Director Woo Min-ho expressed strong affection for actor Hyun Bin, with whom he collaborated on the film ‘Harbin’ and the Disney+ series ‘Made in Korea.’
Woo Min-ho, director of the Disney+ original series ‘Made in Korea,’ was interviewed on the 19th at a cafe in Sogyeok-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul.
‘Made in Korea’ is set in 1970s South Korea, a time of chaos and hope. It follows Baek Ki-tae (played by Hyun Bin), who aims to reach the pinnacle of wealth and power by turning the nation into a profit model, and prosecutor Jang Geon-young (played by Jung Woo-sung), who relentlessly pursues him. This is Woo Min-ho’s first OTT series, known for opening new chapters in Korean period dramas like ‘Harbin’ (2024), ‘The Man Standing Next’ (2020), and ‘Inside Men’ (2015).
Director Woo remarked, “I’ve heard many say, ‘Hyun Bin is amazing,'” about Hyun Bin’s role as Baek Ki-tae in ‘Made in Korea.’
He continued, “In ‘Harbin,’ he portrayed the national hero Ahn Jung-geun, and in ‘Made in Korea,’ he plays a villain. The thrill of capturing and creating a new side of actor Hyun Bin was indescribable. While the work is for viewers, I am the first to see it, and the thrill is inexpressible. Especially, I felt the reaction would be strong in the final scene,” he smiled.
According to Woo, Hyun Bin bulked up by about 15kg for ‘Made in Korea.’ “I don’t usually ask actors for specifics, but he took the initiative. For ‘Harbin,’ I suggested that Ahn Jung-geun would suit a leaner look, so he lost weight. For ‘Made in Korea,’ he bulked up about 13-15kg on his own, capturing Baek Ki-tae’s ambitions,” Woo said.
Hyun Bin won his first Best Actor award at the 46th Blue Dragon Film Awards for ‘Harbin.’ Lee Byung-hun also won his first award at the Blue Dragon for ‘Inside Men’ in 2016. Woo expressed joy that his actors received acclaim, saying, “I feel better when actors are praised than when I receive awards.”
Woo added, “I thought Lee Byung-hun had already received awards for works like ‘Masquerade.’ I recall hoping to win at the Blue Dragon while going to the ceremony. Hyun Bin worked hard on ‘Harbin’ under challenging conditions, as you know, without CGI. Playing a great figure like Ahn Jung-geun must have been a significant pressure. ‘Harbin’ was, emotionally and physically, his most earnest work. Winning Best Actor was more thrilling than for Lee Byung-hun. Lee Byung-hun is already an accomplished actor with other directors, but I felt I unveiled another facet of Hyun Bin. ‘Harbin’ marked a turning point in his career, and it led us to ‘Made in Korea.’ It’s gratifying that viewers appreciate his new image,” he shared.
He continued, “As a director, I am happier when actors are recognized than when I am praised. It’s awkward if I win but the actors don’t. It’s a joy when they receive the appreciation they deserve. I watched closely as they put in heartfelt effort. I’m thankful that the character Baek Ki-tae is loved despite being a villain.”
Finally, when asked if Hyun Bin became his persona, Woo humorously replied, “I think so, but you’ll have to ask him since he might not like it,” bringing laughter.
All six episodes of ‘Made in Korea’ Season 1 were released on the 14th.
Image source: Walt Disney Company Korea, Xportsnews
