TV
Hyun Bin Gains 13-14kg for His Role in Disney+ Series 'Made In Korea'
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 and 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 who aims to reach the pinnacle of wealth and power by using the nation as a business 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'.
Hyun Bin takes on the role of Baek Ki-tae, a section chief at the Central Intelligence Agency, while Jung Woo-sung plays Jang Geon-young, a prosecutor from the Busan District Prosecutors' Office.
Hyun Bin expressed his excitement about reaching a global audience through the OTT platform, stating, "I'm thrilled and excited to have the opportunity to meet viewers worldwide." He added, "Working with director Woo Min-ho on my previous project 'Harbin' increased my trust in him. He has the ability to bring out new talents in actors, and 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 project dealt with the painful history of our country, which added weight and pressure to my performance. This new project is based on fictional characters and stories, which brought a different kind of anticipation and fun. The addition of fiction made the story much richer, and I was curious about how it would unfold. It was enjoyable to create freely with the director." Director Woo Min-ho, who is collaborating with Hyun Bin for the second time, commented, "We filmed without having to be cautious of each other, and it was fun."
Hyun Bin also bulked up for the role. He explained, "During 'Harbin', the director wanted me to have no muscles, so I lost both muscle and weight. For 'Made In Korea', I gained 13-14kg from that point." He elaborated on the reason for the weight gain, saying, "The character is part of the Central Intelligence Agency, a top power institution. I wanted the character's imposing presence to be evident, so I bulked up and exercised to build muscle. The diet was more relaxed compared to other characters in different projects." He added, "Among the characters I've played, this one has the largest physique. I'm still almost the same size as in the series."
'Made In Korea' will be available on Disney+ with two episodes releasing on December 24, two more on December 31, one on January 7, and the final episode on January 14, totaling six episodes.
Reported by Kim Ji-won, TENASIA bella@tenasia.co.kr
