For South Korean actor Ma Dong-seok, playing the tough action hero comes naturally to him, given his history in boxing and fitness — before he broke into acting, he worked as a personal trainer for MMA star Mark Coleman. As an actor, his presence has almost become a genre unto itself, as many Ma’s roles seem tailored to him, often casting him as a tough, no-nonsense character with a bold screen presence. At the same time, his characters have a strong moral sense, which often leads them to do the right thing.
Dong-Seok is not just one note, though, as he also has an uncanny comedic sense, able to slip into comedic roles with ease. It’s a combination that never seems to grow old with audiences and has made him one of South Korea’s most bankable stars. Ma often goes hand in hand with a high-octane action style, featuring power-packed fight sequences. At the same time, his movies deliver a complete entertainment package, filled with action, drama, and comedy.
Here are 11 action movies featuring Ma Dong-seok that feel like an entire genre in themselves.
‘The Roundup’ Films (2017–Present)
Starting with The Outlaws, The Roundup film franchise became an action-film phenomenon in South Korea, encapsulating all that is unique and charming about Ma’s film persona. He appears in the lead role as a police officer in Seoul’s Crime Unit with a fearsome reputation both within the police force and among local gangs.
Gritty action, compelling writing, spot-on comedic moments, and unforgettable villains have made The Roundup a celebrated action film franchise in South Korea. Roundup would set multiple box office records in the country. It was then followed by The Roundup: No Way Out and The Roundup: Punishment, with new films planned for the popular franchise.
‘The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil’ (2019)
The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil combines Ma Dong-seok’s familiar territory with elements of South Korean thrillers. He stars in the movie as mafia boss, Jang Dong-soo, who teams up with a police officer to track down a serial killer. The movie is an essential watch in the Korean action genre, as several scenes featuring Ma quickly became iconic after its release. His characteristic tough-guy persona and commanding screen presence perfectly complement his role as a mafia leader.
His portrayal of Jang Dong-soo is among his best ever, as he fully embodies the character’s darker flaws as an ingenious, Machiavellian gangster who is willing to use any trick in the book to achieve his goals. Aided by an effective script and gripping performances from the leading characters, the movie keeps you hooked throughout.
‘Champion’ (2018)
Despite his burly physique, Ma also has a quiet charm that has endeared him to fans, earning him the nickname of “Mavely” — a combination of his name, Ma, and the word “lovely.” This charisma gives the actor a magical ability to breathe life into mediocre scripts. Champion is a good example of a movie in which Ma’s screen persona as a tough but lovable brute intersects with the feel-good drama to deliver fantastic results.
He appears in the movie as a former arm wrestling champion who gets back in touch with the family of his birth mother, who had given him up for adoption as a child. As he tries to build a relationship with his stepsister and her kids, he is inspired to get back into arm-wrestling.
‘Unstoppable’ (2018)
Another well-loved classic in Ma’s filmography, Unstoppable is one of the best action-comedy films, featuring him as a former gangster with a legendary reputation who leads a quiet life as a seafood distributor. When an unwitting trafficker kidnaps his wife, he teams up with two goofy friends to get her back.
Unstoppable makes good use of his one-man army persona and is filled with power-packed combat scenes. The movie entertains with a good proportion of action and comedy, and the humorous antics and dialogues of Ma’s pals, played by Kim Min-jae and Park Ji-hwan, make up a good part of the film’s appeal.
‘The Bad Guys: Reign of Chaos’ (2019)
The Bad Guys: Reign of Chaos is based on the Korean TV series Bad Guys. Ma stars in the movie as gangster Park Woong‑cheol who is serving time in prison. His character is offered the opportunity to work in a special unit of the police force in exchange for a reduction of his prison sentence. The character is forced to collaborate with an eclectic group of criminals to recapture an escaped Yakuza member who is scheduled to testify in a major criminal case.
