The Roundup: No Way Out () is a 2023 South Korean action crime film directed by Lee Sang-yong, starring Ma Dong-seok, Lee Joon-hyuk and Munetaka Aoki. It is the third installment of The Roundup series and the sequel to The Roundup (2022). The film is based on a real-life 2017–2018 illegal drug smuggling case in South Korea involving methamphetamine, which was caught through a collaborative effort of South Korea, Japan and Taiwan.
The Roundup: No Way Out was released theatrically on May 31, 2023. A sequel, The Roundup: Punishment, was screened at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival on February 23, 2024.
Plot After a promotion, Detective Ma Seok-do and his team join the Metropolitan Investigation Unit. Their first major case involves the mysterious death of a woman named Go Sun-hee. An autopsy reveals she had a new, potent drug called "Hiper" in her system. Ma's investigation leads him to a local nightclub, where he uncovers a connection to a yakuza member named Hiroshi, who is supplying the drug from Incheon. Ma's team successfully apprehends Hiroshi and seizes a significant shipment of 20 kilos of Hiper. However, their victory is short-lived. A corrupt police captain, Joo Sung-chul, orchestrates an ambush, steals the confiscated drugs, and kills Hiroshi to cover his tracks. It is revealed that Joo is working for a powerful criminal syndicate known as the White Shark Clan. The theft of the Hiper angers the original Japanese yakuza owners, who dispatch a ruthless and skilled hitman named Ricky to Korea to reclaim their product.
As Ma Seok-do closes in on another supplier named Tomo, Ricky assassinates the man, sparking a violent turf war between the hitman and the corrupt cop. Ma finds himself caught in the middle of this escalating conflict. He sets up a sting operation on a yacht to recover the drugs and trap Joo Sung-chul, using an informant named Chorong. The plan goes awry when Joo double-crosses everyone, making a separate deal with Ricky. Ma Seok-do is captured and taken to a remote location by the yakuza hitman. After a brutal interrogation, Ma manages to turn the tables and overpower his captor. Using a hidden tracker, he follows the stolen Hiper to Joo Sung-chul's office for a final confrontation. The police subsequently move in, arresting Joo and dismantling the yakuza network, allowing Ma and his team to celebrate another hard-won victory.
A mid-credits scene sets up the next sequel, showing Ma Seok-do recruiting the informant Jang Yi-soo for a new investigation.
Cast
Main Ma Dong-seok as Ma Seok-do, Lieutenant of the Seoul Police Agency Metropolitan Investigation. Lee Joon-hyuk as Joo Sung-cheol (Japanese: チュ・ソンチョル, Hepburn: Chu Sonchoru), a dirty cop and the Captain of Seoul Guryong Police Station Narcotics Investigation. Munetaka Aoki as Ichijo-gumi's Gang Leader.
Supporting
Metropolitan Investigation Unit Lee Beom-soo as Jang Tae-soo, Captain of the Seoul Police Agency Metropolitan Investigation. Kim Min-jae as Kim Man-jae, Seok-do's subordinate detective of the Seoul Police Agency Metropolitan Investigation. Lee Ji-hoon as Yang Jong-soo, a detective sergeant of Seoul Police Agency Metropolitan Investigation. Kim Do-geon as Jung David, a rookie detective of Seoul Police Agency Metropolitan Investigation
Ma Seok-do's aid Ko Kyu-pil as Cherry (Chorong), a White Shark Gang member and Used Car Dealer. Jeon Seok-ho as Kim Yang-ho, Good Distribution Boss.
Bukbu Police Station Ryu Sung-hyun as Jung Gyung-sik, Captain of the Incheon Bukbu Police Station Narcotics Investigation. Choi Dong-gu as Hwang Dong-goo a detective of the Incheon Bukbu Police Station Narcotics Investigation. Lee Se-ho as Gong Tae-il, a detective of the Incheon Bukbu Police Station Narcotics Investigation
Guryong Police Station (Villain) Han Kyu-won as Kim Yong-guk, Joo Sung-cheol's subordinate detective of the Gyeonggi Guryong Police Station Narcotics Investigation. Choi Woo-jun as Lee Kang-ho, Joo Sung-cheol's subordinate detective of the Gyeonggi Guryong Police Station Narcotics Investigation.
