Why Everyone Is Talking About The Korean Drama ‘Made In Korea’

HuffPost spoke with Hyun Bin and Jung Woo-sung, the stars of Hulu’s latest K-drama, which has already earned an early renewal for Season 2.

Korean storytelling is reaching global audiences like never before, and “Made in Korea” is quickly becoming one of the most talked-about series of the year. The Disney+ drama — available to U.S. audiences on Hulu — has generated major buzz thanks to its high-profile cast and bold approach to historical storytelling. (Watch the video above.)

Set in the 1970s, “Made in Korea” revisits one of South Korea’s most turbulent eras, blending real historical events with fictional characters to examine corruption, ambition and the consequences of power. The series stars Hyun Bin and Jung Woo-sung, two of South Korea’s most recognizable actors, and is directed by Woo Min-ho, known for award-winning films including “Harbin” and “Inside Men.” That combination of talent has fueled anticipation even before the series’ premiere.

The series follows Baek Kitae (Hyun Bin), a KCIA agent in Busan, and Jang Gunyoung (Jung), a prosecutor in the city’s district attorney’s office. By day, Baek is a sharp-suited intelligence officer; by night, he operates as a smuggler. Ambitious and determined, he navigates a treacherous path to amass wealth and influence amid social and political upheaval, while the relentless Jang works to bring him down.

Rather than keeping a strict boundary between fact and fiction, “Made in Korea” deliberately blurs the line.

“Usually for a piece like this, in order to make sure that people understand it’s fictional, the characters are written in a way where you keep a distance between the characters and what really happened in history,” Jung said. “‘Made in Korea’ takes on a bold attempt in really intertwining actual historical events, but also with these fictional characters that have been developed for the story.”