“I Want to Be Someone My Child Can Be Proud Of” Hyun Bin Says

“I Want to Be Someone My Child Can Be Proud Of”

Actor Hyun Bin says Made in Korea did more than expand his acting range. It changed the way he thinks about himself, both as a performer and as a father.

The Disney Plus original series, set against the turbulence and ambition of 1970s South Korea, marked a major turning point in Hyun Bin’s career. By stepping into his first true villain role, he discovered a new kind of confidence and motivation.

A Story of Power, Obsession, and an Unfamiliar Face

Made in Korea follows Baek Gi Tae, a Central Intelligence Agency officer who treats the nation itself as a profit model while climbing toward the peak of wealth and power. Hyun Bin portrays Baek as a man driven by ambition, intimidation, and inner contradiction, while prosecutor Jang Geon Young relentlessly pursues him through a series of era-defining events.

Viewers were quick to notice how different Baek Gi Tae felt from the characters Hyun Bin had played in the past. Gone were the familiar righteous heroes. In their place stood a man who is clearly doing wrong, yet strangely difficult to dismiss as purely evil.

Audience Response That Built Confidence

Looking back on the series, Hyun Bin shared that he was grateful for how audiences interpreted both the story and his character.

He said it was meaningful to see viewers engage with the historical backdrop and the layered buildup of the narrative, especially as the series grew more intense over time. That response, he explained, gave him reassurance that the risks he took as an actor were worth it.

Why Baek Gi Tae Is Not a Simple Villain

Hyun Bin was careful to explain that he never approached Baek Gi Tae as a one-dimensional antagonist.

Although the character repeatedly makes morally wrong choices, Hyun Bin believed Baek’s appeal lies in his contradictions. There are moments where his fear, desperation, and desire for survival feel uncomfortably understandable. That mix of empathy and unease, Hyun Bin said, is what makes Baek Gi Tae both disturbing and compelling.

Rebuilding the Body, One Step at a Time

Hyun Bin admitted the transition was not easy. After nearly a year of avoiding exercise for his earlier role, returning to intense strength training was physically demanding.

At first, the workouts were painful. Over time, however, his body adapted. He focused on building muscle rather than showing it off, maintaining a flexible but controlled diet to support the transformation.

Seeing the final result on screen, he said, made the effort feel worthwhile.

A Different Perspective After Becoming a Father

The conversation naturally turned to Hyun Bin’s life at home, especially his role as a father. Despite playing a strict and intimidating figure on screen, he laughed as he admitted he has never truly been strict with his son.

He shared that he has never raised his voice in anger. If anything, he joked that his size alone might signal to his child that he is not an “easy opponent,” even without discipline.

Still, fatherhood has shifted something deeper for him.

Acting With a New Sense of Responsibility

Hyun Bin explained that while his desire to grow as an actor has always existed, becoming a parent added a new layer of motivation.

Now, he wants to live and work in a way that allows his child to one day say that his father was a confident, respectable, and dedicated actor. That sense of pride, he said, feels different from ambition driven purely by career goals.

As time passes and his experiences accumulate, he feels that those changes naturally surface in his performances.

A Career Boost Backed by Results

According to official Disney Plus data, Made in Korea became the most-watched Korean original series in the Asia Pacific region among titles released in 2025, measured over its first 28 days.

With strong critical reception, solid viewership, and a second season already planned, the series has cemented its place as both a commercial and creative success.

Looking Ahead With Confidence

As he reflects on the project, Hyun Bin says Made in Korea gave him something invaluable. Confidence.

The positive reactions reassured him that challenging himself in unfamiliar territory was the right choice. More importantly, it gave him the courage to try even bolder things in the future.

For Hyun Bin, this role was not just a new face on screen. It was proof that growth, as an actor and as a person, often begins with discomfort.