Hyun Bin and Jung Woo-sung Together? This K-Drama Could Change Everything

Disney+ is turning heads with one of its most anticipated K-dramas for the latter half of 2025—a historical series titled Made in Korea. The drama is quickly emerging as a major title in the platform’s Korean content lineup, with high expectations and industry buzz building ahead of its release.

On May 23, The Walt Disney Company Korea hosted its “Disney+ Open House” at its headquarters in Gangnam, Seoul. The event brought together key figures from the Korean entertainment industry and was led by Choi Yeon-woo, Head of Local Content at Disney+ Korea. During the presentation, Disney+ reflected on its milestone of having released over 40 Korean original productions and revealed its upcoming slate of dramas.

Among the new titles, Made in Korea stood out as the most highly anticipated project. The drama stars Hyun Bin and Jung Woo-sung, and marks the first-ever series direction by filmmaker Woo Min-ho, best known for political thrillers like Inside Men and The Man Standing Next. Set in the turbulent 1970s, the story follows Baek Ki-tae, the ambitious son of a chaebol family (played by Hyun Bin), who is determined to secure power and wealth. Opposing him is prosecutor Jang Geon-young (played by Jung Woo-sung), a man willing to sacrifice everything to stop him. The series delves into themes of corruption, ambition, and justice amid a backdrop of rapid industrialization and political upheaval in Korea.

Kim Won-kook, CEO of HIVE Media Corp, the production company behind the show, expressed strong confidence in the project, saying, “With Disney’s support and HIVE’s production capabilities, we’ve created something truly powerful.” He added that the show retains the weighty narratives, psychological tension, and complex character dynamics that defined Woo Min-ho’s previous films, predicting, “Once this airs, it will shake the foundations of the K-drama industry.”

Made in Korea is already drawing attention not just for its A-list cast and blockbuster director, but for its bold thematic direction. Tackling issues of power, morality, and institutional corruption head-on, the drama aims to spotlight the darker corners of 1970s Korea—territory rarely explored in mainstream K-dramas. It’s being recognized as a project that could significantly deepen the genre’s narrative scope.

The event also introduced several other Korean originals set to debut on Disney+ later this year. These include Tempest starring Jun Ji-hyun and Kang Dong-won, Low Life featuring Ryu Seung-ryong and Yang Se-jong, Turbid Stream, a period piece led by Rowoon and Shin Ye-eun, and The Manipulated, starring Ji Chang-wook and Do Kyung-soo (D.O.). In addition, The Killers’ Shopping Mall Season 2 is returning with a more dynamic and action-packed storyline that promises a significant shift in tone from its first season.

Marking four years since its launch in Korea, Disney+ continues to expand its investment in local content, aiming to strengthen its competitive edge in the global streaming market. Following successful titles like Big Bet and Moving, the platform is now betting big on series like Made in Korea to further showcase the depth and diversity of modern Korean storytelling.

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