'Made in Korea' director promises 'most entertaining' piece yet in Disney+ debut
· UPIDisney+'s Korean original series "Made in Korea" will be his "most entertaining" work to date, director Woo Min-ho said Monday.
"I had the most fun making this one. It's going to be the most entertaining piece I've done," the director said during a press conference for the political drama, set in the 1970s Korea, starring A-list actors Hyun Bin and Jung Woo-sung.
The series marks the first foray into television series by the director, known for his sharp insight into historical and political themes, as shown in hit films like "Inside Man" (2015), "The Man Standing Next" (2020) and most recently "Harbin" (2025).
Hyun Bin plays Baik Ki-tae, a sharp and ambitious government intelligence operative consumed by greed and ambition. He maintains a dangerous dual existence: a covert agent by day and a drug dealer at night. Jung portrays principled prosecutor Jang Keon-young, who doggedly hunts down Baik.
Baik exploits his criminal enterprise to advance through the agency's ranks, all while protecting his brother, Ki-hyun (Woo Do-hwan), and accumulating fortune. His rise comes to a halt when he clashes with the unwavering prosecutor Keon-young, igniting an intense showdown between the two adversaries.
At the conference, Hyun Bin expressed his anticipation for starring in a series by a streaming company for the first time, saying, "I am happy and excited to meet global audiences through an over-the-top platform."
He also noted his excitement about working with director Woo again following the historical film "Harbin."
"It was a great pleasure working with him who has the talent of drawing new capabilities from an actor," he said. He also highlighted the joy of creating a fictional character, which differed significantly from his experience playing the historical figure Ahn Jung-geun (1879-1910) in "Harbin."
Elaborating on the weight of portraying the hero, he said, "I felt a lot of pressure portraying the real-life person, but this time, I had fun on the set, feeling excited for playing a fictional character," he added.
Jung highlighted the series' compelling blend of history and fiction, saying the narrative, while grounded in real events, introduces fictional characters into the period setting, "turning it into a completely imaginary tale."
"As an actor, that approach gave me tremendous freedom and creative space to shape my character, which made the whole process really enjoyable," he said.
Addressing the challenge of shooting extensive footage for the six-episode drama, the director explained that he remained more "selective" and "focused" than he would be when filming a movie.
"There are many outstanding dramas in Korea, but I am confident this work holds its own in terms of quality," he said.
The director also praised powerful performances by the actors, saying, "They were the biggest driving force (of the series) and my role as director was to trust them."
"I had faith they would capture the ambitions and chaos of the 1970s and I believe that trust was the key to my direction," he added.
"Made in Korea" will premiere on Dec. 24 on Disney+.
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