Actor Hyun Bin shared honest behind the scenes stories about transforming into Baek Gi Tae for the Disney Plus series Made in Korea, drawing attention for his dedication and physical effort.
In a recent interview, Hyun Bin spoke about taking on Baek Gi Tae, his first full villain role, and said he felt satisfied pushing himself in a new direction. Rather than seeing the character as a simple bad guy, he explained that Baek Gi Tae felt more complex.
He shared that although the character does wrong things, there are parts that feel understandable, which made the role more interesting to play.
Hyun Bin also revealed that he gained around 14 kg on his own to better match the character. He explained that when he first read the script, he wanted Baek Gi Tae to give off a strong and intimidating presence that fit the power of the era.
He recalled that director Woo Min Ho even mentioned wanting a “James Bond feel” in an early scene, with both pressure and subtle wit. Wanting his suit to look fuller on screen, Hyun Bin decided to gain weight and said he felt satisfied when he saw the final result.
However, he admitted the process was not easy. Hyun Bin shared that gaining weight was painful, especially after previously losing muscle for another project.
He said rebuilding muscle took time and effort, and while his diet was slightly more flexible, it still required careful control.
Talking about his acting experience, Hyun Bin said the role itself was fun because it allowed him to try expressions and actions he had never done before.
He added that Baek Gi Tae is a character who moves forward without hesitation, which gave him a sense of indirect release that is hard to experience in real life.
Hyun Bin also shared that Made in Korea is a project that raises questions rather than giving clear answers. He expressed hope that viewers would think about the choices people make between success and conscience, noting that while the story is set in the past, its message can still feel relevant today.
As anticipation continues to build, Hyun Bin carefully avoided spoilers, saying there is still room to show different sides of Baek Gi Tae and that even he does not yet know how everything will unfold.
Source: [1]
