Actor Hyun Bin shared why he chose to star in the upcoming Disney+ original series Made in Korea, emphasizing the compelling force of its script and the strong collaboration on set.
Hyun Bin attended the Disney+ Originals Preview 2025 event on November 13 at the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel, where Disney unveiled its APAC and global originals lineup for the coming year. The actor appeared to introduce his new project Made in Korea, set to premiere this December.
“The script had undeniable power”
Speaking about what drew him to the series, Hyun Bin said:
“The script had real strength. It blends the historical backdrop of the 1970s with fiction in a fresh and well-crafted way. That was the biggest reason I wanted to do this project.”
He added that the creative process was dynamic, with the cast constantly sharing ideas during filming:
“We exchanged ideas a lot, and the director always made firm decisions. If he liked something, he said OK immediately. If not, he cut it off without hesitation. Thanks to that, the teamwork felt great.”
A gripping clash of ambition and justice
Made in Korea follows the intense conflict between:
- Baek Ki-tae (Hyun Bin) — a man driven by ambition for power and wealth
- Prosecutor Jang Geon-young (Jung Woo-sung) — who risks everything to stop Ki-tae
The story takes place in the turbulent 1970s, weaving political intrigue, personal desire, and moral dilemmas into a sweeping narrative.
Hyun Bin noted that every character has meaningful parallels and shared struggles:
“Each character has their own story and motivations. Watching how their desires collide as they navigate their lives will be fascinating.”
Coming soon on Disney+
Season 1 of Made in Korea will premiere on December 24, with Season 2 already in production.
Disney+ also confirmed upcoming Korean titles for 2025, including:
- A Shop for Killers 2
- Hypnosis
- Goldland
- The Remarried Empress
The event highlighted Disney’s increasing investment in Korean storytelling and Made in Korea stands as one of its flagship releases for the new year.
Editor’s Insight — Why ‘Made in Korea’ Could Redefine Hyun Bin’s Career Trajectory
Hyun Bin’s decision to take on ‘Made in Korea’ signals a strategic shift from character-driven romance and action into historical-political storytelling with global scale. What stands out is his emphasis on the script’s “power,” suggesting a move toward projects where narrative weight and thematic complexity take priority over star-driven appeal. By anchoring the story in the 1970s a period rich with political tension and transformation the series positions him within a genre that travels well internationally, aligning with Disney+’s push for globally resonant Korean content. This role also places him in a direct character conflict with another top-tier actor, Jung Woo-sung, reinforcing a structure built on dual protagonism and moral tension. In that sense, ‘Made in Korea’ isn’t just another high-budget series it represents Hyun Bin’s evolution into an actor leading globally scalable, narrative-heavy projects that extend beyond traditional K-drama frameworks.