Hyun Bin Breaks Down the Precision Behind His Most Cold-Blooded Performance Yet

Hyun Bin has portrayed heroes, lovers, and soldiers throughout his career, but his role as Baek Gi-tae in Disney+’s Made in Korea required a very different kind of discipline. According to the actor, the character was built not on emotion, but on calculation.

A Character Who Commands the Screen Without Words

Baek Gi-tae is not a character who explains himself. Hyun Bin said the challenge was making the audience understand his power even in moments of stillness. “Even when the character isn’t speaking, the camera has to know who he is,” he explained. To achieve that, Hyun Bin paid close attention to how long he held eye contact, how he stood, and how he occupied space on screen.

His sharply styled hair, tailored suits, and upright posture were not aesthetic choices alone. They were part of a visual language meant to establish dominance instantly.

Transforming the Body to Match the Authority

To reinforce Baek Gi-tae’s commanding presence, Hyun Bin gained approximately 13 to 14 kilograms for the role. The added weight was not about bulk, but about gravity.

He wanted the character to feel physically imposing someone whose presence alone could shift the atmosphere in a room. Costumes were fitted with precision to emphasize solidity, reinforcing the idea that Baek Gi-tae is a man who cannot afford vulnerability.

Why the 1970s Setting Was Essential

Hyun Bin also pointed to the importance of the drama’s historical setting. Filming on sets filled with 1970s-era props, lighting, and architecture helped him separate himself from the character. “When I step into a period set, it becomes easier to leave myself behind,” he said. The environment itself pulled him into Baek Gi-tae’s world, allowing him to react as the character rather than as an actor performing one.

Choosing Restraint Over Excess

Instead of dramatic gestures or heightened speech, Hyun Bin intentionally minimized movement. He believes true power often reveals itself through calm control rather than visible aggression.

Even small actions the way Baek Gi-tae lights a cigarette or pauses before responding were planned in advance to feel intentional and emotionally distant. Nothing was meant to look accidental.

A Character Meant to Disturb, Not Simplify

Although Baek Gi-tae makes morally troubling decisions, Hyun Bin did not approach him as a one-dimensional villain. He viewed the character as someone driven by fear specifically, the fear of losing everything he has built. That internal contradiction, Hyun Bin explained, is what makes Baek Gi-tae unsettling to watch. The audience is not asked to sympathize with him, but to understand how ambition, control, and insecurity can coexist.

What Lies Ahead

As Made in Korea moves toward a second season, Hyun Bin admitted that even he does not yet know where Baek Gi-tae’s pursuit of power will ultimately lead.