[Edaily Starin Gim Ga Yeong Reporter] Kang Ji-hoo was crowned the ultimate winner of the Wavve original survival variety show “Game of Blood X.”

In the finale, which aired on the 28th, the four remaining players—Kang Ji-hoo, Yoon Bi, Heo Seong-beom, and Hyun Seong-ju—faced off in a final showdown for the championship. In the final match, held in a one-on-one tournament format, Kang Ji-hoo first defeated Hyun Seong-ju in the “Pyramid Numbers” game, then went on to win the “Card Chess” showdown against Yoon Bi—who had advanced by defeating Heo Seong-beom—to secure a flawless 2-0 victory.
Having reached the top for the first time in his second attempt at a survival show following “University War,” he shared his thoughts, saying, “I had such a strong desire to win, but now that I’ve actually achieved it, the support of those around me comes to mind first. My feelings of gratitude far outweighed my joy.” He singled out Kim Kyung-hoon and Kim Yu-hyun from Team Challenger (C) as the teammates who provided the greatest support, expressing his gratitude: “One kept pushing me forward, while the other held me back so I wouldn’t go too far. Thanks to that balance, I was able to make it this far. They were my emotional pillars.”
He cited the moment when his entire team, the Challengers (C), was eliminated as the most difficult part of the competition. “At that moment, I thought my journey was completely over. After returning to the mansion via the Revival Match, my mindset toward each game changed completely,” he recalled. He identified Lee Tae-kyun—the Season 1 champion and the mastermind of Team P1—as the opponent he was most wary of, stating, “He possessed the perfect trifecta of quick thinking, physical ability, and psychological warfare, and with his championship experience to boot, he was a daunting opponent.” He also expressed deep respect for the “intuitive play” demonstrated by Kwak Beom of Team Rookie (R), noting, “I realized that even with that kind of approach, you can find the right answer.”
He announced his intention to donate the 100 million won prize money to his alma mater, KAIST. Kang Ji-hoo said, “KAIST, my alma mater, was at the root of many of the opportunities I’ve received so far. Even on this season of ‘Blood Game X,’ it was the KAIST senior-junior dynamic with Heo Seong-beom that led to my appearance on the show.” He added, “I believe this victory is 100% thanks to KAIST, so I decided to donate the entire prize money to give back even a little of what I’ve received.”
Finally, he shared his thoughts, saying, “I’d like to thank everyone—those who cheered me on, those who found it frustrating, and even those who watched while criticizing me. The fact that you stayed with me through this long journey until the very end meant a great deal to me. I’ll never forget not only the victory itself but also the people I met along the way, the experiences I gained, and the interest shown by the viewers.”
“Blood Game X” is a program featuring an extreme survival game pitting the strongest minds and bodies against each other in team-based competition. The previous season is available to watch on Wavve.