Action-comedy film 'The Roundup: No Way Out' attracts almost 10 mln viewers

By Kim Joo-heon Posted : June 29, 2023, 14:17 Updated : March 6, 2024, 13:22

[Yonhap News Photo]

SEOUL -- In less than a month of the film's debut on the silver screen, "The Roundup: No Way Out," directed by Lee Sang-yong, continues to attract crowds of moviegoers at the South Korean box office by reaching an accumulated number of viewers of about 9.8 million. The action film, stars Ma Dong-seok, an actor known by the English name of Don Lee, who plays a tough detective handling a drug crime involving yakuza, a crime group that originated in Japan.  
 
According to data released by the Korean Film Council (KOFIC), the film attracted 9,848,384 moviegoers as of June 28. The action movie, released on May 31, gained more than 4.5 million viewers only five days after its release. The film is the threequel of the detective series that was kicked off in 2017 with a hit film "The Outlaws," which garnered some 6.8 million admissions. The sequel of the film, "The Roundup," was released in 2022 and attracted more than 12.6 million viewers. In the third installment, South Korean actor Lee Joon-hyuk was picked to play the film's primary antagonist, and Japanese actor Munetaka Aoki portrayed a Japanese gangster.
  
Don Lee has gained popularity for playing aggressive characters such as a moneylender and a gangster. The 52-year-old appeared in more than 80 films including a 2016 zombie thriller hit film "Train to Busan" and "The Bad Guys: Reign of Chaos," a 2019 action film. Although he has mainly played tough roles in South Korea's film scene, the celebrity has always maintained his comedic image. He was chosen by various companies including a cosmetics maker and a delivery app operator to increase recognition among young consumers. 

Lee also made his Hollywood debut through a 2021 superhero film "Eternals." Prior to his debut in 2004, the actor worked as a trainer for two UFC fighters -- Mark Coleman and Kevin Randleman, in the United States. Don Lee obtained U.S. citizenship after immigrating to the country in 1989. 
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