Hyun Bin makes a bold pivot with his first OTT original series, "Made in Korea", delivering a hard-edged transformation.
Set in 1970s South Korea―an era of turmoil and takeoff―the series follows Baek Gi-tae (Hyun Bin), a man determined to turn the state into his business model and climb to the apex of wealth and power. Prosecutor Jang Geon-yeong (Jung Woo-sung) hunts him down with ruthless resolve, pulling both into era-defining collisions. Hyun Bin plays a KCIA section chief chasing ambition at any cost. As the 21-year veteran signals a radical character shift, here are three reasons "Made in Korea" is one to watch.
◆ Hyun Bin Wears Ambition like Armor: A Noir Reinvention
In a recent interview, Hyun Bin called Baek Gi-tae “the character who expresses desire most directly” in his career. True to form, Baek guards the center of power by day as a KCIA operative and, by night, expands his own network through black-market smuggling. Known for defining turns in romance, Hyun Bin trades swoon for steel―embracing a period noir with weight and grit to unveil a completely new face.
◆ Pomade and Power Suits: Charisma, Tailored
To embody a KCIA officer, Hyun Bin fine-tuned everything from build to styling. Slicked-back pomade, a solid frame, and razor-sharp suit lines amplify an icy authority, cementing Baek’s intimidating presence. Ironically, that cool aesthetic only heightens his classic leading-man appeal, sharpening the character’s duality. Across the six-episode run, expect the wardrobe to do its own storytelling.
◆ A Spectrum of Relationships: Rivalries, Blood Ties, and Deals
Hyun Bin has long toggled between romance and bromance with ease, and this time he’s set for a fierce face-off with prosecutor Jang Geon-yeong (Jung Woo-sung), a brotherly bond with Baek Gi-hyeon (Woo Do-hwan), and a strategic alliance with Ikeda Yuji (Won Ji-an). How each dynamic steers Baek’s choices―and the emotional shades Hyun Bin draws out―will be key to the show’s pull.
"Made in Korea" premieres worldwide on Disney+ this Christmas Eve.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)