At the Made in Korea press conference held on 15 December, the cast and director gathered to unveil the upcoming Disney+ original series set against the turbulent backdrop of the 1970s. With a heavyweight cast led by Hyun Bin and Jung Woo Sung, the drama promises a dark, fictional exploration of ambition, power, and desire. The series is set to premiere on 24 December.
Set in the 1970s, Made in Korea centers on Baek Ki Tae (Hyun Bin), an ambitious man who thirsts for wealth and power. Standing in his way is Jang Gun Young (Jung Woo Sung), a prosecutor with fearsome tenacity, who throws everything he has into stopping Ki Tae after a major incident. Surrounding them are characters equally driven by desire and survival: lobbyist Choi Yoo Ji (Won Ji An), investigator Oh Ye Jin (Seo Eun Soo), chief secretary Cheon Seok Joong (Jung Sung Il), and others who move fluidly between loyalty, betrayal, and self-interest.
Hyun Bin shared that Made in Korea marks his second collaboration with Director Woo Min Ho following Harbin, and also his first foray into streaming platforms. He expressed excitement about meeting global audiences through Disney+. Unlike Harbin, where he portrayed a real historical figure and felt the pressure and weight that came with it, Made in Korea is entirely fictional, which felt liberating. He described Ki Tae as someone driven by deep insecurity from a young age, always feeling insufficient and thus relentlessly pursuing power and wealth. As the head of his family, Ki Tae also carries the burden of protection, further fueling his desire.
Director Woo echoed this sentiment, saying that while Harbin carried immense weight, Made in Korea allowed him and Hyun Bin to be more frank with each other and genuinely have fun on set. Of all his projects, he described this one as the most entertaining, crediting the cast and calling the process a matter of luck and gratitude.
Jung Woo Sung described his character Jang Gun Young as a dark, rigid figure, deeply stuck in his beliefs and determined to get to the bottom of things. He praised the drama’s bold imagination, calling it a courageous and new type of creation. Because the series is purely fictional despite being set in the 1970s, it was refreshing not to be constrained by historical fact-checking as in his past works.
Woo Do Hwan plays Baek Ki Hyun, Ki Tae’s younger brother who’s a military academy graduate caught in a love-hate relationship with his brother. While he deeply loves his brother, he does not want to live underKi Tae’s shadow and is desperate to find his own path forward. His character has immense love for family and speaks in a rigid, military manner. Do Hwan shared that working alongsideHyun Bin and Jung Woo Sung was the very reason he wanted to be part of the project. He recalled telling Jung Woo Sung he would do his best, only to be told, “No, no, just enjoy yourself.”
Seo Eun Soo appears as Investigator Oh Ye Jin, while Won Ji An’s Choi Yoo Ji is a lobbyist hungry for power, collaborating closely with Ki Tae. Jung Sung Il plays Cheon Seok Joong, the president’s chief of security, someone who holds immense power, can manipulate the Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA), and is ultimately selfish and self-serving.
Kang Gil Woo portrays Kang Dae Il, second-in-command of a Busan gang. On the verge of being wiped out, his character is saved by Ki Tae and drawn into business with him but yet lives in constant fear of him. Roh Jae Won plays Pyo Hak Su, Ki Tae’s colleague who believes he is always above him. Though they rise together as KCIA chiefs, Pyo Hak Su is fickle, choosing whichever side benefits him most. Park Yong Woo appears as Director Hwang Guk Myung, the direct superior of Ki Tae and Pyo Hak Su, another man driven by power to the extent of collaborating with gang members for personal gain, complete with a distinct detail: he wears a wig.
The production emphasized authenticity, with all props carefully chosen to reflect items that could realistically be seen in the 1970s. Filming took place both within and outside Korea (Japan, Thailand). Director Woo shared that since remnants of the past are hard to find today, he focused on creating a ragged, worn-out atmosphere rather than relying on CGI.
Director Woo noted that the drama editing itself “reeks of desire,” and that the power and intensity of the drama came directly from the actors. He described the era as one of turmoil and chaos, remarking that, emotionally, it is not so different from 2025. Hyun Bin added that Ki Tae’s desire stems from long-standing insecurity and lack, making him relentlessly driven.
The set atmosphere was described as heated but fun. Jung Sung Il recalled being extremely nervous on his first day of shooting, while Seo Eun Soo likened stepping onto the set to being on a theatrical stage complete with masks, detailed hair, and makeup. She shared that her hair alone required two hours of perming and curling. Won Ji An spoke about learning Japanese for her role, calling it a new and exciting challenge, while Kang Gil Woo shared that he learned a great deal from Director Woo.
Hyun Bin also touched on his popularity in Japan post-Crash Landing on You, sharing hopes that Made in Korea would be just as well received. Notably, this marks his first time acting in Japanese dialogue for an entire episode, and he expressed hope that Japanese fans, and as many people as possible, would enjoy the series.
Made in Korea premieres 24 December on Disney+ and be sure not to miss it!
