The crime noir series Made in Korea returns for a second season on September 9, streaming on Disney+ and Hulu. Starring Hyun Bin, Jung Woo-sung, and Woo Do-hwan, the six-episode continuation picks up nine years after the events of the first season, focusing on a high-stakes revenge plot and a battle for absolute power.
The upcoming season marks a return for the creative team, with Park Eun-kyo returning as writer—who also wrote the first season and has credits including “The Silent Sea” and “Mother”—and Woo Min-ho returning to direct. Woo Min-ho’s prior work includes The Man Standing Next
and “Inside Men.” Produced by Hive Media Corp, the company behind “Inside Men,” The Man Standing Next
and 12.12: The Day,
the series will launch with a two-episode premiere on Sept. 9, followed by two new episodes each Wednesday through September 23.
Baek Ki-tae’s Rise and the Korean CIA
Season 2 finds Baek Ki-tae, played by Hyun Bin, further consolidating his influence. Now serving as deputy director within the Korean CIA (KCIA), Ki-tae has grown his wealth and influence while expanding drug operations throughout the region after framing prosecutor Jang Geonyoung.
In the first season, which revolved around government and law-enforcement agencies involved in corrupt activities in the 1970s, Ki-tae established himself as a high-ranking officer of the KCIA while controlling illicit smuggling operations on the side. The second season sees him continue to climb toward power in the aftermath of those events.
Jang Geonyoung’s Decade-Long Revenge
The narrative center of the new season is the return of Jang Geonyoung, played by Jung Woo-sung. After nine years in the shadows, the former prosecutor emerges to execute a revenge plan nearly a decade in the making against Ki-tae. While Ki-tae ascended the political and criminal ladder, Geonyoung was left humiliated by Ki-tae’s framing.
Teasers highlight a tense exchange where Geonyoung pressures Baek Kihyun, Ki-tae’s brother, by saying, Choose which side you'll stand on,
while Ki-tae responds with a chilling warning: Are you trying to take me on?
Cast and Production Pedigree
The series reunites Hyun Bin with director Woo Min-ho, who previously collaborated with the actor on the film Harbin. Hyun Bin expressed immense trust in Min-ho, stating the director has an ability to pull out different sides of his performance. The production is handled by Hive Media Corp, known for The Man Standing Next and 12.12: The Day.
Woo Dohwan returns as Baek Kihyun, Ki-tae’s brother. Other cast members include Seo Eun-soo, Won Ji-an, Jung Sung-il, and No Jae-won.
Having premiered on Hulu and Disney+ on Dec. 24, 2024, it released weekly episodes until its Jan. 14 finale. It became the most-viewed Korean Original premiere of 2025 on Disney+ across the Asia-Pacific region. It also earned a spot on TIME Magazine’s list of the most anticipated K-dramas of 2026.
Escalation of Conflict: What to Expect
The second season is expected to be more extreme in its conflict than the first. According to reporting from Sportschosun, the narrative is driven by a definitive ultimatum: This is war now. One side must die for it to end.
The tension is further amplified by political turmoil and growing public discontent, providing a volatile backdrop for the personal vendetta between the two men. While the first season focused on Ki-tae’s double life as a KCIA agent and smuggler, Season 2 focuses on the fallout of those choices and the inevitable collision with a man who has nothing left to lose.
Teasers for the second season open with Baek Ki-tae, who exudes overwhelming charisma,
and include the ominous line: I kept my head down, hid my claws, and waited for this moment.
| Detail | Season 2 Information |
|---|---|
| Release Date | September 9, 2026 |
| Platform | Disney+ and Hulu |
| Episode Count | 6 episodes |
| Schedule | Two-episode premiere; two new episodes every Wednesday through Sept. 23 |
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