Hyun Bin reveals why he gained 13 kg for his powerful role in Made in Korea Season 2

Hyun Bin underwent a major physical transformation for Disney+’s *Made in Korea*, gaining around 13 to 14 kg to create a more intimidating presence for his character.

The actor recently completed his two-season run as Baek Ki Tae following the release of the Made in Korea Season 2* finale on September 23.

Set in the 1970s, *Made in Korea* follows Baek Ki Tae, a Korean Central Intelligence Agency officer who secretly lives a second life as a smuggler while pursuing wealth and power. His ambitions put him in conflict with prosecutor Jang Geon Young, played by Jung Woo Sung.

The role is a sharp contrast to Hyun Bin’s previous collaboration with director Woo Min Ho in the film Harbin, where he portrayed Korean independence activist Ahn Jung Geun.

Hyun Bin previously explained that he reduced his muscle mass for Harbin after the director asked him to avoid looking too muscular. For *Made in Korea*, however, he took the opposite approach.

*“For Harbin, the director wanted me to have less muscle, so I stopped working out,”* Hyun Bin explained in an earlier interview. *“This time, rebuilding the muscle wasn’t easy.”*

Compared with his appearance in Harbin, Hyun Bin said he gained approximately 13 to 14 kg through exercise and bulking.

The actor explained that the transformation was intended to reflect Baek Ki Tae’s connection to one of the country’s most powerful institutions.

*“I wanted the strength and intimidating presence of the Central Intelligence Agency, the highest institution of power, to come naturally from the character himself,”* he said.

Hyun Bin described Baek Ki Tae as the physically largest character he has played so far.

Director Woo Min Ho also noted the dramatic contrast between Hyun Bin’s two roles, joking that it was interesting to see the actor go from portraying Ahn Jung Geun in Harbin to taking on a morally darker character in *Made in Korea*.

That transformation becomes even more important in Season 2, where Baek Ki Tae has already gained greater wealth and status but remains unsatisfied.

Hyun Bin explained, *“Compared with Season 1, Baek Ki Tae has gained much more wealth and reached a higher position, but he still wants even greater power, a higher position, and more wealth.”*

By gaining more than 13 kg and changing his physical presence, Hyun Bin aimed to make Baek Ki Tae’s growing hunger for power visible before the character even spoke, completing a transformation very different from his role in Harbin.