'Tokyo Burst' to arrive in Korea this August... The first overseas version of 'The Roundup'

‘The Roundup’ is leaving Seoul and heading to Tokyo this time. As the film ‘Tokyo Burst: The Roundup,’ which premiered in Japan, prepares for its domestic theatrical release this August, this representative Korean action series with over 40 million viewers is set to stand before Korean audiences for the first time as an official overseas spin-off.

‘The Roundup’ without Ma Seok-do, yet still the same world

‘Tokyo Burst: The Roundup’ is not simply a Japanese remake of the existing series. It is crafted as an original Japanese story set within the same world as ‘The Roundup,’ and instead of stepping into the spotlight as an actor, Ma Dong-seok is credited as an associate producer. Since new characters fill the void left by Detective Ma Seok-do, the face of the series, what audiences will first want to check is whether the signature speed and humor of ‘The Roundup’ survive in a different city, rather than the thrill of a single punch.

The setting is Kabukicho, Shinjuku. A rookie detective from the Shinjuku Central Police Station, Aiba Shiro, who was born and raised in Kabukicho, joins forces with Choi Si-woo, a detective from the Korean National Police Agency, to track down an internationally wanted criminal group and a series of gang robberies. The case expands, spreading to the Yakuza, host clubs, and even the shadows of state power. Rather than a side story with just a changed background, the structure is driven by the collision and cooperation between the Korean and Japanese detectives.

Yunho, Uhm Ki-joon, and Park Ji-hwan: The Korean actors providing the connection

The casting also includes several names that will immediately grab the attention of Korean audiences. TVXQ's Yunho makes his first appearance in a Japanese film, playing Choi Si-woo, a detective from the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, while Uhm Ki-joon appears as Kim Hoon, a member of the internationally wanted criminal group. It is also significant that Park Ji-hwan returns as Jang Yi-su. As Jang Yi-su serves as the comic relief and the character that connects the worlds of ‘The Roundup’ series, he plays a role in ensuring the new spin-off does not feel entirely foreign to fans of the original.

The tone presented in the trailer is distinct. Chases through narrow alleys and bustling streets, physical brawls, and the bickering between two detectives who investigate in different ways are placed at the forefront. Director Eiji Uchida is a filmmaker who has dealt with the dark side of cities through works like ‘Full Director’ and ‘Night Flower.’ With the format of a 116-minute, PG12-rated Japan-Korea co-production, this work also serves as a test of how much a familiar franchise can offer a different flavor under the hands of local production crews.

The key to the August release is how it overcomes the ‘unfamiliarity’

The core of the domestic release is clear. Audiences expect Ma Dong-seok's presence from the name ‘The Roundup,’ but this film does not simply repeat those expectations. Instead, it competes with a new setting in Shinjuku and a mix of Japanese actors Koushi Mizukami and Sota Fukushi, along with Korean actors Yunho, Uhm Ki-joon, and Park Ji-hwan. To succeed, it must borrow the "flavor" of the original while making the character relationships and action rhythms unique to the Japanese version convincing.

There are two points of interest for Korean audiences. One is whether ‘The Roundup’ can expand beyond a single film series into a new story in another country, and the other is whether this name still holds the power to draw theater audiences even without Ma Seok-do. The exact domestic release date and scale of screening will be revealed as the August release schedule approaches.