Made in Korea Season 2 Review
· fashion
The Fracturing of K-Dramas: How “Made in Korea” Season 2 Reflects a Shift in Korean Storytelling
The latest installment of the popular K-drama “Made in Korea” has dropped on Hulu and Disney+, concluding a two-season, $51 million production that’s one of the most expensive K-dramas ever made. Hyun Bin and Woo Do-hwan reprise their roles as Baek Ki-tae and Baek Ki-hyun, respectively, but this time around, their characters are operating in a drastically different landscape.
Director Woo Min-ho navigates the tumultuous politics of 1979 Korea – a period marked by presidential assassinations, military coups, and regime changes. The show’s narrative has undergone a significant shift, compressing the action into six episodes that feel more like self-contained films than its predecessor.
This change in narrative approach reflects a broader trend in Korean television production. As Disney+ and other streaming services abandon the traditional 16-episode season format, K-dramas are being reimagined as shorter, prestige runs that can rival their cinematic counterparts. The success of shows like “Parasite” and “The Handmaiden,” which have proven that Korean content can be both critically acclaimed and commercially viable on a global stage, has driven this shift.
For Hyun Bin, who built his early career on 16-episode dramas in the 2000s, this change is particularly significant. As he notes, one of the greatest appeals of playing a returning role is the opportunity to explore the character’s evolution over time – something that’s only possible when the narrative unfolds at a more measured pace.
The consequences of this shift are far-reaching. With shorter seasons and more cinematic storytelling, K-dramas are increasingly being positioned as prestige content rather than mere television programming. This rebranding has implications for the way audiences engage with Korean media, as well as for the types of stories that get told. The upcoming series “The Koreans,” a Korean take on FX’s “The Americans” set in the 1990s, demonstrates this trend.
As “Made in Korea” brings its story to a close, questions remain about the future of K-dramas. Will they lose their traditional appeal as mass-market entertainment in favor of more niche, art-house sensibilities? How will viewers adapt to a new landscape where storylines unfold at a faster pace and characters are introduced with greater complexity?
The era of 16-episode dramas may be coming to an end, but the century of Korean storytelling has only just begun. The future of K-dramas looks increasingly fragmented – both in terms of narrative style and target audience. Whether this fragmentation will ultimately enrich or dilute the genre remains to be seen.
Reader Views
- NBNina B. · stylist
While "Made in Korea" Season 2's reimagining as six condensed episodes may be an attempt to elevate K-dramas to prestige TV status, I worry that this trend will alienate casual viewers who crave a more traditional soap opera experience. The show's success is largely tied to its stars' global appeal and the timely setting of 1979 Korea, but what happens when these niche attractions wear off? Will Disney+ and other streaming services be willing to invest in longer, more character-driven storylines that might not yield immediate ratings boosts?
- THTheo H. · menswear writer
While the shift towards shorter seasons and more cinematic storytelling in K-dramas is undeniably exciting, I worry that this trend may sacrifice one of the genre's greatest strengths: its ability to craft complex, long-form narratives that reward repeat viewings. By condensing storylines into six-episode blocks, creators risk losing the subtlety and depth that comes with a more leisurely pace, instead opting for quick-hitting prestige programming that may appeal to a wider audience but neglects the intricacies that made K-dramas so compelling in the first place.
- TCThe Closet Desk · editorial
While the shift towards shorter seasons and more cinematic storytelling is undoubtedly a bold move for Korean dramas, I worry that this trend may inadvertently homogenize the very distinctiveness of K-dramas. The traditional 16-episode format allowed for serialized storytelling, where character arcs unfolded gradually, often reflecting everyday life in Korea. This nuance might be lost with shorter seasons, which can prioritize spectacle over slow-burning narrative development. As K-dramas chase prestige and international recognition, will we sacrifice the essence of what made them beloved to begin with?