The Roundup: No Way Out
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. 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 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, a dirty cop and the Captain of Seoul Guryong Police Station Narcotics Investigation.
- Munetaka Aoki as Ricky 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, 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 Maha, Ichijo-gumi's Gang member and Ricky's subordinate.
- Lee Tae-kyu as Martha, Ichijo-gumi's Gang member and Ricky's subordinate.
Ichiji-gumi's Korea Chapter (Villain and Dissolution)
- An Se-ho as Ryo Tomokawa, Ichijo-gumi's Korean Branch Manager.
- Kang Yoon as Hiroshi Kimu, Ichijo-gumi's Gang Member and Tomokawa Ryo's subordinate.
Cyber Club
- Bae Noo-ri as Mimi, 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, Tomokawa Ryo's subordinate.
- Park Sang-won as Hayashi Yoshiaki, Tomokawa Ryo's subordinate.
- Gong Teyu as Kimura Shokichi, 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, Ichijo-gumi's chairman
- Park Ji-hwan as Jang Yi-soo, Cookie Video