Ma’s character fits in well with the others and serves as a worthy addition to this unusual team, which includes Jang Ki-yong, Kim Ah-joong, and Kim Sang-joong as the police officer leading the special unit. The awkward character dynamics between this uneasy collaboration make for a lot of laughs throughout the movie.
‘Train to Busan’ (2016)
Train to Busan was Ma’s first big hit in the West before Eternals. As a zombie horror flick, it was an unlikely title to achieve such an unprecedented global popularity. But it managed to do just that with its refreshing take on the genre. Train to Busan was set in the claustrophobic environment of a train station, and used a set of well-developed characters to send audiences on a rollercoaster of emotions.
The movie had an ensemble cast of well-known Korean stars, including Gong Yoo, Choi Woo-shik, and Choi Gwi-hwa. Ma appears in the movie as a caring husband, Sang-hwa, whose actions are often dedicated to protecting his pregnant wife. While Ma is not in the main role, Train to Busan would come to define the best of modern zombie films and deserves a spot here.
‘The Villagers’ (2018)
The Villagers is an underrated action thriller in Ma’s filmography. He stars as a former boxing champion-turned-PE teacher, Yeok Gi-cheol, who has a hard time keeping a job because of his righteousness and his tendency to protest local politics.
The movie begins when he moves to a rural area for a new job. Once there, he discovers that a teenage girl studying in the school has recently disappeared. The police, however, appear reluctant to investigate the case, and it seems the entire town is hiding secrets about it. Yeok Gi-cheol can’t help but investigate the case himself and finds himself on the trail of dangerous men linked to politics and the criminal underworld.
‘Start-Up’ (2019)
Ma appears in a comedic role in the action-comedy movie Start-Up, playing a goofy-looking chef, Geo-Seok, with a mysterious past. The movie follows the exploits of two youngsters, played by Park Jung-min and Jung Hae-in, who are trying to support their families and find their way in life. One of them finds work in Geo-Seok’s restaurant as a delivery boy, while the other finds employment at a loan business.
Their friendship is tested when their jobs unexpectedly put them at odds. Through the trials and tribulations, they discover the meaning of life and friendship. Ma’s character becomes a valuable friend to them and comes to the forefront later in the movie, when ghosts from his criminal past return to haunt him. While Ma Dong-seok is not the central character, he steals the scene whenever he appears, and the movie offers some of his best comedic cops.
‘The Soul-Mate’ (2018)
The Soul-Mate is an action-comedy in which Ma stars as a judo instructor and a single father. He appears in the movie opposite Kim Young-kwang, who plays the role of a police officer who is murdered during an investigation. Due to his proximity to the scene of the crime, Ma’s character somehow becomes the only person able to see Young-kwang’s ghost.
After being relentlessly pestered by the ghost, he grudgingly agrees to help solve the case of the police officer’s murder. The action in ‘The Soul-Mate’ is on the lighter side, so those who want the most explosive films of Ma should look elsewhere. However, as a comedic outing with action elements, the movie is a home run with Dong-seok putting some serious personality into his role.
‘Badland Hunters’ (2024)
Set in a Seoul that has been ravaged by an Earthquake, Ma Dong-seok plays the tough hunter and protector of his village, Nam‑san. When one girl from his village, Su‑na, is kidnapped by a cruel scientist hellbent on achieving immortality, Nam-san and others head out to protect her. Yet, they must fight against all sorts of threats in the post-apocalyptic landscape filled with mutants and desperate people.
While Ma Dong-seok’s films have featured explosive action, the bigger budget and special effects here make Bandland Hunters his most popcorn-style blockbuster to date. At the same time, Dong-seok embodies the best elements of his action films, serving as a no-nonsense tough guy with an underlying sense of strict morality. The premise and execution may be simple, but Dong-seok elevates it and makes it his own.
We love a good Ma Dong-seok movie, regardless of how action-packed it is. The actor’s screen presence and range always make him stand out. Dong-seok has over 60 acting credits to his name, and plenty of projects in the works. So, make sure you let us know what your favorite Ma Dong-seok movie is.
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