Hyun Bin on 'Made in Korea 2': "A Much Deeper Story" Than Season 1

Actor Hyun Bin is stepping back into one of his most talked-about roles, and he says the pressure is real. The star opened up about the weight of following up a hit as Disney+ prepares to launch the second season of its Korean original noir series "Made in Korea."

A press conference for the show was held on Sept. 2 at the Conrad Seoul hotel in the Yeouido area of Seoul.

"Made in Korea 2" is a noir drama that picks up nine years after the events of the first season. It follows Baek Ki-tae, played by Hyun Bin, on a dangerous path fueled by even greater ambition. Season 1 was the most-watched Korean original title on Disney+ globally in 2025. Where the first season moved through different events and settings to show many sides of its era, this season zeroes in on one large-scale case and pushes the characters' desires and choices into constant collision.

Hyun Bin plays Baek Ki-tae, who has risen to the top of the power structure as acting director of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency. Speaking about his character's promotion, the actor said, "In Season 2, even though Baek Ki-tae has built up much more wealth and climbed to a higher position than in Season 1, his ambition drives him to want an even higher seat and even more wealth."

He added, "As figures and forces show up to stop Baek Ki-tae's unstoppable rise, there are moments when he becomes isolated, and moments when he makes bold choices that put him in danger. I paid close attention to showing both of those sides at once."

Hyun Bin won Best Actor at the Baeksang Arts Awards for his work in Season 1. Returning for Season 2, he admitted the stakes are on his mind. "It's not that I feel no pressure," he said.

Still, he framed the follow-up as an opportunity. "A lot of people responded well to Season 1, and part of me hopes those same viewers will enjoy Season 2, too," he said. He teased that the new season is "a much deeper story than Season 1."

"Made in Korea 2" premieres on Sept. 9 on Disney+.