Hyun Bin and Jung Woo-sung Star in Disney+ Original Series 'Made In Korea'

Renowned actor Hyun Bin reunites with director Woo Min-ho for the Disney+ original series 'Made In Korea', following their collaboration on the film 'Harbin'. Actor Jung Woo-sung, who recently made headlines with his personal life, also marks his return with this project, choosing to focus on the work rather than personal issues.

On the 15th, a Press Conference for 'Made In Korea' was held at the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas Hotel in Samseong-dong, Seoul. The event was attended by director Woo Min-ho, actors Hyun Bin, Jung Woo-sung, Woo Do-hwan, Seo Eun-soo, Won Ji-an, Jung Sung-il, Kang Gil-woo, Roh Jae-won, and Park Yong-woo.

'Made In Korea' is set in the 1970s and follows Baek Ki-tae (played by Hyun Bin), a man aiming to reach the pinnacle of wealth and power by using the state as a profit model, and prosecutor Jang Geon-young (played by Jung Woo-sung), who is on his trail. The series is directed by Woo Min-ho, known for films like 'Harbin', 'The Man Standing Next', and 'Inside Men'.

Director Woo Min-ho humorously attributed the impressive casting to "luck" and expressed confidence, stating, "This is the most fun I've had filming among all my works. I believe it will be the most entertaining."

Regarding his directing approach, Woo said, "I trusted the actors. I believed they could convey the desires and madness of that era to the audience. Showing my trust in the actors on set was key to my direction." He added, "It's an era of upheaval and desire, not much different from today, and viewers will feel the similarities. Comparing the past and present while watching will be interesting."

Although primarily a film director, Woo Min-ho stated, "I didn't differentiate much between OTT series and films. I shot it with the same, if not higher, level of completion as my previous works. With six episodes to shoot, I focused on selection and concentration."

Hyun Bin plays Baek Ki-tae, a Central Intelligence Agency officer. He expressed excitement about reaching a global audience through the OTT platform, saying, "I'm thrilled and excited to meet viewers worldwide." He added, "Working with director Woo Min-ho on 'Harbin' increased my trust in him. He has the ability to bring out new talents in actors. It's a joy to work with such a director."

'Harbin' is a film about the story of independence activist Ahn Jung-geun. Hyun Bin shared, "The previous work dealt with the painful history of our country, which was heavy and pressuring to portray. This project involves fictional characters and stories, offering a different kind of anticipation and fun." He noted, "The fiction enriched the story, making it intriguing to see where it goes. It was enjoyable to create freely with the director." Director Woo Min-ho, working with Hyun Bin for the second time, said, "We filmed without needing to read each other's minds, making it fun."

Regarding Baek Ki-tae's ambition, Hyun Bin explained, "I explored where Ki-tae's relentless ambition came from. He had a sense of deficiency and insecurity from a young age, and as he navigated the harsh world, he didn't want to return to that state. In an era where wealth and power equate to justice, he pursued survival." He also interpreted, "Besides personal ambition, he likely had a sense of responsibility as a family man."

Hyun Bin also bulked up for the role. He explained, "During 'Harbin', the director wanted me to lose muscle and weight. For 'Made In Korea', I gained 13-14 kg from that point." He added, "Being part of the Central Intelligence Agency, I wanted the character's presence to reflect the agency's authority, so I bulked up and exercised to build muscle. My diet was more relaxed compared to other roles." He noted, "This is the largest physique I've had for a character, and I'm still similar in size."

Jung Woo-sung plays Jang Geon-young, a tenacious prosecutor from the Busan District Prosecutor's Office. He described the character as "stubborn, determined to see his work through to the end." He added, "I found the project bold and provocative. When dealing with period pieces, real events can feel distant and cautious, but 'Made In Korea' incorporates fictional characters into real events, creating a perfect imaginative story. It provided immense courage and imagination for character design, making it an enjoyable project."

