Power, ambition, and image sit at the center of Made in Korea, Hulu’s upcoming historical crime drama set during one of the most politically charged eras in modern Korean history. In this interview, Roh Jaewon and Jung Sungil break down how their performances reflect a world where authority is negotiated quietly, status is worn visibly, and morality is rarely clear-cut.
About the Interview
Roh Jaewon (“Pyo Hak-soo”) and Jung Sungil (“Cheon Seok-joong”) discuss bringing Made in Korea to life by grounding their characters in the political and cultural reality of 1970s Korea. The actors explain how extensive research shaped their understanding of power structures during the era and how wardrobe — especially the sharply tailored suits — became an essential extension of character, status, and intent.
Throughout the conversation, both reflect on ambition, restraint, and the moral tension that defines the series.
Power as Performance
In Made in Korea, power is rarely loud. Roh Jaewon and Jung Sungil describe a world where influence is conveyed through posture, silence, and calculated presence. Every interaction feels transactional, and every decision carries long-term consequences.
“Made in Korea doesn’t frame power as heroic or villainous,” the conversation reveals.
It presents power as something negotiated moment by moment, often at the expense of conscience.
This approach gives the series its simmering intensity, allowing character psychology to drive the drama rather than spectacle alone.
Suits, Status, and Control
Costuming plays a critical role in defining hierarchy within the show. The actors explain that suits were not simply period-accurate wardrobe choices, but tools used to communicate authority, confidence, and dominance.
In a society where appearances dictated access and survival, clothing becomes a form of armor. Made in Korea understands that image is power — and losing control of that image can be just as dangerous as losing political leverage.
Moral Tension in a Shifting Korea
Set during a time of rapid economic growth and political instability, the series places its characters at moral crossroads. Roh Jaewon and Jung Sungil reflect on portraying men forced to reconcile personal ambition with the cost of their choices.
“The series thrives in the gray,” they note, emphasizing that Made in Korea is less concerned with right and wrong than with consequence.
That ambiguity is what makes the story feel modern despite its historical setting.
About Made in Korea
Set in 1970s Korea, Made in Korea follows Baek Kitae, an ambitious KCIA agent living a double life as both government operative and smuggler. As his rise to power accelerates, he finds himself on a collision course with a relentless prosecutor who cannot be bought or bribed.
Made in Korea premieres Wednesday, December 24, 2025, on Hulu, with two episodes at launch and weekly episodes to follow.
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