Hyun Bin is the villain we can’t stop watching
With his role as Gi Tae, Hyun Bin proves that a villain can be magnetic, complex and, in some ways, relatable.
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With his role as Gi Tae, Hyun Bin proves that a villain can be magnetic, complex and, in some ways, relatable.
A SCENE from ‘Made in Korea.’
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF DISNEY+
TO bring Baek Gi Tae to life, Hyun Bin had to gain 14 kilograms of weight.
Hyun Bin is challenging the way audiences view villains with his latest role as Baek Gi Tae in Disney+’s Made in Korea. Set in the 1970s, the series follows Gi Tae, a KCIA official whose relentless pursuit of wealth and power collides with prosecutor Jung Geon Young (Jung Woo Sung).
Despite Gi Tae’s violent and morally questionable actions, Hyun Bin sees him differently. “I didn’t approach him as a villain. I was drawn to Gi Tae’s ambition and his straight-line pursuit of wealth and power. I think viewers probably felt the same way,” he said.
The actor describes Gi Tae as a man whose desires are unfiltered and unapologetic. “His actions are wrong, but I didn’t see him simply as a villain,” Hyun Bin explained. “I was drawn to the character’s ambition and his direct, unhesitating drive. More than anything, I thought this role would allow me to show a side of myself I hadn’t shown before.”
To bring Gi Tae’s intimidating presence to life, Hyun Bin bulked up, gaining about 14 kilograms. “Gi Tae is extremely calculating. He looks two steps ahead, resolves things quickly, and takes full responsibility for his decisions. I wanted that sharpness to come through in the pomade hair and the suit — like someone you could stab and not draw a single drop of blood.”
Hyun Bin also found empathy for Gi Tae’s personal struggles. Orphaned in Osaka and dishonorably discharged from the Vietnam War, Gi Tae shoulders responsibility for his family. “He must have hated that time so much to struggle this desperately just to never go back,” Hyun Bin reflected. “Gi Tae also carries the burden of being the head of the family… When filming scenes with Gihyeon, there was always a mix of love and strictness. I could relate to wanting your younger sibling — almost like a child — to move forward safely, leaning on you without obstacles.”
Reuniting with director Woo Min Ho after Harbin, Hyun Bin praised the director’s precision. “Director Woo has a great eye for picking up on small details and emotional nuances an actor brings. I’m grateful because he finds sides of me I hadn’t been able to show before,” he said.
Hyun Bin emphasized the collaborative nature of the set: “On set, we always talked things through — director, co-stars, everyone. We rehearsed, added what was needed, removed what wasn’t… The lighting and cinematography team would watch that process and reset everything accordingly. It was never about one person — that’s why the work feels so solid.”
Even last-minute changes didn’t faze him. “He called me that morning and asked if I could take over the interrogation dialogue. I reviewed it for about 30 minutes and said I’d give it a try. He constantly rethinks each scene — even on the day of shooting. But when you see the edited result, you realize he was right every time.”
With Gi Tae, Hyun Bin proves that a villain can be magnetic, complex, and, in some ways, relatable — an embodiment of ambition, cunning and the human desire for control that keeps viewers riveted episode after episode.
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