"Desire was boiling on set," director Woo Min-ho said, summing up the atmosphere behind Made in Korea, a political thriller set in 1970s South Korea—a time portrayed as a crucible of ambition and power.
Hyun Bin underwent a dramatic transformation for his role, gaining about 13 kilograms to embody Baek Gi-tae, a ruthless intelligence officer aiming for the very top by turning the nation itself into a profit model. Jung Woo-sung countered with meticulous detail and relentless ideas, shaping a fierce duel that mirrors the era's turbulence.
The ensemble deepens the drama, with Woo Do-hwan, Seo Eun-soo, Won Ji-an, Noh Jae-won, Park Yong-woo, Kang Gil-woo, and others performing across Korea and Japan to capture a time of upheaval and chaos.
Director Woo Min-ho emphasized the cast's power. "I trusted the actors completely to express the era's desire and madness," he said, noting that Made in Korea is his first series project after films such as Inside Men, The Drug King, The Man Standing Next, and Harbin.
The production held its press showcase on December 15 at Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas. Made in Korea centers on the clash between Baek Gi-tae (Hyun Bin), a Central Intelligence Agency section chief in Busan, and prosecutor Jang Geon-young (Jung Woo-sung), who risks everything to stop him.
Though inspired by real history, the series tells a fictional story with invented characters. To recreate 1970s Busan, filming took place in Kobe, Japan, chosen for its preserved port-city atmosphere reminiscent of the period.
Hyun Bin described working with Woo again as a matter of trust, focusing on building a layered character driven by childhood deprivation, social realities where wealth equals justice, and the burden of family responsibility. Jung Woo-sung, returning to a prosecutor role after The King, highlighted the contrast—Jang Geon-young pursues a "good desire" rooted in justice, distinct from his past characters.
The drama also spotlights sharp supporting turns, including Noh Jae-won as the calculating Pyo Hak-soo and Won Ji-an as a Japanese lobbyist, heightening tension within the power struggle.
Made in Korea premieres on December 24, aiming to heat up year-end viewing with its intense performances and high-stakes narrative.
