Actor Kim Jae Yeong has been officially confirmed to star as the villain in the upcoming film “The Roundup 5,” the latest installment of Ma Dong Seok’s blockbuster action franchise. On January 12, JTBC reported that Kim Jae Yeong would take on the role of the film’s main antagonist, with the production currently in pre-production and aiming to begin filming later this year.
Following the report, Kim Jae Yeong’s agency Management S confirmed the news, stating, “Kim Jae Yeong will be joining ‘The Roundup 5’ as a villain.” The announcement marks his official entry into one of Korea’s most successful film franchises.
Since its debut in October 2017, “The Roundup” series has steadily expanded with sequels through 2024’s “The Roundup 4,” establishing itself as a flagship domestic franchise. The series made history as the first in Korean cinema to have three installments surpass 10 million moviegoers each, accumulating a total audience of approximately 40 million across the franchise.
The villain roles in “The Roundup” series have consistently drawn attention, with previous antagonists portrayed by Yoon Kye Sang, Son Suk Ku, Lee Jun Hyuk, and Kim Mu Yeol. Kim Jae Yeong now becomes the fifth actor to take on the franchise’s central villain role, raising anticipation for how he will reinterpret the archetype within the high-intensity action genre.
Kim Jae Yeong debuted as a model in 2011 before transitioning into acting. He has appeared in numerous television dramas, including “My Secret Romance,” “100 Days My Prince,” “Beautiful Love, Wonderful Life,” “Love in Contract,” and “My Lovely Journey.” He is currently starring in ENA’s drama “IDOL I,” where he plays the idol Do Ra Ik.
With his casting in “The Roundup 5,” Kim Jae Yeong is set to make a notable shift from romance and melodrama into large-scale action cinema. As production moves forward, expectations continue to build around both his performance and the next chapter of the highly successful franchise.
