Hyun Bin and Woo Do‑hwan Clash Amid Power Struggle in Upcoming “Made in Korea” Season 2

At a combined cost of approximately KRW70 billion (≈$51 million) over the two seasons, “Made in Korea” ranks among the most expensive K‑drama productions ever made.

Season 2 launches six episodes on Hulu and Disney+ on September 9, wrapping up the narrative in 1979—the same year Korean politics collapsed in just ten weeks.

Season 1 immersed audiences in the 1970s, inside the Korean Central Intelligence Agency’s anti‑communist propaganda apparatus and alongside Baek Ki‑tae’s burgeoning drug enterprise. Season 2 moves forward nine years, depicting a presidential assassination, successive military coups, and a volatile state that changes hands repeatedly in the months that follow.

“It was one of the most chaotic and tumultuous periods in modern Korean history,” says director Woo Min‑ho (“Harbin”), who saw the era as the natural climax for his characters’ ambitions. Woo, who previously directed the 2020 feature “The Man Standing Next”—which chroniclined the 40 days leading up to a high‑profile assassination—has returned to explore this turbulent chapter. He describes the timeline as deliberately chosen; nine years provides enough time for transformation while highlighting how deeply history can reshape individuals.

The resulting divergence fuels the season’s central drama: growing tension between Ki‑tae and his younger brother Baek Ki‑hyun, a once‑timid recruit now ascending through military ranks. Actor Hyun Bin (“Crash Landing on You,” “Harbin”) portrays Baek Ki‑tae, noting that the character’s increased status has altered his relationships and interpersonal dynamics. Similarly, Wo‑Do Hong (“Bloodhounds,” “Mr. Plankton”) plays Baek Ki‑hyun, who feels empowered by his newfound authority, allowing him to speak openly against his brother and assert stronger convictions.

Jang Geon‑young, the relentless prosecutor synonymous with Season 1, remains an enigma. Actor Jung Woo‑sung (“Steel Rain,” “12.12: The Day”) hints that the character may ride the promise of an emerging power bloc, striving to seek retribution, while likening the series’ noir aesthetic to stories where vengeance masquerades as justice amidst political maneuvering.

“In Season 1 each episode explored distinct events and storylines, giving the series a documentary‑like feel. Season 2 contains six episodes, however, they are tightly interwoven to create the impression of a single continuous narrative. Viewers can anticipate a tighter, faster‑paced season.”

This compression mirrors a broader trend. Platforms such as Disney+, alongside Netflix, Coupang Play, Wavve, Watcha, and Tving, are discarding the traditional 16‑episode Korean broadcast standard and commissioning film directors for shorter, prestige‑oriented runs.

Early in his career Hyun Bin worked mainly on 16‑episode dramas of the 2000s, and he finds the reappearance of a beloved role especially compelling—he gets to discover how the years have transformed his character. “Experiencing an era of my own country that I could never live through personally is something I can achieve uniquely through this work as an actor,” he explains.

Though the series concludes here, the century continues. Co‑writer Park Eun‑gyo is already preparing for the next phase with “The Koreans,” a Korean adaptation of FX’s acclaimed “The Americans,” slated for Hulu and Disney+ next year and set in the 1990s during another turbulent political epoch.

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