ddol made it to the semifinals thanks to his exceptional instincts and strategic thinking.
Explaining why he decided to join the show, Kim Ddol-ddol said, “I wondered if there was a way to beat physical strength by using my brain. I wanted to put myself to the test.” He had previously participated in several survival programs, including The Influencer, Superseller, and Thrilling Blind Date Reboot. Laughing, he recalled, “I was eliminated in the first round of every survival show I had appeared on before.” He continued, “This time, I made it all the way to just before the final. Even if I got eliminated, I didn’t want to leave looking dejected like a loser. I wanted to leave with a smile and a round of applause. That’s why I tried to keep my energy up until the very end.”
However, the actual filming turned out to be much more demanding than he had expected. “On television, viewers can check the rules on screen, but on set, we had to listen to the explanations. Even though we received a rulebook, the game would begin just 30 minutes later,” he explained. “I was completely overwhelmed trying to learn the rules while raising my hand and asking questions.”
Kim Ddol-ddol realized how challenging the program would be from the very beginning. “The most nerve-racking moment was when I saw the other contestants’ faces in the main hall. The production team had told me the show would include some physical elements, but when I arrived, there were national team athletes and famous fitness YouTubers,” he recalled. He added, “When I saw them jumping over walls and running around, I realized this was far beyond ordinary running. I even regretted coming.”
The filming schedule was equally grueling. Kim Ddol-ddol confessed, “I was so stressed during filming that I actually lost weight. It felt like I could hear my brain working.” He continued, “I had to understand the rules, find the chasers, engage in political maneuvering, form alliances, plot with other contestants, and come up with game strategies. I also had to sleep, but interviews were conducted both before and after filming.”
The approximately 11-day shoot completely separated the contestants from their normal routines. Among his experiences, life in prison remained one of the most intense memories from any survival show he had participated in.
“We filmed in March, and the prison was like an abandoned building with broken windows and only its structural framework remaining. When I saw that they were serving kimchi and bean sprouts for meals, I realized just how realistic this show was,” Kim Ddol-ddol said. He continued, “To use the bathroom, I had to press a bell and get permission over the walkie-talkie. It wasn’t even easy to go in the middle of the night. I was locked up for two full days, and I couldn’t remove or redo my makeup. I was only allowed to wash up when I had interviews.”
Recently, Kim Ddol-ddol has continued taking on new challenges across both broadcasting and business. After expanding his television career with appearances on all three major terrestrial broadcasting networks, he is also preparing to open a gay club called MOS in Itaewon, Seoul, next month.
His future ambitions are less about achieving grand success and more about building a sustainable life. “I don’t know what I’ll be like in five or 10 years. Life is unpredictable, and we can’t even know what will happen tomorrow. When something comes along that I want to try, I just want to give it a shot,” he said. He added, “What’s important is creating a sustainable situation for myself. I need to take care of my health and earn money. Money itself isn’t the goal. I need it so I can do the things I actually want to do.”
Kim Ddol-ddol is scheduled to release a book on November 4 and is currently preparing to open his gay club next month. After fighting hard and relying on his intelligence to survive a competitive reality show, he is now expanding his horizons into broadcasting, business, and publishing, creating the next chapter of his career in his own way.
Sources: Daum