Hyun Bin & Jung Woo Sung Lead Disney+ Political Thriller ‘Made in Korea’ in Intense New Teaser
Disney+’s upcoming original series ‘Made in Korea’ unveiled a new teaser on November 26 via its official channels, offering a first full look at the show’s political thriller tone. Set in 1970s Korea, the drama marks Hyun Bin and Jung Woo Sung’s high-profile collaboration in a streaming original. The story centers on Baek Ki Tae, who effectively treats the state as a profit model while operating under the banner of patriotism, and prosecutor Jang Geon Young, who is determined to pursue him to the end. Their opposing interpretations of ‘national duty’ form the core of the teaser.
The drama is set in a Korea where rapid economic growth and political instability coexist in the 1970s. Hyun Bin’s Baek Ki Tae works inside the Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA) while maintaining ties to smuggling networks, seeking to climb to the top of wealth and power by leveraging state authority and illicit capital. Jung Woo Sung’s Jang Geon Young is a prosecutor who continues to investigate a shadowy criminal organization and the structures behind it despite pressure from superiors. Their confrontation unfolds across major incidents tied to national security and political upheaval, positioning ‘Made in Korea’ as a blend of political, espionage, and crime thriller elements.
The teaser opens with Baek Ki Tae solemnly saluting the national flag, immediately foregrounding themes of state and loyalty. When Jang Geon Young pointedly asks why he joined the KCIA, Baek answers with a single line—‘I joined to serve my country’—hinting at a blurred boundary between patriotism and personal ambition. The footage then cuts rapidly between tense meetings, clandestine encounters, and street pursuits, suggesting that Baek’s influence extends beyond the intelligence apparatus into the broader political and economic landscape of the era.
As the teaser progresses, Jang Geon Young’s pursuit grows more urgent, underscored by his line, ‘Baek Ki Tae, I’ll catch you no matter what.’ Shots of him pushing ahead with the investigation despite being told to back down contrast with Baek’s increasingly opaque activities within the intelligence service. At one point, Baek declares, ‘This too is national duty, this too is patriotism,’ reinforcing the ambiguity of his motives. Near the end, Jang warns, ‘If you want to go up against me, be prepared,’ and when Baek demands, ‘What game are you playing?’, Jang answers with a single word—‘Patriotism.’ The exchange encapsulates their fundamentally different interpretations of what it means to act for the nation.
Beyond its two leads, ‘Made in Korea’ boasts a substantial supporting cast including Woo Do Hwan, Cho Yeo Jeong, Seo Eun Soo, Won Ji An, Jung Sung Il, Kang Gil Woo, Roh Jae Won, Lily Franky, and Park Yong Woo. The teaser briefly shows several of these characters appearing alongside Baek Ki Tae, hinting at layered connections spanning intelligence agencies, political-business networks, and underground organizations. The series is directed by Woo Min Ho, known for films such as ‘Inside Men,’ ‘The Man Standing Next,’ and ‘Harbin,’ marking his first venture into a streaming original series. Korean media have reported that a second season is already in development, indicating Disney+ intends to build ‘Made in Korea’ as a long-term flagship IP.
According to the current schedule, ‘Made in Korea’ will be released on Disney+ in staggered batches across six episodes. The first two episodes are set to drop on December 24, 2025, followed by episodes 3 and 4 on December 31. Episodes 5 and 6 are then slated for January 7 and January 14, 2026, respectively. This structure—two initial drops followed by weekly releases—aims to leverage holiday-season buzz while leaving room for word-of-mouth and ongoing discussion, catering to both binge-watchers and viewers who enjoy week-to-week speculation.
At the ‘Disney+ Originals Preview 2025’ event in Hong Kong, company executives highlighted ‘Made in Korea’ as one of next year’s most anticipated Korean originals, presenting it alongside titles like ‘Goldland’ and ‘21st Century Grand Duchess’ in the APAC-focused slate. Disney reiterated its commitment to investing in original stories from markets such as Korea and Japan and bringing them to audiences worldwide via streaming. Based on the teaser and the announced cast and crew, ‘Made in Korea’ is positioned as a work that combines political backdrop, espionage elements, and psychological confrontation—offering a distinct alternative to more romance-driven K-dramas in the year-end lineup.
【KStarLoud Analysis】From an industry and platform strategy standpoint, ‘Made in Korea’ functions as a test case for Disney+ to build a Korean political-thriller “universe.” Casting film-heavyweights Hyun Bin and Jung Woo Sung under director Woo Min Ho effectively ports audience expectations from acclaimed political films like ‘Inside Men’ and ‘The Man Standing Next’ into the streaming format. The six-episode structure, staggered release, and early buzz about a second season allow Disney+ to serve both binge viewers and long-tail conversation. For K-drama audiences accustomed to romance or mystery as default genres, this project offers a viewing experience where state apparatus and power structures, rather than love lines, sit at the center. And for Disney+, if the series can generate strong word-of-mouth across Asia while leveraging the leads’ name recognition in Western markets, ‘Made in Korea’ has the potential to turn Korean political thrillers into an exportable, recurring IP line—helping the platform close a gap in its slate of more mature, hard-edged Korean dramas.