Korea’s beloved action blockbuster franchise, The Roundup: Punishment, starring Don Lee, takes its high-octane action to the Philippines.
In this latest installment, The Roundup: Punishment delves into the controversial world of online gambling, locally known as POGOs (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators). The story follows Ma Seok-Do (Don Lee) and his team as they track down Baek Chang-gi (Kim Moo-yul), a dangerous Korean criminal now running an online gambling operation in the Philippines.
Baek Chang-gi, an ex-special forces mercenary, dominates Korea’s illegal online gambling scene through abduction, confinement, assault, and even murder. Back in Korea, IT genius CEO Chang Dong-cheol (Lee Dong-hwi) has even grander schemes in motion.
In a recent interview with Variety, Don Lee shared, “I want the action to evolve from film to film and the story to keep up with current times. It’s important that the characters evolve further, becoming wiser with each sequel.”
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The plot of The Roundup: Punishment unfolds as Seok-Do’s team investigates the murder of a young Korean professional who escaped Chang-gi’s operations. The team navigates the streets of the Philippines, riding jeepneys and forming alliances with the local police. Returning character Jang I-su (Park Ji-hwan) goes undercover, posing as a local and speaking Filipino, to set up an illegal online casino to ensnare the gambling kingpins involved in the abduction and murder of missing Korean citizens.
Filming in the Philippines amplified the film’s scale, showcasing the reality of borderless, turfless online crime. Scenes were shot in various locations, including Angeles and Tarlac City, to depict Baek Chang-gi’s home turf and the Emperor Casino he runs.
Hailed as Korea’s number-one action franchise, The Roundup: Punishment has dominated the Korean box office for four consecutive weeks, grossing a cumulative total of $75 million (source: Variety). It is the fastest Korean film to surpass 11 million moviegoers in just 33 days (source: Times of India).
The Roundup series has become Korea’s most-loved crime and action blockbuster franchise, blending action and comedy to create a cultural phenomenon. It is the third most-watched rated-R movie in Korea. In the Philippines, The Roundup: Punishment is rated R16 by the MTRCB.
The Roundup franchise has left an indelible mark on Korean cinema, proving the success of a Korean film series. Don Lee’s portrayal of Detective Ma Seok-do, known for his signature one-punch action and memorable lines, alongside his irreplaceable allies and villains, continues to captivate audiences.
Distributed by Black Cap Pictures, The Roundup: Punishment opens exclusively at SM Cinemas on August 14.
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