Roundup 4: Punishment (2024) Hindi Dubbed Movie

The Roundup: Punishment is a 2024 South Korean action crime movie directed by Heo Myung-haeng. The film stars Ma Dong-seok, Kim Mu-yeol, Park Ji-hwan, and Lee Dong-hwi. It is the fourth film in The Roundup series, following The Roundup: No Way Out. This movie is based on the real-life November 2015 Pattaya murder case that took place in Thailand, where a group of South Koreans kidnapped, imprisoned, and forced computer programmers to run an illegal online gambling operation.

In The Roundup: Punishment, the story focuses on Detective Ma Seok-do, portrayed by Ma Dong-seok, as he tracks down dangerous criminals involved in organized crime. The events unfold when a shocking murder reveals deeper connections to online money laundering and illegal gambling networks that threaten both South Korea and Thailand.

The film was selected for the prestigious ‘Berlinale Special Gala’ section at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival and was screened on February 23, 2024. Its global release happened on April 24, 2024, with screenings in IMAX and 4DX formats. The movie garnered positive reviews for its action sequences, gripping story, and strong performances. It made a significant impact at the box office, grossing $83.5 million worldwide. As a result, it became the second-highest-grossing Korean film of 2024 and the eighth-highest-grossing Korean film in history.

The film begins in the Philippines, where Baek Chang-gi, a former Korean Special Forces soldier turned head of an online gambling organization, faces a betrayal. One of his workers, Jo Sung-jae, attempts to escape the gambling operation, and Baek brutally kills him. In an effort to expand his business, Baek meets with Chang Dong-cheol, the administrator of a rival casino. Chang promises Baek that he will increase his profits if he agrees to shut down a competing casino and take over its clients.

Baek carries out a violent raid on the rival casino, stealing crucial data and members’ information, but Chang fails to follow through on his promise. Baek, frustrated, returns to South Korea to confront Chang about the betrayal and demand what was promised to him.

Meanwhile, Detective Ma Seok-do is investigating a case of online money laundering, which he traces to Jo Sung-jae, the man Baek killed. After Jo’s death, his body is sent back to South Korea, and Ma examines the autopsy report. He quickly realizes that the case is not as simple as it seems. Jo’s grieving mother begs Ma for justice, but soon after, she tragically takes her own life. This deeply affects Ma and strengthens his resolve to bring the criminals responsible for Jo’s death to justice.

Ma decides to join the Cyber Investigation team, where he traces Jo’s work history and uncovers a trail of data that leads to a money-laundering operation connected to a larger gambling syndicate. The team tracks down Choi Yu-seong, the manager of the operation, and arrests him. Ma and his team discover that they are dealing with a much larger criminal organization than they initially thought: an online gambling ring operating under the name Emperor’s Casino.

Ma approaches Jang Yi-soo for help. Jang has previously dealt with the gambling world and has firsthand experience with Emperor’s Casino. He reveals that the group has been raiding other gambling establishments in an attempt to monopolize the industry. The two men work together to expose the full extent of the Emperor’s Casino’s illegal activities.

The investigation leads Ma to meet Baek, who is working with Chang on a dangerous cryptocurrency scheme. The cryptocurrency, dubbed QM Holdings, is a plan to gain massive financial backing and make the cryptocurrency widely popular. The project is spearheaded by President Kwon, who serves as the public face of the scheme. Baek and Chang work to push the cryptocurrency onto the market by bribing exchange representatives. Baek grows impatient and kills one of the bribery intermediaries, Ko, and pressures the exchange representative into accepting the bribe. Baek also eliminates Choi, the money-laundering manager, to prevent him from becoming a witness against him.

As the investigation intensifies, Ma discovers that QM Holdings is a front for the Emperor’s Casino. Baek, who has become increasingly ruthless, is ordered by Chang to eliminate Kwon after he expresses concerns about Baek’s actions. Meanwhile, Ma tries to stop the cryptocurrency’s launch, suspecting it is linked to the gambling operation. He attends an event where QM Holdings is being launched but is ambushed by Baek and his men. Ma manages to defeat one of the attackers, but Baek escapes, injuring an innocent bystander in the process.

In response to the lack of progress, the police chief disbands Ma’s team. But Ma refuses to give up and pleads with the police agency commissioner to allow the investigation to continue. With the commissioner’s support and Jang’s knowledge of the gambling world, Ma and his team launch a fake casino operation designed to lure the Emperor’s Casino group into making a move. The team’s efforts lead them to capture the Emperor’s Casino server with the help of the Philippine National Police, and they trace the data back to South Korea.

Their investigation reveals that QM Holdings is indeed the front for the Emperor’s Casino. After successfully defeating Kwon’s henchmen, Baek teams up with Kwon to get Chang’s administrative key. Baek kills Chang and takes control of the data. He plans to take the server data overseas and re-establish the criminal gambling operation, leaving Kwon with the remaining money. However, just before Kwon can complete his operation, the police storm the villa. Ma arrives to confront Baek in an epic final showdown. The two engage in a brutal fight, but Ma ultimately defeats Baek and arrests him.

The story ends with Ma bringing Baek to justice, but not without consequences. Jang, who had been helping Ma in the investigation, is arrested for impersonating a police officer after Ma gave him a fake badge. The movie closes with Ma’s victory over the criminals, highlighting the relentless pursuit of justice in the face of overwhelming odds.

The Roundup: Punishment offers action-packed sequences, intense drama, and a complex storyline that keeps audiences engaged until the very end. The film continues the legacy of the Roundup series, blending gripping criminal investigations with thrilling action and moral dilemmas.