Kim Jae Young has been tapped to play the new villain in 'The Roundup 5,' marking the return of a legendary franchise that has surpassed a historic 40 million cumulative admissions, the first in Korean film history to do so.
According to industry sources, 'The Roundup 5' (directed by Heo Myeong Haeng), led by Ma Dong Seok, has officially entered full-scale production following a roughly two-year hiatus since the previous installment’s release. The team is currently in pre-production, with plans to begin filming later this year.
The villain role, traditionally the most anticipated element of each 'The Roundup' installment, has reportedly been offered to and quietly secured by Kim Jae Young, an actor who has been steadily building momentum through a wide range of projects and characters. Kim Jae Young is currently coordinating his schedule and is understood to be positively reviewing the offer, with his appearance all but confirmed. Barring any unforeseen issues, he is expected to join the lineage of iconic villains following Yoon Kye Sang, Son Suk Ku, Lee Jun Hyuk, and Kim Mu Yeol as the fifth major antagonist in the franchise.
Kim Jae Young debuted as a model in 2011 before transitioning into acting, appearing in projects such as 'Flower Boy Casting: Oh Boy,' 'Roller Coaster Season 2,' 'My Secret Romance,' 'Black,' '100 Days My Prince,' 'Dear My Room,' 'Secret Boutique,' 'Beautiful Love, Wonderful Life,' 'Reflection of You,' 'Love in Contract,' 'The Judge from Hell,' and 'My Lovely Journey.' Through this steadily expanding filmography, he has made a strong impression on viewers. He is currently gaining popularity on ENA’s ongoing series 'I Dol I,' where he plays the role of idol Do Raik.
Compared to his extensive television work, Kim’s presence on the big screen has been relatively limited, with brief appearances in films such as 'No Breathing,' 'Derailed,' 'Brain, Your Choice Of Romance,' 'Golden Slumber,' and 'Money.' As such, he is often described as an actor with largely untapped cinematic potential. This has only heightened anticipation over what kind of transformation Ma Dong Seok, known for his keen eye in discovering actors with strong fundamentals and hidden depth, and the 'The Roundup' production team will draw out of Kim Jae Young in a villain role.
First released in October 2017, 'The Roundup' caused a sensation by drawing 6.88 million viewers despite its R-rated classification. The franchise went on to post record-breaking numbers with 'The Roundup 2' (2022) attracting 12.69 million viewers, 'The Roundup 3' (2023) 10.68 million, and 'The Roundup 4' (2024) 11.5 million. Achieving an unprecedented triple 10-million streak, the series has amassed over 40 million admissions in total, cementing its status as a franchise credited with revitalizing the Korean box office.
Ma Dong Seok’s image as a hard-hitting detective who takes down evil with his bare hands has become the franchise’s defining appeal, delivering cathartic satisfaction for audiences. The series has also earned acclaim for its villains and storylines inspired by real-life crimes, including crackdowns on ethnic crime syndicates, overseas kidnappings of Korean nationals in Vietnam, Korea-Japan drug cases, and large-scale illegal online gambling operations based in the Philippines.
After releasing 'The Roundup' 2, 3, and 4 consecutively over three years, the production team took a planned breather and is now preparing to honor its promise of a comeback. During promotions for 'The Roundup 4,' producer and lead actor Ma Dong Seok revealed that story synopses have already been developed through 'The Roundup 8.' With the fifth installment now gearing up, industry attention is focused on whether the franchise will once again ignite another 10-million-viewer box office run.
SEE ALSO: Heeseung announces departure from ENHYPEN, shares handwritten letter with fans
SHARE
