# The Outlaws (2017 film)

The Outlaws (Korean: 범죄도시; lit. Crime City) is a 2017 South Korean crime action film written and directed by Kang Yoon-sung, and starring Ma Dong-seok, and Yoon Kye-sang. It was released on October 3, 2017. Set in 2004, the film revolves around Detective Ma Seok-do, who tries to control the gang-wars between Chinese-Korean gangs while also dealing with a ruthless loan shark named Jang-Chen.
The film is based on a May 2004 incident in the Chinatown of Garibong-dong, Guro-gu, Seoul when 14 Chinese-Koreans from the "Wang Geon-i faction" were arrested on charges of attempted murder, and an April 2007 incident in which 7 members of the Yanbian organization "Heuksa-pa", also based in the Garibong-dong, were arrested and 26 were indicted without detention.
The Outlaws is the first installment of The Roundup series. It was followed by three sequels: The Roundup (2022), The Roundup: No Way Out (2023), and The Roundup: Punishment (2024).

## Plot

Ma Suk-Do is a detective in Geumcheon, Guro District, Seoul. Ma and his Captain Jeon Il-man, try to keep the peace while two local Chinese-Korean gangs battle over control of Chinatown: the Venom Gang headed by Ahn Sung-Tae and the Cobra Gang headed by Jang-I-Soo.
Jang Chen, bloodthirsty leader of the Chinese loansharking Black Dragon Gang, makes his own brutal moves to take over Chinatown along with his henchmen Sung-Rak and Yang-Tae. They kill Sung-Tae and take over Jang-I-Soo's casino. Enraged, Jang-I-Soo attacks the casino. Sung-Rak and Yung-Tae fight with Jang-I-Soo and his henchmen, but are interrupted by Ma, who arrests Sung-Rak. Yang-Tae escapes and informs Jang-Chen.
Ma and Jeon learn about Jang Chen's crimes and plan to arrest him. Jang Chen and Yang-Tae attack Jang-I-soo and his henchmen and kill them at Jang-I-Soo's mother's birthday party. Later, Jang Chen's location is revealed to hotelier and CEO Hwang. Jang Chen had killed Hwang's men in his hotel. Hwang's men try to kill Jang Chen in revenge but, he manages to escape. Hwang is later killed by Jang Chen, who learned of Hwang's attempt on his life. Detective Ma seeks the help of Chinatown citizens for help to catch the Chinese loansharks. They agree and start taking photos of the gang members.
Ma and his fellow police officers arrest all of them, including Yang-Tae. One of the police officers named Kang Hong-seok, sees Jang Chen and pursues him. However, he gets trapped and Jang Chen tries to run him over with a car. Ma saves him by crashing into Jang Chen's car. But, Jang Chen escapes. Ma chases after him but, loses sight of him after a while. Jang Chen reaches the airport to fly back to China. Ma finds Chen in the airport restroom and they fight. Ma manages to knock down Jang Chen and leaves him handcuffed in the restroom. The gang leaders are arrested and Jeon is congratulated by the commissioner where Ma and his team celebrate for solving the case. Just then, Ma is called by the commissioner to investigate another case.

## Cast

* Ma Dong-seok as Ma Seok-do, a Detective Lieutenant in Seoul's Crime Unit, assigned to put an end to Chinese-Korean gang wars in the Garibong district, of Seoul.
* Yoon Kye-sang as Jang Chen (Chinese: 張謙 / 张谦, Zhang Qian), a notorious crime lord, from Harbin, China, leader of the "black dragon gang" (Heilungbo, 黒龙波) a Triad gang, who comes to Garibong to collect debts, and is known for dismembering anyone who resists.
* Jo Jae-yoon as Boss Hwang Choon-sik
* Choi Gwi-hwa as Captain Jeon Il-man
* Im Hyung-joon as Do Seung-woo
* Jin Seon-kyu as Wi Sung-rak (Chinese: 魏成洛, Hepburn: Wei Chengluo), Jang Chen's dependable right-hand man.
* Hong Ki Joon as Sergeant Park Byeong-sik
* Heo Dong-won as Detective Oh Dong-gyoon
* Ha Jun as Detective Kang Hong-seok
* Kim Sung-kyu as Yang Tae (Chinese: 樣態, Hepburn: Yang Tai), Jang Chen's dependable left-hand man.
* Park Ji-hwan as Jang Yi-soo (Chinese: 張夷帥, Hepburn: Zhang Yishuai)
* Heo Sung-tae as Ahn Sung-tae (Viper)
* Min Kyung-jin as Yeon Gil Restaurant CEO
* Uhm Ji-sung as Wang-oh
* Kim Gu-taek as CEO Kwak
* Park Sang-gyu as CEO Won
* Yoo Ji-yeon as Ahn Hye-kyeong

