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Made in Korea

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Made in Korea
Hangul
메이드 인 코리아
RRMeideu in Koria
MRMeidŭ in K'oria
Genre
Written by
  • Park Eun-gyo
  • Park Joon-suk
Directed byWoo Min-ho
Starring
Music byJo Yeong-wook
Country of originSouth Korea
Original languageKorean
Production
Production companyHive Media Corp [ko]
Budget₩70 billion
Original release
NetworkHulu (Disney+)

Made in Korea (Korean: 메이드 인 코리아) is an upcoming South Korean period political drama television series written by Park Eun-gyo and Park Joon-suk, directed by Woo Min-ho, and starring an ensemble cast led by Hyun Bin and Jung Woo-sung. The series takes place over major events in Korea's modern and contemporary history in the 1970s.[2] It is scheduled to be released on Hulu and Disney+ on December 24, 2025. A second season has already begun its production and will be released in the second half of 2026.

Synopsis

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Baek Ki-tae is a shrewd, ambitious operative for the Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA) who secretly controls illicit business networks to amass power and wealth, while Jang Geon-young is a principled, uncompromising public prosecutor who wants to reveal a corrupt government and law-enforcement agencies. As Geon-young starts his probe into Ki-tae's smuggling operations and their links with high-ranking officials, the two men become embroiled in a perilous rivalry fueled by political conspiracies, criminal enterprises, and conflicting visions of justice.

Cast and characters

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Main

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A high-ranking agent of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA) who leads a secret double life. Outwardly a disciplined government official, he covertly operates smuggling networks to accumulate power and wealth.
A relentless prosecutor known for his keen instincts and uncompromising pursuit of justice. He becomes the primary adversary of Ki-tae, committing himself to exposing and dismantling Ki-tae's operations regardless of personal cost.
Ki-tae's younger brother and an elite officer who graduated from the Korea Military Academy.
A detective who works as the secretary and investigative partner to prosecutor Geon-young.
A lobbyist whose connections and strategic influence tie her directly into the power struggles surrounding the KCIA and government officials.
A Chief Secretary who holds power.

Supporting

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A fellow Korea Military Academy graduate who works for the KCIA.
Director of the KCIA and Ki-tae's superior.
Ki-tae's younger sister.
Geon-young's younger sister.

Production

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Development

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Woo Min-ho, who worked on films such as Inside Men (2015), The Drug King (2018), and The Man Standing Next (2020), is at his first directing experience for the small screen with Made in Korea.[2] Hive Media Corp [ko] managed the production of the series,[8] which is penned by Park Eun-gyo and Park Joon-suk.[9]

After media reports that the series would be a spin-off of the 2018 film The Drug King, Hive Media Corp denied the correlation and said that it is a different work.[10] The company also denied a report according to which the series would cost ₩48 billion.[2] On May 23, 2025, the CEO of Hive Media confirmed that the production cost was approximately ₩70 billion.[11]

At the APAC Showcase in Hong Kong in November 2025, it was confirmed that a second season has already begun its production and is expected to premiere in the second half of 2026.[12]

Casting

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On February 16, 2024, Hyun Bin was reportedly cast for the series, with his agency Vast Entertainment stating that he was considering but had not decided yet, while Jung Woo-sung confirmed he would lead the series.[2][8] On August 29, 2024, Hyun was confirmed to star as Jung's rival: it is the second time that Hyun and director Woo work together after Harbin (2024).[1] On July 31, it was reported that Jung Sung-il joined the cast.[13] On August 8, both Won Ji-an and Seo Eun-soo confirmed their appearances.[14][15]

