Made in Korea (2025) — Hyun Bin & Jung Woo-sung Lead Disney+’s Most Explosive Political Noir of the Decade 🔥

“Ambition is a dangerous business.”

South Korea’s biggest stars collide in a gripping tale of power, betrayal, and survival. Made in Korea (메이드 인 코리아) — Disney+ and Hulu’s mega-budget political crime thriller — premieres December 24, 2025, and it’s already shaping up to be the next global sensation.

With a ₩70 billion budget, a powerhouse cast, and a story set against Korea’s turbulent 1970s political landscape, this is the boldest, darkest, and most ambitious K-drama release of the year.

📅 Premiere Date: December 24, 2025

📺 Streaming: Hulu & Disney+ (Star / Content Hub)

🔥 Renewal: Season 2 confirmed for late 2026

Let’s dive into the story, the characters, the history behind the drama — and what to expect from this explosive new series.

🎬 What Is Made in Korea About? (The

Big Picture)

Made in Korea is a period political action thriller set in the 1970s — one of the most turbulent decades in South Korean history.

At its core, it’s a story about:

• ambition

• corruption

• political power

• loyalty

• betrayal

• the cost of survival

The series explores major historical and political events from the era, weaving fictional characters into real historical tensions — including corruption, rapid industrialization, dictatorship-era politics, and Korea’s underground crime world.

At the center are two men whose lives collide in a brutal struggle over truth and power:

🧊 Baek Ki-tae (Hyun Bin)

A man consumed by ambition — for wealth, influence, and control.Brilliant, ruthless, and dangerously charismatic.

🔥 Jang Geon-young (Jung Woo-sung)

A prosecutor with predatory instincts and unbreakable determination.

They will shape the nation’s destiny — or destroy each other trying.

This is not a romance.Not a typical thriller.Not a simple crime drama.

This is Korean noir on a global scale — gritty, political, character-driven, and atmospheric.

📜 Setting the Stage — Korea in the 1970s

The 1970s were marked by:

• political unrest

• corruption scandals

• rapid modernization

• underground smuggling trades

• power struggles within government agencies

In this era of secrecy, ambition, and danger, Made in Korea explores the hidden wars taking place in back rooms, ports, alleyways, and political offices.

It’s a world where:

Every handshake is dangerous.

Every secret is deadly.

And every ambition has a price.

🔎 Season 1 Premise — Crime, Power, and the Ghosts of Korea’s Past

Season 1 follows Ki-tae and Geon-young as their fates intertwine through:

• covert KCIA operations

• smuggling networks

• political deals

• personal vendettas

• hidden family ties

Ki-tae walks the razor’s edge between crime and patriotism.Geon-young hunts the truth with terrifying intensity.

And between them lies a truth that could reshape the country.

All while powerful forces — including chiefs, lobbyists, detectives, and government officials — pull the strings from the shadows.

🧨 Meet the Characters — Power, Politics & Betrayal

Here’s the complete cast breakdown, in your preferred table format:

🌟 Main Cast

Actor	Character	Description
Hyun Bin	Baek Ki-tae	A man driven by ruthless ambition, willing to risk everything for wealth and power.
Jung Woo-sung	Jang Geon-young	A prosecutor with beast-like instincts and relentless determination.

🔥 Supporting Cast

Actor	Character	Description
Won Ji-an	Choi Yoo-ji	A brilliant lobbyist controlling political money flows behind the scenes.
Seo Eun-soo	Oh Ye-jin	A detective and Geon-young’s capable, razor-sharp secretary.
Cho Yeo-jeong	Bae Geum-ji	A high-society woman entangled in political secrecy.
Jung Sung-il	Cheon Seok-joong	Chief Secretary with enormous political influence.
Chahee	Baek So-young	Ki-tae’s younger sister — caught between family loyalty and danger.
Lee Joo-yeon	Jang Hye-eun	Geon-young’s sister with hidden ties to a secretive power circle.
Woo Do-hwan	TBA	Ki-tae’s mysterious younger brother — connected to underground smuggling.

This cast is STACKED, combining blockbuster stars with rising talent.

🔥 Why Made in Korea Is a Must-Watch Event This Year

Here’s why the buzz is nuclear-level:

⭐ 1. Hyun Bin & Jung Woo-sung — A dream duo

Two of Korea’s most powerful screen actors colliding in one noir epic?Unprecedented.

⭐ 2. Based on real historical tensions

While fictional, the drama pulls from real events of the 1970s political era.

⭐ 3. Woo Min-ho’s direction (Inside Men, The Man Standing Next)

A master of political thrillers.

⭐ 4. ₩70 billion budget

Massive sets, period-accurate visuals, and high-octane action.

⭐ 5. Disney+ renewal BEFORE release

Confidence level: sky-high.

⭐ 6. Made for international audiences

Dark, stylish, gritty — similar to Narcos, Peaky Blinders, and Inside Men.

🎞️ Season 2 Confirmed — What We Know So Far

Even before Season 1 drops, Disney+ has already:

✔ greenlit Season 2

✔ scheduled release for late 2026

✔ begun early production

Season 2 will expand into:

• deeper political conspiracies

• international smuggling routes

• KCIA internal power wars

• family betrayals

• the rise of new political players

If Season 1 builds the world…Season 2 is ready to tear it apart.

📅 Release Date & Streaming Details

🎬 Title: Made in Korea

🗓️ Premiere: December 24, 2025

📺 Platform: Hulu & Disney+🇰🇷

Country: South Korea

🎭 Genre: Period / Political / Crime / Action Thriller

🎥 Behind the Scenes — The Creative Powerhouse

🎬 Director: Woo Min-ho (Inside Men, The Man Standing Next)

🖊️ Writers: Park Eun-gyo, Park Joon-suk

🏢 Production: Hive Media Corp

💰 Budget: ₩70 billion

🌏 Distribution: Hulu (US), Disney+ (Global)

Woo Min-ho’s films are known for their:

• tight tension

• stunning cinematography

• political sharpness

• explosive character work

This series is his most ambitious project yet.

❓ Made in Korea — FAQ

Q1. When does Made in Korea premiere?

December 24, 2025 on Hulu and Disney+.

Q2. What genre is it?

Political thriller, crime noir, period drama.

Q3. Who stars in it?

Hyun Bin, Jung Woo-sung, Won Ji-an, Seo Eun-soo, Cho Yeo-jeong, Jung Sung-il, Woo Do-hwan.

Q4. Is there a Season 2?

Yes — already in production, releasing in late 2026.

Q5. What is the story about?

A politically charged crime noir set in 1970s Korea, focusing on power struggles between an ambitious smuggler and a relentless prosecutor.

⚠️ Final Verdict — A Global-Scale Korean Noir Masterpiece in the Making

Made in Korea is more than a K-drama.

It’s a cinematic event — blending historical tension, moral conflict, suspense, and powerhouse performances.

Hyun Bin’s cold ambition.Jung Woo-sung’s explosive intensity.A 1970s Korea filled with secrets.A director known for political masterpieces.A budget large enough to rival films.

This is the K-thriller everyone will be talking about this Christmas.

🔥 Made in Korea premieres December 24, only on Disney+ and Hulu.