Nine years after the events of Season 1, “Made in Korea” Season 2 is taking viewers back to 1979 for an even bigger battle over power and revenge.
The Korean series premieres on Disney+ on Sept. 9, with two new episodes released every Wednesday. Hyun Bin, Jung Woo-sung, Woo Do-hwan, Won Ji-an, Seo Eun-soo, Roh Jae-won, and Cha Hee are returning for the second season, with director Woo Min-ho once again at the helm.
For fans who have been waiting for the next chapter — and those who are just discovering the series — here’s what to look forward to in “Made in Korea” Season 2.
What is ‘Made in Korea’ about?
“Made in Korea” is a Korean series set against the backdrop of the turbulent political and social climate of 1970s South Korea.
Season 1 follows Baek Ki-tae (Hyun Bin), an ambitious KCIA officer who becomes increasingly obsessed with wealth and power. His rise puts him on a collision course with Jang Gun-yeong (Jung Woo-sung), a prosecutor determined to bring him down.
The first season centers on their escalating conflict as their personal ambitions and loyalties collide with the powerful institutions around them.
Season 2 picks up nine years after the events of Season 1, with both men facing a very different world — and each other.
Baek Ki-tae is more powerful in Season 2
When “Made in Korea” Season 2 begins, Baek Ki-tae has come a long way.
The once-ambitious KCIA officer is now the acting director of the KCIA, giving him significantly more influence, wealth, and power.
But according to Hyun Bin, Ki-tae’s rise hasn’t satisfied his ambitions.
“Compared to Season 1, he’s got more power, more wealth, but he wants more,” Hyun Bin said during the Season 2 press conference.
Ki-tae’s ambitions will put him in conflict with several characters — including people he considers family.
Season 2 is more about the power struggle
One of the biggest differences between the two seasons is how the story unfolds.
Director Woo Min-ho explained that Season 1 was structured to feel like a series of standalone films, while Season 2 flows more like one continuous movie.
“Season 1, it’s more about the brawl. Season 2 is more about the power struggle,” he said.
This time, the conflicts are more interconnected as alliances shift and characters become increasingly entangled in the same fight.
Jung Woo-sung’s Jang Gun-yeong is driven by revenge
Jung Woo-sung’s Jang Gun-yeong also returns with a very different mindset.
At the end of Season 1, Gun-yeong lost everything and was left at the bottom of the power struggle. Nine years later, he is determined to take revenge and bring down Baek Ki-tae.
“He doesn’t even realize that he’s doing everything out of vengeance,” Jung Woo-sung said.
As Gun-yeong attempts to take down Ki-tae, he also finds himself riding the tide of a rapidly changing period in Korean history.
Season 2 heads toward Dec. 12, 1979
“Made in Korea” Season 2 is set in 1979 and moves toward Dec. 12, a major turning point in modern Korean history. While the events are based on real history, its central characters are fictional, allowing the series to explore the period from a different perspective.
At the heart of the story is Baek Ki-tae and the question of what the KCIA will do amid the political upheaval.
Jung Woo-sung, who starred in the historical film “12.12: The Day,” said the fictional characters give “Made in Korea” more artistic freedom while exploring how human choices can create cycles in history.
“In a way, history does repeat itself,” he said.
Director Woo Min-ho also suggested that viewers interested in what happens after the events of the series watch “12.12: The Day.”
Woo Do-hwan’s character is more mature — and caught in the middle
After the nine-year time jump, Woo Do-hwan’s character has matured as a soldier and developed strong principles and something to protect.
His growth, however, puts him deeper into the conflict between Ki-tae and his opponents, creating an even bigger clash between the brothers.
Hyun Bin said this becomes one of Ki-tae’s biggest internal conflicts in Season 2, as family and power find themselves on opposing sides.
The women of ‘Made in Korea’ are stepping up
Season 2 also gives its female characters stronger and more assertive roles.
Seo Eun-soo’s character joins an investigation unit dominated by men and becomes more fearless and unapologetic compared to her bubbly Season 1 persona.
Meanwhile, Won Ji-an’s character joins forces with Ki-tae to pursue her goals, raising the question of just how far she is willing to go to get what she wants.
Cha Hee, who plays the sister of Baek Ki-tae, also teased a major transformation for her character, who is “180 degrees different” from how viewers saw her in Season 1.
Season 2 raises the stakes
With bigger power struggles, deeper relationships, and a story rooted in a pivotal moment in Korean history, “Made in Korea” Season 2 takes the series to a more intense level.
Hyun Bin admitted that returning after the success of Season 1 came with some pressure, but said the new season goes deeper and is bigger in scale.
“I hope Season 2 becomes a very nice gift to the fans of Season 1,” he said.
“Made in Korea” Season 2 premieres Sept. 9 on Disney+, with two new episodes every Wednesday.