The Roundup

The events unfold in the early 2020s, with a multinational manhunt spanning Korea and Vietnam. Modern surveillance, consulates, and cross-border cooperation drive the investigation. The time frame emphasizes a contemporary crime thriller landscape where international policing plays a central role.

Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam provides a bustling foreign backdrop where Kang Hae-sang conducts his extortion schemes. The earlier Garibong-dong operation anchors the Korean side of the chase, placing the story in a gritty Seoul district and its surroundings. The plot also threads through Gongping port and hints at a potential escape route to China, underscoring cross-border crime.

🕵️ Justice

Ma Seok-do and his team relentlessly pursue Kang Hae-sang across Korea and Vietnam, seeking accountability for extortion, kidnapping, and killings. The pursuit tests moral duty, personal risk, and the limits of law enforcement across borders. The story balances procedural rigor with personal sacrifice in the name of justice.

🌐 Cross-Border

Criminal networks exploit borders as Kang operates between Ho Chi Minh City and Seoul. Cooperation between agencies, consulates, and informants becomes essential to track and arrest him. The plot highlights how globalization shapes crime and policing in modern thrillers.

💥 Violence

Kang Hae-sang uses violence to enforce his ransom and power, turning ordinary places into danger zones. The investigation features tense confrontations, escapes, and arrests that escalate the stakes. Action sequences in the gambling den, the consulate, and the city streets heighten the film’s intensity.

💼 Power

Choon-baek's wealth and his mercenary network show how money can influence crime and justice. The case uncovers a web of influence, private guards, and contractual violence. Ma and In-sook's alliance demonstrates that ordinary people can challenge corrupt forces within the system.