Hyunbin mentioned a changed mindset as an actor after becoming a father.
On the 27th afternoon at a cafe in Sogyeok-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, an interview was held with Hyunbin, the lead actor of the Disney+ series Made In Korea.
Disney+ Made In Korea is set in 1970s Korea, when confusion and leaps forward coexisted, and depicts the story of company man Baek Ki-tae (played by Hyunbin), who seeks to use the state as a revenue model to reach the pinnacle of wealth and power, and prosecutor Jang Geon-young (played by Jung Woosung), who pursues him to the brink with terrifying determination, as they face huge events that span the era. It is a big-budget production with 70 billion won invested and is director Woo Min-ho's first series work, after films such as Inside Men (2015), Decision to Leave (2020), and Harbin (2024). It was produced by HYBE Media Corp., which made the 10-million-attendance film 12.12: The Day, and even before its release it drew high expectations with a solid lineup including Hyunbin, Jung Woosung, Woo Do Hwan, Cho Yeojeong, Seo Eun-soo, Won Jian, and Jung Sung-il.
Hyunbin gave a passionate performance as Baek Ki-tae, a Central Intelligence Agency agent who seeks wealth and power while leading a double life as a drug smuggler. For the first time in his 23-year career he played a villain, bulking up 15 kg to deliver an intense performance. Working again with director Woo Min-ho of the film Harbin, he successfully transformed his image from the hero Ahn Jung-geun to a villain character 180 degrees different.
Made In Korea concluded with its final episode on the 14th, and among Korean original contents opened on Disney+ in 2025 it set a new domestic viewing record, solidifying the series' presence. As of the 16th, the OTT content ranking site FlixPatrol recorded Disney+ Made In Korea at No. 1 on the platform's TV show chart in Korea for 23 consecutive days; it also ranked No. 1 in Hong Kong and Taiwan and No. 2 in Japan and Singapore. In addition, it was the most-watched Korean work across the Asia-Pacific region last year.
Now filming season 2, Hyunbin said, "When we were shooting season 2, season 1 was released, but getting various feedback in the process doesn't change anything. I had already built Baek Ki-tae and started filming, so the method or tone of the acting doesn't change," adding, "However, acquaintances around me often ask what will happen next. Then I absolutely don't comment. (laughs) Because the season 1 ending of episode 6 ended like that, I really hope people wait for season 2."
Since marrying Son Ye-jin in 2022, Hyunbin has continued active work as an actor. Son Ye-jin, who delayed her return slightly due to childbirth and childcare, successfully returned to the screen last year in director Park Chan-wook's No Other Choice after seven years. The two recently shared the joy of winning best actor and best actress at the 46th Blue Dragon Film Awards.
As a couple they are friendly rivals who give each other positive energy. He said they always think they should show good acting to each other and added, "This is something I would have always thought even if I hadn't married," and "Marriage hasn't changed that; as an actor I naturally want to keep improving and show many good sides. I think that's common among actors. But after having a child, the point that changed is wanting to show a proud image like 'dad is a good actor, he was a great actor.'"
Baek Ki-tae, portrayed by Hyunbin, is in the drama a conservative and strict older brother and a fatherlike figure to his younger brother Gi-hyeon (played by Woo Do Hwan). Asked what kind of father he is to his actual 4-year-old son, he said, "I haven't been strict yet. He is so young that he probably doesn't know much about that. If I were strict, he might ask, 'Is that strict?'" and added, "I haven't even lost my temper. Maybe it's an animal instinct, but when dad says 'that's enough,' my son seems to feel, 'He's not an easy opponent.'" which drew laughter.
Responding to the remark that "Hyunbin's acting seems to have deepened after marriage," he said, "Marriage certainly had an impact on my acting life," adding, "I've had new experiences, I'm older, and I've spent more time on set. All of this combined seems to make it appear that way."
Meanwhile, Made In Korea season 1 ended as a six-episode series, and season 2 is currently being filmed.
[Photo] Walt Disney Company Korea, SNS
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