Made in Korea Season 2 Review (Ep 1-2) Hyun Bin Is Back!

The Binge Team
September 10, 2026

Get some popcorn and get ready because Made in Korea Season 2 (메이드 인 코리아 시즌2) is finally here! Disney+'s much-awaited period political action thriller dropped on September 9, and I am screaming.

If you watched Season 1 and witnessed the intense power struggle set in 1970s Korea, you already know why my heart was pounding the moment I hit play on Episode 1. That season gave us political schemes, dangerous alliances, and a battle for power that kept me on the edge of my seat. So, getting back into this world for Season 2 had me seriously excited.

Before we jump into Episodes 1 and 2, let's quickly recap Season 1 and remember where we left off.

The central story of Made in Korea Season 1 was the clash between Baek Gi-tae (Hyun Bin), an ambitious man whose hunger for wealth and power knows no bounds, and Jang Gun-yeong (Jung Woo-sung), a relentless prosecutor determined to bring him down. Gi-tae built his empire through clever manipulation, political connections, and carefully calculated schemes, while Gun-yeong pursued him with a determination that just would not let up.

By the end of the season, their conflict had grown into something much bigger. It was no longer simply a fight between one powerful man and one determined prosecutor. It had become a dangerous battle involving government power, the underworld, and the law, with the season ending on a major cliffhanger.

Season 2 picks up from there without holding back. The energy is back, the stakes feel even higher, and Gi-tae is moving closer to the center of the power struggle while Gun-yeong is willing to risk everything to catch him. And honestly, that is exactly the kind of tension I wanted from this season.

Made in Korea Season 2 Episode 1-2 Review: The Tension Is Back

Episode 1 had me feeling like I was sitting on a hijacked plane myself. The opening scene immediately throws us into a terrifying situation as a group of radical left-wing hijackers attempts to take over a plane and divert it to North Korea. A passenger named Kenji is carrying a briefcase filled with methamphetamine, and he becomes part of the situation in a way that makes the whole sequence even more tense.

Then comes the reveal. Kenji is actually Baek Gi-tae, a high-ranking KCIA official who is secretly involved in the hijacking and a much larger state-backed drug operation. And honestly, Hyun Bin completely owns these scenes. There is something so calm and controlled about the way he plays Gi-tae that I couldn't take my eyes off him. Every move feels deliberate, and that made his character even more fascinating to watch.

Then we get to Episode 2, where Jang Gun-yeong starts digging deeper into the drug investigation. Jung Woo-sung is so good at showing Gun-yeong's exhaustion and anger without overdoing it. You can feel how much pressure this man is carrying, and I was completely invested in watching him push forward.

As Gun-yeong investigates a drug ring involving American soldiers with the help of investigator O Ye-jin (Seo Eun-soo), Gi-tae is dealing with a much more personal situation. He attends his mother's funeral and comes face-to-face with his estranged younger brother, Baek Gi-hyun (Woo Do-hwan). That family conflict adds another layer to Gi-tae's character and makes it clear that there is more going on with him than just his hunger for power.

I did have a few minor complaints after finishing Episode 2, though. The middle of the episode slows down when the story spends too much time with some of the supporting criminals, including Kang Dae-il (Kang Gil-woo), having conversations in dark rooms. I understand that these scenes are meant to build the larger criminal and political story, but they took away some of the momentum created by our two leads.

I also wish O Ye-jin had been given more to do in these opening episodes. She has the potential to be a really interesting character, but so far, the investigators feel a little too much like supporting pieces in the larger investigation. I hope the writers give O Ye-jin more room to develop as the season continues.

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Made in Korea Season 2 Episode 2 Ending

Episode 2's ending was an absolute jaw-dropper and made it clear where the lines of this battle are being drawn.

At a hotel, two prosecutors and KCIA agents come face-to-face during a drug deal involving the Yakuza. While prosecutor Jang Gun-yeong is trying to uphold the law, Baek Gi-tae's KCIA superior takes things to a horrifying level by ruthlessly executing gang leader Manjae right there.

That moment says a lot about what Gun-yeong is up against. This isn't just a drug operation run by criminals. The people inside the government are involved too, and they are willing to use their power to protect the illegal business.

Early Verdict After the First Two Episodes

After finishing Episodes 1 and 2, my verdict is an emphatic thumbs up. The series has brought back everything I loved about Season 1 while quickly raising the stakes for our main characters.

The contrast between Hyun Bin's cool, calculated Gi-tae and Jung Woo-sung's hot-headed Gun-yeong is still one of the best parts of the drama. Their completely different personalities create so much tension whenever they are on screen, and I am already waiting to see where their conflict goes next.

If you were worried that Season 2 might not live up to the first season, I think these opening episodes should put those worries to rest. Made in Korea still knows how to write sharp dialogue, build tension, and bring together a seriously talented cast.

And honestly, I am already hooked. I finished the first two episodes wanting more, and now I'm sitting here counting down the hours until Episode 3 comes out next week.

✦ Watch This If You Loved

I would highly recommend Made in Korea Season 2 if you enjoy intense cat-and-mouse crime thrillers, 1970s Korea, and strong performances from the lead actors.

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