Actor Hyun Bin revealed that he underwent a significant physical transformation for Disney+’s original series Made in Korea, gaining 13–14 kilograms to portray his character — the largest build of his acting career.
Speaking at the press conference held on December 15 in Seoul, Hyun Bin confirmed that viewers had noticed correctly when commenting on his noticeably larger frame in the series. He explained that the change was intentional and directly tied to his character’s authority and presence.
Hyun Bin compared the role to his previous film Harbin, where he had deliberately lost weight and muscle after being advised to appear physically restrained. In contrast, for Made in Korea, he focused on bulking up through training and muscle-building while following a more relaxed diet than in past projects.
He shared that the decision was made to visually express the intimidation and power of Baek Gi-tae, a high-ranking intelligence officer in 1970s South Korea. According to Hyun Bin, he wanted the character’s dominance to be felt not only through dialogue but also through physical presence.
Made in Korea, directed by Woo Min-ho, follows the clash between Baek Gi-tae (Hyun Bin) and prosecutor Jang Geon-young (Jung Woo-sung) amid political turmoil. The six-episode series premiered on Disney+ beginning December 24, with weekly releases continuing into January.