Latest news with #MadeInKorea
Pink Villa
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Made In Korea First Look: Hyun Bin sets eyes on gripping thriller in first K-drama since Crash Landing on You and marriage to Son Ye Jin
The first look at Made In Korea is out, and it is already making waves. Starring Hyun Bin and Jung Woo Sung, this upcoming political thriller is shaping up to be one of the most intense dramas of the year. This marks Hyun Bin 's first drama series since his marriage to Son Ye Jin and following his hit drama Crash Landing On You. After tying the knot in 2022, the actor made his big-screen comeback with the movie Harbin (2024). Now, he is back with another political drama that revolves around power struggle. Set against the gripping backdrop of 1970s Korea, the series plunges into a tense world of power, ambition, and justice, where two men find themselves on opposite sides of a razor-thin line. Hyun Bin plays Baek Ki Tae, a man consumed by his ambition and his desire for power and wealth. On the other side stands Jung Woo Sung as Jang Gun Young, a prosecutor known for his fierce tenacity and sharp instinct. When a major incident shakes the political landscape, Jang Gun Young dedicates himself entirely to stopping Baek Ki Tae, setting the stage for a dramatic battle between two strong personalities. The first images give us a taste of the tension that runs through the series. One shot shows Hyun Bin in a formal suit, speaking on the phone with an expression that is both calm and calculated. He appears to be in the middle of a high-stakes conversation, possibly negotiating or gathering information. Another image shows the two leads face to face in a heated moment, surrounded by men in suits. The cast supporting this powerful duo brings even more intrigue to the story. Won Ji An plays Choi Yoo Ji, a skilled lobbyist who moves the pieces behind the scenes. Seo Eun Su plays Oh Ye Jin, an investigator who must navigate the blurred lines of truth and loyalty. Cho Yeo Jeong appears as Bae Geum Ji, while Jung Sung Il portrays Chief Secretary Cheon Seok Joong, a key figure in the political drama. Made In Korea will premiere on Disney+ in the second half of 2025. With only six episodes, the series promises a tightly packed story filled with sharp dialogue and more. The combination of Hyun Bin and Jung Woo Sung alone is enough to raise expectations, and the first look proves that this is not a series to miss. More updates and teasers are expected soon, but for now, the stage is set and the battle is just beginning.
Korea Herald
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Disney+ Korea unveils strategy for latter half of 2025
Release schedule for Disney+ tentpole project 'Knock Off' starring Kim Soo-hyun still undecided Disney+ Korea on Friday outlined its strategic vision and announced a highly anticipated slate of original series for the second half of the year, spotlighting the return of major Korean stars including Kang Dong-won and Jun Ji-hyun. According to Choi Yeon-u, director of local content at Walt Disney Company Korea, the forward-looking strategy of Disney+ centers on four key pillars: 'tentpole,' 'curated selection,' 'franchise series,' and 'new opportunities.' 'Tentpole' refers to the streamer's commitment to developing large-scale content backed by compelling narratives and participation from top-tier actors and production staff. 'Curated selection' encompasses a diverse portfolio of content that can complement tentpole content, while "franchise series' signals an effort to develop Korean content with global franchise potential and expand the universe within the fictional world. Finally, 'new opportunities' highlights the platform's push to expand experimental content in new formats that reflect changing viewer consumption patterns. In addition to outlining its strategic direction, Disney+ announced its 2025 content lineup for the latter half of the year, including 'Tempest,' starring Kang Dong-won and Jun Ji-hyun; 'Made In Korea,' starring Hyun Bin and Jung Woo-sung; 'Low Life,' starring Ryu Seung-ryong; 'The Murky Stream,' starring Ro-woon and Shin Ye-eun and 'The Manipulated,' starring Ji Chang-wuk. The platform also confirmed the upcoming broadcast of two projects in 2026: 'Dazzlement' (translated), a highly anticipated drama adaptation of a popular webtoon of the same name starring Bae Suzy and Kim Seon-ho, as well as a new variety show, 'Destiny Wars 49' (translated), in which 49 contestants compete for survival. Casting and directorial details for 'Destiny Wars 49' have not yet been disclosed. Following Choi's remarks, two key producers behind Disney+ Korean originals were introduced. Kim Won-kuk, the head of Hive Media Corp, the production company behind 'Made In Korea,' and You Jung-hoon, the head of Merry Christmas, which is producing the second season of 'A Shop for Killers,' shared their perspectives on the evolving content landscape. Yoo emphasized creating content with the potential to be expanded upon. "When designing content, I believe we need to start by thinking about the universe it exists in. … Korean creators need to focus on this aspect and craft stories that are scalable. That's the way to truly communicate with the world," said Yoo, during a press event held at The Walt Disney Company Korea's headquarters in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Friday. "I believe we should prioritize content with the potential to evolve into series and spin-offs. It's important to focus on the world-building elements and explore how these universes can be expanded. We also need to closely track viewer consumption habits and adapt to their changing lifestyles," he added. Yoo also characterized shifts in content consumption as driven by fast consumers and on-demand viewing, explaining, 'Streaming platforms effectively fulfill the demand for on-demand access. Even during the planning phase, creators need to move beyond traditional storytelling methods and focus on preserving tension and pacing that resonates with streaming platform audiences.' Choi was also asked about Disney+'s release schedule for 'Knock Off.' The tentpole project was initially slated for release earlier this year but postponed following controversy surrounding its main lead, Kim Soo-hyun. Regarding the exclusion of 'Knock Off' from the second-half lineup, Choi said 'Disney+ has officially decided to postpone its (release) plans after careful consideration. It is difficult to provide any further comment at this time.'
