Disney+ original series Made in Korea has concluded its first season, leaving a strong and lasting impression through Hyun Bin’s daring transformation. Departing from his established image, he delivered a powerful performance as a ruthless villain, marking another meaningful milestone in his filmography.
Made in Korea is set in South Korea during the turbulent yet dynamic 1970s. It portrays the story of Baek Gi-tae (played by Hyun Bin), a man who seeks to climb to the peak of wealth and power by turning the nation itself into a profit model, and prosecutor Jang Geon-young (played by Jung Woo-sung), who pursues him to the brink with relentless determination. Their confrontation unfolds against a backdrop of major historical and political events that define the era.
Hyun Bin portrays Baek Gi-tae, a senior official of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency who calculates even the desires of others in service of his own ambition. As the episodes progress, he builds an increasingly rough and lethal edge, anchoring the narrative at its core.
Although Baek Gi-tae stands firmly as a villain, the character cannot be reduced to a simple dichotomy of good and evil. His ruthless pragmatism, the subtle shifts in his emotional temperature depending on circumstance, and the density of desire revealed at every critical decision create a layered and complex figure. These elements render him more than a conventional antagonist.
Through his gaze, breathing, and the intensifying emotional pressure that accumulates with each episode, Hyun Bin convincingly embodies this complexity. The performance has been described as capturing a “bitter taste,” a raw and unfiltered villain whose roughness feels strikingly real.
The series’ impact is also reflected in measurable indicators. According to FlixPatrol, an OTT content ranking site, Made in Korea ranked first in the Disney+ Top 10 TV Shows category in South Korea for 21 consecutive days as of January 14. It also placed first in Taiwan and ranked high in Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore. On FUNdex, a K-content analytics platform, it reached second place in the drama buzz rankings, while Naver OpenTalk rankings showed it at number one, demonstrating sustained audience interest.
For Hyun Bin, this project represented both a challenge and an expansion. By stepping away from his established romantic and mainstream image to embrace a powerful villain role, he significantly broadened his acting spectrum. Baek Gi-tae now stands as one of the most contrasting and memorable characters in his career.
Ultimately, Made in Korea concluded by pushing to the extreme the question of how far a single individual’s ambition can go. At the center of that narrative stood Hyun Bin, who boldly broke away from familiar territory. His portrayal of the lethal and rugged Baek Gi-tae has become a defining turning point, naturally drawing attention to his future choices.
With Season 2 officially confirmed and currently in production, anticipation continues to build over how Baek Gi-tae’s story will expand in the next chapter.
Reported by News Culture M.J._mj94070777@nc.press
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