Hyun Bin & Made In Korea Cast Break Down New K-Drama’s Complicated Characters

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Good news for fans of Crash Landing on You: Hyun Bin is returning to television with a new drama! This marks his first series since the popular 2019 Netflix hit, and his first role since becoming a husband and father. Titled Made in Korea, the Disney+ series is a political thriller set in the 1970s.

Set during a chaotic period in Korean history, this drama follows Baek Gi-tae (Hyun Bin), a complex character who lives a dangerous double life. He pretends to work for the country’s intelligence agency while secretly running a drug operation, using his position to cover his tracks. But when determined prosecutor Jang Geon-yeong (Jung Woo-sung) begins to suspect something is wrong, a powerful and unforgettable conflict begins.

ScreenRant spoke with the stars of Made in Korea, including Jung Sung-il (who plays Chief Secretary Cheon Seok-jeong) and Roh Jae-won from Squid Game (as agent Pyo Hak-su). The four actors discussed what attracted them to the project and how director Woo Min-ho crafted the show’s historical setting to support their complex, fictional relationships.

Made In Korea Makes The Most Of Its Historical Setting

I’m really curious about Hyun Bin’s recent interview with ScreenRant! They asked him about working with Director Woo Min-ho again, since they teamed up on Harbin previously. I was especially interested in what Hyun Bin said about how making Made in Korea was different from their earlier project – did their working relationship change at all?

As many of you know, my last project with Director Woo, ‘Harbin,’ was based on a true historical story and I played a real person. This new series, ‘Made in Korea,’ also takes place in the 1970s, but it’s a completely made-up story with fictional characters.

I felt much freer to experiment with my performance and enjoy the acting process. This was largely thanks to the strong working relationship we developed with the director. Knowing his style and trusting him completely allowed both of us to relax and have fun on set.

That’s what we’re continuing to do as we work on the second season now.

The show Made in Korea is set against real historical events, but the characters are fictional. ScreenRant asked the creators if they did any research to authentically portray that time period.

I got a lot of inspiration from YouTube, and I’m a big fan of Director Woo’s previous films, especially ‘The Man Standing Next.’

Although the actors and other elements were helpful, I truly felt transported to the time period because of the filming locations and sets. They were incredibly detailed and realistic, perfectly capturing the atmosphere of the era, and I learned a lot just by observing them.

Understanding The Complicated Character Dynamics Of Made In Korea

ScreenRant asked Jung Woo-sung about the exciting back-and-forth between his character and another throughout the season. They wanted to know what he enjoyed most about acting opposite that particular actor.

I found it really engaging to create and hold that sense of psychological tension throughout the film. Beyond the physical action, it was exciting to explore the characters’ doubts and suspicions of each other, and the way they tried to outsmart one another.

What I find most compelling is the intense psychological drama, particularly in scenes where we’re directly interacting. It’s fascinating to portray characters who are concealing their real motives while trying to figure out what the other is thinking.

ScreenRant asks Hyun Bin: What are Ki-tae’s true feelings towards Gun-yeong? Does Ki-tae secretly respect him, or is it purely dislike?

From a broader perspective, Gun-yeong and Ki-tae are fundamentally opposed. Gun-yeong constantly obstructs Ki-tae’s plans, but Ki-tae secretly admires Gun-yeong’s determination and strong principles. Ki-tae likely wishes Gun-yeong was an ally rather than an obstacle.

ScreenRant asked: What immediately grabbed your attention about your character when you first read the script and started getting ready to film?

When I first read the script, my character seemed quiet and reserved, but I immediately sensed a strong, powerful presence. I saw him as someone who thrived on connection with others, which meant I could really play off the energy of the other actors. That aspect of the character was particularly appealing to me.

In an interview with ScreenRant, Jae-won was asked about his character’s shifting loyalties and how he approached understanding Hak-su’s motivations.

When I first read the script, I was worried about how to play my character – I didn’t have many scenes! Understanding Hak-su was challenging, but I learned a lot more about him once we started filming. We didn’t have a rigid plan, so I discovered a lot of nuances of his personality while working with the director and incorporated them into my performance as we went.

When developing my character, I imagined him as someone intensely loyal to whoever he was currently with. I pictured him as a person who, when caught in difficult situations, held onto a private source of strength – a secret that kept him going.

I aimed to create a character with a strong sense of self-assurance, because he possesses a unique quality that sets him apart.

ScreenRant asked Sung-il about how he draws energy from his fellow actors, and specifically about the developing relationship between his character and Ki-tae (played by Hyun Bin) throughout the season. They wanted to know how that connection grew both during filming and personally.

I first met him on set during a scene we both shared with Director Hwang, who was portrayed by Park Yong Woo.

Back then, Seok-jeong was incredibly powerful – Ki-tae could barely meet my gaze. He understood my influence just by watching Director Hwang try so hard to please me. But as I got to know Ki-tae and we became closer, our connection grew stronger and more dynamic.

It felt like what happened on screen mirrored real life. From the moment we first met and shared a scene together, our connection both on and off camera developed in a similar way.

Reflecting On Season 1 & Preparing For Season 2

ScreenRant asked the cast if there was a particular scene from the first season that was either the most difficult to shoot or that they were most pleased with.

Jung Sung-il said that filming season 1 wasn’t particularly difficult, mostly because everyone had a great time on set. They did a lot of improvising and added lines spontaneously, which made the experience even more enjoyable.

I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but there’s a scene where my character, Hak-su, meets someone very important. I had a lot of dialogue in that scene, and it was the most enjoyable one to film.

ScreenRant asked what it felt like to already have Season 2 approved, calling it unusual, and expressed their surprise at the level of trust the show had earned internationally.

There’s definitely a lot riding on this project. While we feel good about what we made in season one and are confident moving forward with season two, ultimately it’s up to the viewers to decide how they feel about it.

I truly hope audiences enjoy the first season and respond positively. However, no matter the reception, we’re confidently moving forward with the second season, staying true to what we think makes the show great.

But honestly, as we count the days until the show is released, I am quite cautious.

Hyun Bin ended the interview with a playful but confident prediction: “I think season 2 will be even better than the first.”

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2025-12-23 17:24