How many episodes does Made in Korea Season 1 have?

Season 1 consists of 6 episodes. They were released in batches on Disney+ and Hulu: two episodes on December 24, 2025, two more on December 31, and the final two weekly through January 14, 2026.

Where can I watch Made in Korea with English subtitles?

Made in Korea streams exclusively on Disney+. In the United States it is also available on Hulu under the Hulu on Disney+ content hub.

Is there a Season 2 of Made in Korea?

Yes. Disney+ greenlit Season 2 before Season 1 even premiered, with production beginning immediately. Season 2 was released on September 9, 2026.

Where was Made in Korea filmed?

Filming took place across South Korea, Japan (Kobe, standing in for 1970s Busan), and Thailand (Kanchanaburi and Chonburi provinces).

Is Made in Korea based on a true story or related to The Drug King?

No — it is an original fictional story. Production company Hive Media Corp officially denied reports that it is a spin-off of the 2018 film The Drug King, stating it is an entirely different work.

★ 8.2ongoing

Made in Korea

메이드 인 코리아

Year2025Episodes12NetworkDisney+

Episode 4 of 12

“Infernal Affairs meets the KCIA — greed and justice collide in 1970s Korea”

In 1970s South Korea, follow two men on opposite sides of power — one driven by ambition, the other by justice. As their worlds collide, greed, loyalty, and survival intertwine in a battle that will shape a nation.

CrimeDrama

Hyun Bin

as Baek Kitae · LEAD

Hyun Bin

Baek Kitae

Jung Woo-sung

as Jang Geonyoung · LEAD

Jung Woo-sung

Jang Geonyoung

Woo Do-hwan

as Baek Ki-hyeon · LEAD

Woo Do-hwan

Baek Ki-hyeon

Cho Yeo-jeong

as Bae Geum-ji · LEAD

Cho Yeo-jeong

Bae Geum-ji

Seo Eun-soo

as Oh Ye-jin · SUPPORTING

Seo Eun-soo

Oh Ye-jin

Won Ji-an

as Choi Yu-ji / Yuji Ikeda · SUPPORTING

Won Ji-an

Choi Yu-ji / Yuji Ikeda

Jung Sung-il

as Cheon Seok-joong · SUPPORTING

Jung Sung-il

Cheon Seok-joong

Lee Se-ho

as Lee Ju Im · SUPPORTING

Lee Se-ho

Lee Ju Im

Streaming

Where to watch

DisneyHulu

Availability varies by region · Data by JustWatch via TMDB

Quick verdict

Should you watch?

A glossy, slow-burn 1970s crime noir powered by two titans, hampered by a format that's neither long enough nor lean enough.

Story

7.8

Acting

8.3

OST

7.2

Pacing

7.0

8.5+

7–8.4

✓Fans of political crime thrillers, viewers who loved Infernal Affairs or Inside Men, anyone who enjoyed Hyun Bin in Crash Landing on You and wants to see him play a true villain

✗Viewers who need fast pacing, tight plotting, or fully resolved character arcs in a single season

Story

What is it really about

A double-dealing KCIA operative — ruthless, charming, and neck-deep in smuggling — begins amassing power inside the very institution meant to stop men like him. Standing in his way is an uncompromising prosecutor who has already sacrificed his career for the truth. The 1970s political machinery that surrounds them makes it impossible to know who — if anyone — is truly on the right side.

Slow-burnMorally greyPrestige noirBrooding tensionPeriod atmosphere

Did you know

Trivia & facts

The combined two-season production budget was reported at approximately ₩70 billion (~$61 million USD), among the largest ever for a K-drama. (Korea Herald / Hive Media Corp CEO, May 2024)

To recreate 1970s Busan, the production spent roughly one month filming in Kobe, Japan, whose port-city architecture remains period-appropriate. (Wikipedia / Mbrella Films)

Overseas shooting in Thailand included locations in Kanchanaburi and Chonburi — the 3D Tunnel, Sangchuto Road, Sattahip Beach, and the Royal Thai Marine Naval Base. (Wikipedia / Mbrella Films)

Disney+ greenlit Season 2 before Season 1 premiered; the renewal was announced at the APAC Showcase at Hong Kong Disneyland in November 2025. (Variety / Disney+)

Hyun Bin gained approximately 14–15 kilograms for the role, saying he wanted the KCIA's authority to be visible in the character's physical presence. (Korea Herald press conference)