Jung Woo-sung, who surprised the public with personal issues from late last year, addressed related questions by saying, "Today is about 'Made In Korea', and I hope you understand that I can't discuss personal reflections or changes at length."

Woo Do-hwan plays Baek Ki-tae's brother, Baek Ki-hyun, a military officer from the Military Academy. He described the character as "loving his brother but wanting to surpass him, with a desire to carve his own path." He added, "The focus was on expressing the love for family. I discussed this a lot with the director. If Ki-hyun appeared too distressed, he might seem weak, and if not expressed enough, viewers might not understand his psychology. As a soldier, I aimed for a firm tone rather than a soft one."

Woo Do-hwan shared his experience working with Hyun Bin and Jung Woo-sung, saying, "When I first met Jung Woo-sung, I said I'd work hard, and he told me to have fun. Hyun Bin not only focused on his character but also helped explore Ki-hyun's character." He expressed gratitude, saying, "I've learned a lot from them. I'm thankful," making his senior actors smile.

Seo Eun-soo plays Oh Ye-jin, an investigator at the Busan District Prosecutor's Office. She described her character as "a novice in society and an investigator in the 1970s when there were no female prosecutors. Inspired by prosecutor Jang Geon-young's passion, she dreams of becoming a prosecutor and grows."

Oh Ye-jin's curly perm is her trademark in the series. Seo Eun-soo shared, "From makeup to everything, they made me become Oh Ye-jin. It felt like wearing a mask to act, which gave me confidence." She added, "The director provided ideas for a more Ye-jin-like style. It took about two hours to curl my hair."

Won Ji-an plays Ikeda Yuji, a key figure and lobbyist in the Japanese yakuza 'Ikeda' organization. She described her character as "the second-in-command of the Osaka yakuza, aspiring to be the top and seeking power. She partners with Baek Ki-tae."

Won Ji-an shared her experience working with veteran actors, saying, "Each senior actor left a strong impression. Especially with Hyun Bin, it felt like meeting Baek Ki-tae from that era. I just had to observe and react to Baek Ki-tae in front of me." Regarding filming in Japan with Jo Yeo-jeong, who plays Madam Bae Geum-ji, she said, "During the Japan shoot, I received a lot of help from Yeo-jeong. It was my first shoot in Japan, and I was nervous, but meeting Yeo-jeong allowed for many acting discussions and advice as a senior actor. She was warm and someone I'd like to see often."

Additionally, actors Jung Sung-il, Kang Gil-woo, Roh Jae-won, and Park Yong-woo contribute to the intricate narrative and depth of the story.

The first episode of 'Made In Korea' and the Netflix film 'Good News', released last October, both coincidentally draw inspiration from the 1970 Japan Airlines Flight 351 hijacking incident, known as the 'Yodogo Incident'.

Director Woo Min-ho commented, "Each episode is based on different events. I didn't feel much pressure about sharing the same subject as 'Good News'. I've heard it's a good work by director Byun Sung-hyun, but I haven't seen it. I'll watch it if I get the chance." He added, "(Since I haven't seen 'Good News') it's difficult to discuss differences. I think viewers who have seen both will find it interesting to compare. I've heard the first episode of 'Made In Korea' has a more genre-like feel." Regarding the rumored 70 billion won production cost, he said, "It's hard to specify the budget, but it's true that a significant amount was invested."

For Hyun Bin, this project marks his first drama since the highly successful 'Crash Landing on You'. He expressed hopes for its success, saying, "While expectations shouldn't be too high, I hope it reaches the level of 'Crash Landing on You'." Woo Do-hwan added, "After watching Season 1, viewers will want to see Season 2." Kang Gil-woo said, "We worked hard regardless of hot or cold weather. You'll feel the energy of the work."

'Made In Korea' will be available on Disney+ with two episodes released on December 24, two on December 31, one on January 7, and one on January 14, totaling six episodes.

Reported by Kim Ji-won, TENASIA bella@tenasia.co.kr