You are here:

The Roundup

Name: The Roundup
Director: Lee Sang-yong
Released: 2022
Duration: 106 min

Representation Score

1.2/10

Minimal

2022

Director

Lee Sang-yong

Runtime

106 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

The film is a traditional action thriller that prioritizes intense combat and clear moral archetypes. It relies heavily on established masculine clichés, centering the story on physical dominance and male-driven conflict. While the setting expands the racial scope by moving between South Korea and Vietnam, the inclusion feels functional to the plot rather than a deliberate effort toward diverse representation. The power dynamics remain firmly centered on the Korean protagonist. Ultimately, the narrative reinforces conventional social hierarchies. It lacks engagement with neurodivergence, disability, or non-traditional gender identities, opting instead for a straightforward, high-octane genre experience.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does The Roundup have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film operates within a framework that assumes everyone is straight and cisgender. There are no representations of LGBTQ+ identities or same-sex relationships.

How does The Roundup portray gender?

Limited

The narrative centers almost exclusively on male characters. Female characters are largely absent from the main power dynamics and combat-driven storyline.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Roundup?

Fair

The film features a diverse cast due to its transnational setting involving South Korea and Vietnam. However, these characters primarily serve the crime-syndicate plot rather than representing multiple aspects of diversity.

How does The Roundup represent religion and culture?

Limited

The story reinforces traditional views of order and authority. It focuses on a moral binary between law enforcement and criminals without delving into complex social contexts.

Does The Roundup include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no representation of visible or invisible disabilities. Characters are defined solely by their physical abilities and combat skills.

Present on Screen

The transnational setting provides a diverse cast of Vietnamese and Korean characters.
The film successfully establishes a clear, engaging moral binary between law enforcement and criminal syndicates.

Limited or Absent

The film lacks representation of female characters within the primary power dynamics.
There is no narrative engagement with disability, neurodivergence, or non-assuming gender matches what was assigned at birth identities.
The story relies on traditional masculine clichés rather than challenging gender hierarchies.

Official Synopsis

The 'Beast Cop' Ma Seok-do heads to a foreign country to extradite a suspect, but soon after his arrival, he discovers additional murder cases and hears about a vicious killer who has been committing crimes against tourists for several years.

How are these scores produced? →