At a press conference held Dec. 15 at the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas in Gangnam, Seoul, the cast ― Hyun Bin, Jung Woo-sung, Woo Do-hwan, Seo Eun-soo, Won Ji-an, Jung Sung-il, Kang Gil-woo, Roh Jae-won, Park Yong-woo ― joined director Woo Min-ho to preview the series.
Set in 1970s Korea, "Made in Korea" follows Baek Gi-tae (Hyun Bin) ― a man who treats the nation itself as a profit engine on his climb to power ― and prosecutor Jang Geon-young (Jung Woo-sung), who hunts him with unshakeable resolve. As their cat-and-mouse escalates, the two collide with era-defining scandals. The show marks the first series from Woo Min-ho, the filmmaker behind "Harbin," "The Man Standing Next" and "Inside Men," and pairs Hyun Bin and Jung Woo-sung for a much-anticipated matchup.
“It was such a fun shoot,” Hyun Bin said of working with Jung. “I brought my take on Baek Gi-tae to set and he came in fully formed as Jang Geon-young. Once we met on the floor, things started happening beyond what was on the page. He’d toss out ideas, my reactions would shift, he’d show me something new ― scene by scene it felt like we were building something together, making it richer.”
Jung Woo-sung added, “Aside from a brief moment in Harbin, this was our first time really going the distance together, so I approached it carefully. Because Hyun Bin was taking on a new kind of character, I was curious to see how he’d shape Baek Gi-tae ― there was a real sense of anticipation and nerves.”
“When the camera rolled, I met Baek Gi-tae as the Jang Geon-young I’d prepared,” he continued. “You could feel that tension maturing as we filmed. We’re promoting Season 1 while shooting Season 2 now, and it feels like the rhythm we built in Season 1 is locking in for Season 2. It’s been genuinely fun syncing up.”
"Made in Korea" premieres on Disney+ with two episodes on Dec. 24, two more on Dec. 31, then one each on Jan. 7 and Jan. 14, for a total of six episodes.
[Photo: Baik Seung-Chul]
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)