Release

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Disney+ announced that Made in Korea will be released exclusively on their platform in 2025[16] under Hulu on Disney+ content hub, as well as standalone Hulu service in United States. In November 2025, Disney+ confirmed the release date of the series to be on December 24, 2025, with the first two episodes.[12]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Kin, Ji-ye (August 29, 2024). "Hyun Bin, Jung Woo-sung and more to star in Disney+'s upcoming series 'Made in Korea'". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on August 29, 2024. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d Yoon, Sung-yeol (February 16, 2024). 현빈, 우민호 감독과 재회하나.."'메이드 인 코리아' 긍정 검토" [공식] [Hyun Bin, reunites with director Woo Min-ho.."'Made in Korea' Positive Review" [Official]] (in Korean). Star News. Archived from the original on August 29, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2024 – via Naver.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Jo, Ji-young (August 29, 2024). [공식] 잘생긴 얘 옆에 또 잘생긴 얘..현빈X정우성 '메이드 인 코리아'로 만난다 [[Official] Another handsome guy next to a handsome guy..Hyun Bin X Jung Woo Sung meet in 'Made in Korea'] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Retrieved August 29, 2024 – via Naver.
  4. ^ Park, Jung-sun (February 13, 2025). [단독] 우도환, 현빈·정우성·우민호 감독 '메이드 인 코리아' 합류 [[Exclusive] Woo Do-hwan joins Hyun Bin, Jung Woo-sung, and director Woo Min-ho in 'Made in Korea'] (in Korean). Retrieved February 27, 2025.
  5. ^ Lee, Min-gi (November 14, 2025). ‘메이드 인 코리아’ 박용우, 현빈과 불꽃 튀는 케미 예고 [Park Yong-woo and Hyun Bin's "Made in Korea" Showcase Fierce Chemistry]. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved November 14, 2025 – via Naver.
  6. ^ Ahn, Byung-gil (September 4, 2024). 차희 '메이드 인 코리아' 캐스팅...현빈-정우성과 호흡 [Chahee cast in 'Made in Korea'...Working with Hyun Bin and Jung Woo-sung] (in Korean). Sports Kyunghyang. Retrieved September 11, 2024 – via Naver.
  7. ^ Yoo, Byung-cheol (September 11, 2024). 이주연, FN엔터테인먼트와 전속계약 체결...'메이드 인 코리아' 출연 '겹경사' [Lee Joo-yeon signs exclusive contract with FN Entertainment...Appearance in 'Made in Korea' 'double blessing']. Global Epic (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 11, 2024. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  8. ^ a b Kim, Hyun-rok (February 16, 2024). '서울의 봄' 정우성 차기작은 '메이드 인 코리아'...우민호 감독 호흡[공식] ['12.12: The Day' Jung Woo-sung's next work is 'Made in Korea'...Working with Director Woo Min-ho [Official]] (in Korean). SPOTV News. Archived from the original on August 29, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2024 – via Naver.
  9. ^ Kim, Se-ah (August 29, 2024). 현빈X정우성, '메이드 인 코리아'서 대립한다…2025년 디즈니+서 공개 [공식] [Hyun Bin X Jung Woo Sung, Confrontation in 'Made in Korea'...Released on Disney+ in 2025 [Official]] (in Korean). Ten Asia. Archived from the original on August 29, 2024. Retrieved August 29, 2024 – via Naver.
  10. ^ Lee, Ho-young (February 16, 2024). [단독] 현빈, '메이드 인 코리아' 출연 확정 [[Exclusive] Hyun Bin confirms appearance in 'Made in Korea'] (in Korean). iMBC. Archived from the original on August 29, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2024 – via Naver.
  11. ^ Ha, Soo-jung (May 23, 2025). "제작비 700억 현빈·정우성 '메이드 인 코리아', K드라마 판도 바꿀것"(디즈니+) ["Hyun Bin and Jung Woo Sung's 'Made in Korea' with a production cost of 70 billion won will change the K-drama landscape" (Disney+)]. OSEN (in Korean). Retrieved May 23, 2025 – via Naver.
  12. ^ a b Merican, Sara (November 12, 2025). "'Made In Korea' Renewed For Second Season At Disney+, Release Date For S1 Unveiled — APAC Showcase". Deadline. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  13. ^ Hwang, So-young (July 31, 2024). [단독] 정성일, '메이드 인 코리아' 출연..정우성·현빈과 호흡 [[Exclusive] Jung Sung-il to appear in 'Made in Korea'..Working with Jung Woo-sung and Hyun Bin] (in Korean). JTBC. Archived from the original on August 8, 2024. Retrieved August 8, 2024 – via Naver.
  14. ^ Jang, Joo-yeon (August 8, 2024). [단독] 원지안, '오징어 게임2' 이어 '메이드 인 코리아'까지 대세 행보 ing [[Exclusive] Won Ji-an, following 'Squid Game 2' and 'Made in Korea' continues to lead the trend] (in Korean). Ilgan Sports. Archived from the original on August 8, 2024. Retrieved August 8, 2024 – via Naver.
  15. ^ Jang, Joo-yeon (August 8, 2024). [단독] 서은수, 우민호 신작 '메이드 인 코리아' 캐스팅…정우성과 호흡 [[Exclusive] Seo Eun-soo, Woo Min-ho cast in new film 'Made in Korea'…Working with Jung Woo-sung] (in Korean). Ilgan Sports. Archived from the original on August 8, 2024 – via Naver.
  16. ^ Woo, Jae-yeon (August 29, 2024). "Hyun Bin, Jung Woo-sung to star as rivals in new Disney+ political drama". Yonhap News Agency. Archived from the original on August 29, 2024. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
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