POGOs take center stage in Don Lee’s film ‘The Roundup: Punishment’

Don Lee in “The Roundup: Punishment” | Contributed photo

After Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) recently gained attention in the Philippines, Don Lee’s film “The Roundup: Punishment,” which is loosely based on online gambling in the country, gave its viewers a glimpse into the whatabouts of illegal cyber gaming through a feast of action-packed narrative with a dash of comedy that charms the audience to the end.

Filmed in both South Korea and the Philippines, the film sees the team of detective Ma Seok-Do (Lee) as they chase one of Korea’s dangerous criminals, Baek Chang-gi (Kim Moo-yul), who operates an online gambling ring in the Philippines, by kidnapping and torturing Korean nationals to work for him.

Despite its simple plot, “The Roundup: Punishment” takes the audience to the edge of their seat as every fight goes straight to the eyes, where one feels the intensity of their every punch. Amid the violent scenes and the serious controversy it’s tackling, the characters still managed to provide amusing dialogues that balanced all the elements.

Known for his roles in “Train to Busan” and Marvel’s “Eternals,” Lee remained committed to his craft in “The Roundup: Punishment,” showcasing his outstanding physical stunts, which were complemented by Moo-yul’s villain’s tough and relentless hit-fight scenes.

READ: Drama complements action in Don Lee’s PH-set film ‘The Roundup: Punishment’

Aside from Lee’s comedic skills, the side characters, specifically Park Ji-hwan (Jang Yi-soo), also exhibited a noteworthy presence on screen as his one-liners tickled the audience’s humor.

The touch of the Philippines was also evidently shown on screen, aside from the fact that some scenes were shot in Angeles and Tarlac City, but some characters also uttered some Filipino words, rode a jeepney, and formed alliances with the local authorities to be able to fulfill their mission to stop the bad guys. 

Overall, “The Roundup: Punishment” is worth watching for Filipinos who want to be reminded how dangerous online gambling is and how urgent it is for these offshore gaming operators to be stopped and punished through the hands of the law.

“The Roundup” is one of the most popular franchises in South Korean cinema, beginning with “The Outlaws” (2017), followed by the sequels “The Roundup” (2022) and “The Roundup: No Way Out” (2023), and now “The Roundup: Punishment, which opens in Philippine cinemas on Aug. 14.