The film The Roundup 5 (directed by Heo Myeong-haeng) has locked in its principal cast and officially kicked off filming. Led by Ma Dong-seok with new antagonist Kim Jae-young, the star-studded lineup is already drawing major buzz.
In this installment, actor Kim Jae-young—who delivered tightly wound performances in the dramas I DOL I and The Judge from Hell—transforms into Lee Kang-tae, the franchise’s most vicious criminal yet.
The Roundup 5 follows monster detective Ma Seok-do (played by Ma Dong-seok) as he finally confronts Lee Kang-tae, who launches a brutal crime spree after eight long years of buildup. Now promoted to Violent Crime Squad team leader, Ma spearheads an unrelenting takedown of the city’s worst offenders.
Seo Hyun-woo joins as Detective Go Young-min of Violent Crimes Team 1, partnering with Ma to lead the squad. Lee Hak-joo heightens the tension as Han Sang-gu, an accomplice who enables Lee Kang-tae’s crimes. Baek Hyun-jin adds gravitas as Violent Crimes chief Kim Min-cheol, while Kim Min-ho boards the cast as Buldak—rounding out a powerhouse lineup.
With Heo Myeong-haeng back at the helm, The Roundup 5 promises bone-crunching, high-impact action and airtight pacing that define the series.
The franchise has amassed a staggering 40 million admissions in Korea, standing tall as the nation’s flagship action series—and expectations are sky-high for the fifth film. Following memorable main villains played by Yoon Kye-sang in Season 1, Son Suk-ku in Season 2, Lee Jun-hyuk in Season 3, and Kim Mu-yeol in Season 4, all eyes are now on new big bad Kim Jae-young.