Ichiji-gumi's Japan Chapter (Villain) Hong Joon-young as , Ichijo-gumi's Gang member and Ricky's subordinate. Lee Tae-kyu as , Ichijo-gumi's Gang member and Ricky's subordinate.
Ichiji-gumi's Korea Chapter (Villain and Dissolution) An Se-ho as , Ichijo-gumi's Korean Branch Manager. Kang Yoon as Hiroshi Kimu (Japanese: キム ヒロシ Hepburn: Kimu Hiroshi), Ichijo-gumi's Gang Member and Tomokawa Ryo's subordinate.
Cyber Club Bae Noo-ri as Mimi (Japanese: ミミ), a Cyber Club's MD.
Chinese Drug Gang Member Shim Young-eun as Chairman Jin, China Narcotics Gang's Boss. Kim Ki-ho as President Baek, Chairman Jin's Confidant.
Club Orange Choi Kwang-je as Lee Sang-cheol, Club Orange's Boss.
Others Park Sang-nam as Club Orange's MD Shin Hyun-yong as Automatic Door Kim Won-kyung as Yasuda Ryuichi (Japanese: 安田 龍一, Hepburn: Ryuichi Yasuda), Tomokawa Ryo's subordinate. Park Sang-won as Hayashi Yoshiaki (Japanese: 林 義明, Hepburn: Yoshiaki Hayashi), Tomokawa Ryo's subordinate. Gong Teyu as Kimura Shokichi (Japanese: 木村 翔吉, Hepburn: Shokichi Kimura), Ricky's subordinate. Park Joon-hyuk as Ricky's subordinate. Gong Kyeong-bae as Ricky's subordinate. Kim Min as Ricky's subordinate. Choi Won-seok as Ricky's subordinate. Jeon Ah-hee as a forensic doctor Lee Jin-han as Tattooed man 1 Kim Tae-yoon as Tattooed man 2 Baek Nam-jun as Tattooed man 3 Park Tae-san as Tattooed man 4 Kang Hee-jae as a Cyber Club Prayer Yakuza Kang Han-byeol as a Yacht interpreter Yakuza Hong Lee-joo as Sang-cheol's girlfriend. Bae So-young as Sang-cheol's junior. Park Sang-nam as a Club Orange's MD. Go Gun-han as Speed, a Club Orange's staff. You In-hyuk as Candy, a Club Orange's staff. Cha Jae-hyun as Yellow Hair, a Club Orange's staff. Yeon Ye-rim as a party girl from Club Orange Lee Hye-ji as a party girl from Club Orange Lee Jae-sung as a Club Orange Gang Prayer Lee Jae-hyuk as a Club Orange Gang Prayer Seo Moon-ho as a Seoul Guryong Police Station Watchtower 1 Han Ki-chang as a Seoul Guryong Police Station Watchtower 2 Moon Kyung-rin as a Tomo Hotel Yakuza Kim Lee-woo as Golden Hair, Ichizo-gumi's Vice-Chairman and Ichizō's Subordinate. Shim Ha-neuri as a Ichizō's Interpreter Lee Myung-ro as Tomo betrays Subordinate 1 Jung Ho-jin as Tomo betrays Subordinate 2 Jung Woo-tak as Tomo betrays Subordinate 3 Jung Hyun-ok as Tomo betrays Subordinate 4
Special appearance Jun Kunimura as Ichizō Yoshio (Japanese: 一条 吉雄 Hepburn: Ichijō Yoshio), Ichijo-gumi's chairman Park Ji-hwan as Jang Yi-soo (Chinese: 張夷帥, Zhang Yishuai), Cookie Video
Production In May, 2022, Lee Joon-hyuk was reported to play the new antagonist in the third installment of Crime City series. In an interview in June 2022, Lee Sang-yong revealed that he is currently auditioning for Crime City 3. Principal photography began on July 20, 2022. On November 15, 2022, Ma Dong-seok posted on Instagram that the filming of The Roundup: No Way Out has ended.
Release
Awards and nominations + Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination Award ceremony Year Category Nominee / Work Result Buil Film Awards 2023 Best Supporting Actor Ko Kyu-pil Grand Bell Awards 2023 Best Supporting Actor Ko Kyu-pil Blue Dragon Film Awards 2023 Best Supporting Actor Lee Joon-hyuk
Sequel
References
External links