### Special appearances

* Cho Jin-woong as Chief of Regional police investigation unit
* Jung In-gi as Chief of police
* Oh Min-ae as Garibong-dong female merchant
* Ye Jung-hwa as Airport head
* Yoon Joo as Kang Hong-seok's fiancée

## Production
### Filming

Principal photography began on February 27, 2017 and ended on July 19, 2017.

### Original soundtrack
## Reception

The Outlaws opened in South Korea on October 3, 2017. By October 23, it grossed US$36.3 million from more than 5 million admissions. One month after it was released, the film marked 6.05 million admissions, with US$44.1 million gross. By December 1, the film had reached 6.87 million admissions with a gross of US$51.8 million, making it the 3rd highest-grossing domestic film of the year in South Korea and the third best-selling R-rated Korean film of all time.

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result |
| 2017 | 37th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards | Top 10 Films | The Outlaws | Won |
| 2017 | 37th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards | Best New Director | Kang Yoon-sung | Won |
| 2017 | 38th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best New Director | Kang Yoon-sung | Nominated |
| 2017 | 38th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Technical Achievement-Stunts | The Outlaws | Nominated |
| 2017 | 38th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Film Editing | The Outlaws | Nominated |
| 2017 | 38th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Jin Seon-kyu | Won |
| 2018 | 9th Korea Film Reporters Association Film Awards (KOFRA) | Best Supporting Actor | Jin Seon-kyu | Won |
| 2018 | 54th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Actor | Ma Dong-seok | Nominated |
| 2018 | 54th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Jin Seon-kyu | Nominated |
| 2018 | 54th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best New Actor | Kim Sung-kyu | Nominated |
| 2018 | 54th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best New Actor | Heo Sung-tae | Nominated |
| 2018 | 54th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best New Director | Kim Yoon-sung | Won |
| 2018 | 54th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Screenplay | Kim Yoon-sung | Nominated |
| 2018 | 23rd Chunsa Film Art Awards | Best Screenplay | Kim Yoon-sung | Nominated |
| 2018 | 23rd Chunsa Film Art Awards | Best New Director | Kim Yoon-sung | Won |
| 2018 | 23rd Chunsa Film Art Awards | Best Actor | Ma Dong-seok | Nominated |
| 2018 | 23rd Chunsa Film Art Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Jin Seon-kyu | Nominated |
| 2018 | 27th Buil Film Awards | Best New Director | Kang Yoon-sung | Nominated |
| 2018 | 55th Grand Bell Awards | Best New Director | Kang Yoon-sung | Nominated |
| 2018 | 55th Grand Bell Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Jin Seon-kyu | Nominated |
| 2018 | 55th Grand Bell Awards | Best Planning | The Outlaws | Nominated |
| 2018 | 2nd The Seoul Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Jin Seon-kyu | Nominated |
| 2018 | 2nd The Seoul Awards | Best New Actor | Kim Sung-kyu | Nominated |
| 2018 | 18th Director's Cut Awards | Best New Director | Kang Yoon-sung | Won |

## Sequels
### The Roundup (2022)

A sequel of the film titled The Roundup directed by Lee Sang-yong was released on May 18, 2022. Ma Dong-seok, Choi Gwi-hwa, Park Ji-hwan, Heo Dong-won, and Ha Jun reprised their roles. The film became the highest-grossing film of the year surpassing 10 million ticket sales on the 25th day since its release. It also became the 3rd highest-grossing film and 9th most viewed film in South Korean cinema history.

### The Roundup: No Way Out (2023)

The second sequel, The Roundup: No Way Out, released in 2023.

### The Roundup: Punishment (2024)

The third sequel, The Roundup: Punishment, released in 2024.

## Remake

It was remade in India as Radhe by Prabhu Deva, starring Salman Khan in the title role.