Made in Korea 2 premieres on Disney+ on September 9, 2026 and resumes the rivalry between Baek Ki-tae, played by Hyun Bin, and Jang Geon-young, Jung Woo-sung’s character. The sequel moves the story forward by nine years and will have six episodes, released in pairs through September 23.
Woo Do-hwan takes on an even larger role as Baek Ki-hyun, Ki-tae’s brother and a key figure in the new balance of power. Rather than repeating the first season’s confrontation, the series expands the conflict to the heart of the government and the military in a South Korea marked by the instability of 1979.
When does Made in Korea 2 premiere on Disney+?
The second season premieres on Disney+ on September 9, 2026. The platform will not release all six episodes at once: two episodes will arrive each Wednesday for three weeks.
- September 9: episodes 1 and 2;
- September 16: episodes 3 and 4;
- September 23: episodes 5 and 6, concluding the season.
Disney+ has confirmed the date and release schedule, but the title page does not list a specific time. The exact release time may therefore vary by country.
The series will stream exclusively on Disney+. Audio and subtitle options may vary by country and are usually listed on the title page closer to the premiere.
What is Made in Korea 2 about?
The plot is set nine years after the events of the first season. Baek Ki-tae is at the height of his influence and believes he has finally built the path he wanted. However, the political crisis of 1979 sparks a struggle for control of the country and puts his allies up against new adversaries.
Jang Geon-young returns after spending nearly a decade preparing his counteroffensive. More calculating than before, he tries to strike Ki-tae at a sensitive point: Baek Ki-hyun. The former prosecutor pressures the younger brother to choose a side, while Ki-tae responds with a warning that deepens the family rift.
Ki-hyun has changed as well. Now connected to the military high command, he is no longer merely his brother’s ally or protégé. His own ambition turns the conflict into a three-way game, with intelligence, the government, the prosecution and the Armed Forces competing for influence.
The trailer places part of the action around October 26, 1979, when a power vacuum at the top accelerates the maneuvers of Ki-tae and Commander Hwang Dae-sik. This setting allows the series to combine historical facts, crime and fictional characters without abandoning the political noir tone of its first installment.
If you have not watched the series yet, this is a good place to stop: the details below help explain the sequel but mention consequences from the first season.
Who is in the cast of Made in Korea 2?
Hyun Bin, Jung Woo-sung and Woo Do-hwan make up the core cast. The season also brings back characters connected to the investigation, government and the Baek family, while introducing adversaries who could shift the alliances built so far.
- Hyun Bin (Baek Ki-tae): an ambitious agent who moves even closer to leading South Korean intelligence and must defend the power he has accumulated.
- Jung Woo-sung (Jang Geon-young): a former prosecutor who returns after nine years determined to carry out his revenge against Ki-tae.
- Woo Do-hwan (Baek Ki-hyun): Ki-tae’s younger brother, now connected to the military and under pressure to decide which side he will take.
- Seo Eun-soo (Oh Ye-jin): a prosecutor who once again grows close to Geon-young amid the new investigation.
- Won Ji-an (Choi Yu-ji, also known as Ikeda Yuji): a figure connected to the Japanese underworld and Ki-tae’s business dealings.
- Jung Sung-il (Cheon Seok-jung): the Blue House chief of staff and an influential ally of Ki-tae, threatened by the military’s rise.
- Noh Jae-won (Pyo Hak-su): a former agent from Busan who begins working directly under Ki-tae’s orders.
- Cha Hee (Baek So-young): Ki-tae and Ki-hyun’s sister, whose place within the family has also changed during the time jump.
- Jang Hye-jin (Mrs. Shin): a new, discreet and enigmatic character with an important connection to Cheon Seok-jung.
- Heo Jung-do (Hwang Dae-sik): a military commander who takes advantage of the political crisis to encroach on the territory held by Cheon Seok-jung and Ki-tae.
Do you need to watch the first season?
It is recommended that you watch the first season before starting Made in Korea 2. The sequel builds directly on Ki-tae and Geon-young’s choices, the bond between the Baek brothers and the alliances formed across the previous six episodes.
The nine-year time jump introduces a new political moment and makes it possible to follow the plot even after a break, but it does not restart the story. Knowing how each character reached their current position makes the rivalry and shifting loyalties much clearer. The first season is also available on Disney+.
Read also:Disney+ Confirms New Seasons of Made in Korea and A Shop for Killers
Direction, Writing and Production
Woo Min-ho returns as director, with a script by Park Eun-kyo and production by Hive Media Corp. Known for political thrillers such as The Man Standing Next and the film Harbin, he keeps the focus on power behind the scenes, moral choices and fragile alliances.
The six-episode structure matches the first season’s length, but its three-week rollout makes it feel closer to a miniseries. The sequel’s main appeal lies less in adding characters and more in showing how much Ki-tae, Geon-young and Ki-hyun have changed during the nine years they spent apart.
