Made in Korea episodes 1-2 recap: Gi-tae manipulates hijacking to fuel his drug network as Geon-young starts chasing the truth

Made in Korea premiered on Disney+ on December 24. Set in the 1970s, the period political crime action thriller follows Baek Gi-tae and Jang Geon-young. Baek (Hyun Bin) is a calculating figure who operates within the Korean Central Intelligence Agency while secretly running illegal business networks to expand his control.

Opposing him is Jang (Jung Woo-sung), a relentless public prosecutor known for sharp instincts. When a major incident exposes deep corruption, Geon-young commits himself fully to stopping Gi-tae. His investigation targets smuggling operations tied to senior officials and compromised institutions. As the probe deepens, Gi-tae and Geon-young are pulled into a dangerous rivalry shaped by political schemes and criminal alliances.

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Made in Korea episodes 1 & 2 overview

Made in Korea opens in 1970 with a Japanese passenger flight hijacked midair. The perpetrators are members of the Japanese Communist League, who demand to fly to North Korea. Among the passengers is Kenji, a businessman carrying a locked briefcase. Japanese authorities are informed but react slowly, treating the situation without urgency.

Inside the cockpit, veteran pilot Captain Honda acts first. He claims the aircraft lacks enough fuel to reach North Korea. The lie works, and the plane lands in Fukuoka under the excuse of refueling. Inside the cabin, the hijackers threaten violence but are divided. Their leader, Yamada, hesitates to kill hostages.

Kenji notices the uncertainty and intervenes. He argues that killing passengers would destroy their cause. He claims public support is their real weapon. Kenji then offers his briefcase, saying it contains meth meant for North Korea. The hijackers agree. Women, children, and elderly passengers are released. Before departure, Kenji secretly passes a note to a child.

South Korea soon enters the situation. Acting on the message, the KCIA tracks the aircraft. Controllers pose as North Korean officials and guide the plane to land at Gimpo Airport in Seoul. North Korean flags are displayed, and the soldiers are disguised. The operation almost fails when hijackers spot American troops and realize the deception.

As panic spreads, the plane loses power. Ventilation stops, and passengers struggle to breathe. Kenji steps in again, exposing that the hijackers’ weapons are fake. He overpowers them and kills Yamada using a hidden gun from the briefcase. To avoid suspicion, Kenji allows the plane to continue to North Korea with the drugs onboard.

The hijackers receive asylum, and the remaining hostages are freed. Governments involved take coordinated measures to prevent public fallout. One individual does not survive the ensuing cover-up: the South Korean air traffic controller who participated in the deception is silenced. The incident ultimately results in the implementation of stricter global aviation security measures.

Subsequently, Kenji arrives in Fukuoka and meets his partner, Yuji. She terminates their business arrangement. Kenji, however, maintains that their involvement is not yet over. The episode concludes with a reveal that Kenji is, in fact, Baek Gi-tae, the head of the KCIA intelligence unit in Busan.

Episode two of Made in Korea shifts focus to Busan. Prosecutor Jang Geon-young investigates the murder of a young couple, Kim Tae-yeong and his wife Lee Suni, linked to meth trafficking. American soldiers are involved but cannot be charged. One soldier reveals a key detail that a meeting is scheduled for the next day.

Geon-young finds a note pointing to a cafe meeting. He sets a trap, with him and one more prosecutor, Yejin, posing as the dead couple. Yejin hopes to become a prosecutor despite social barriers. Their contact turns out to be Kang Dae-il, second in command of the Man-jae gang. Under pressure, Dae-il admits he has been dealing drugs without Man-jae’s approval.

Geon-young requests his cooperation, but he declines. A discreet agreement is subsequently reached, and Dae-il is released. Gi-tae visits the prosecutors’ office and tells Geon-young to drop the case. Unknown to Geon-young, the office has been bugged.

Made in Korea (Image via X/@DisneyPlusKR)

Both sides later monitor a hotel meeting between Man-jae and the Yakuza. The deal involves moving twenty kilos of meth each month. A blackout follows, and the KCIA storms the floor. Man-jae is executed by Gi-tae’s superior for overstepping. Dae-il is spared to take control of the gang. By the end, Geon-young finds the listening devices. He realizes Gi-tae is deeply involved, and the pursuit turns personal in Made in Korea.

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Episodes 3 and 4 of Made in Korea are scheduled for release on December 31 on Disney+!

Edited by Shreya Jha