Made in Korea opens with confidence and weight. Directed by Woo Min-ho and written by Park Eun-kyo, the drama wastes no time setting its tone. This is a period thriller that looks polished and feels dangerous. Set in the volatile 1970s, the series explores power, corruption, and ambition with little sympathy for any institution involved.
Episodes 1 and 2 act as an extended prologue. They introduce the central conflict and make it clear that no character is entirely clean. The story suggests that when the state and crime work in tandem, morality becomes a luxury few can afford.
Episode 1 Recap
The first episode begins with an international incident. A radical Japanese group plans to hijack a commercial airplane to divert the flight to North Korea. Their goal is symbolic revolution, not survival. Tension builds quickly as the hijackers argue among themselves, exposing cracks in their unity.
Among the passengers is a man named Kenji. He stays calm and observant. Kenji quickly realizes that fear and ideology can be manipulated. He convinces the hijackers that killing hostages will only destroy their cause. He even offers a mysterious briefcase as leverage. What the hijackers do not know is that the case is filled with methamphetamine.
The situation escalates when South Korea secretly intervenes. Authorities pose as North Korea and reroute the plane to Gimpo. The plan nearly fails, but Kenji buys time once again. When engine trouble makes the aircraft unusable, Kenji exposes the final truth. The hijackers’ weapons are fake. He subdues them and kills their leader before walking away without suspicion.
The final reveal changes everything. Kenji is actually Baek Gi-tae, a senior KCIA figure. The entire crisis was engineered to justify tighter global aviation security and to move drugs under the cover of state power. At the same time, prosecutor Jang Gun Yeong begins investigating a meth smuggling case tied to organized crime. He does not yet realize how close he is to the truth.
Episode 2 Recap
Episode 2 slows the pace but deepens the danger. Gun Yeong investigates the murder of a young couple linked to the drug trade. His trail leads to American soldiers who are beyond local prosecution. One careless remark exposes a planned meeting between criminal groups.
Gun Yeong sets a trap in a café using junior prosecutor O Ye Jin as bait. This leads them to Kang Dae-il, the second-in-command of the Manjae Gang. Under pressure, Dae il admits to running drugs behind his boss’s back. He refuses to cooperate formally, but a fragile agreement is formed.
Meanwhile, Gi Tae remains in the shadows. He attends his mother’s funeral and reconnects with his estranged siblings. His younger brother rejects his help, hinting at unresolved wounds that could become dangerous later. These personal moments add emotional depth to a character who otherwise feels untouchable.
The episode ends with a brutal confrontation at a hotel. Prosecutors and KCIA agents collide during a Yakuza deal. Gi Tae’s superior executes Manjae for stepping out of line. Dae il survives only because Gi-tae sees future value in him. Gun Yeong then discovers hidden surveillance equipment and realizes he has been manipulated from the start. The war lines are finally drawn.
Performances That Carry the Weight
Hyun Bin dominates the screen as Baek Gi-tae. His performance is restrained but unsettling. He never raises his voice. He never rushes. That calm makes him terrifying. Gi-tae feels like a man who has already calculated every outcome.
Opposite him, Jung Woo Sung plays Jang Gun Yeong, visibly exhausted. His moral confidence is cracking. His anger stays buried just beneath the surface. This contrast makes their inevitable clash far more compelling.
The supporting cast also delivers. Each character feels purposeful, even in brief scenes. No one exists merely to move the plot forward.
Direction and Visual Storytelling
Woo Min-ho directs the opening episode almost like a feature film. Long silences, controlled camera movement, and deliberate pacing create constant unease. Episode 2 pulls back slightly, but the slower rhythm makes the political stakes clearer.
The 1970s setting is more than a backdrop. It reinforces the idea that unchecked power thrives in chaos. The series shows how easily governments justify immoral actions when fear becomes a tool.
Final Thoughts
The first two episodes of Made in Korea deliver a strong and confident start. While the second episode occasionally lingers, the foundation is solid. The drama asks a difficult question. Who decides what is right when those in charge are already corrupt?
So far, the series promises a ruthless examination of ambition and control. If it maintains this level of focus and intensity, the remaining episodes could become some of the most talked-about political drama television has offered in years.
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