“The seed of the film was planted with a simple thought – it would be fun to see actor Don Lee (Ma Don-Seok) arm wrestle,” said Champion director Kim Yong-wan. He did showcase his strength in his previous films like The Outlaws and the worldwide hit Train to Busan but Don Lee won’t be just flexing his muscles in the sports comedy film, he will also work his charms to the audience through the story.

For Mark (Don Lee), arm wrestling is the only thing he has. A Korean adoptee who is able to lift ginormous dumbbells with extreme ease. Thanks to his impressive strength, he competed as an arm wrestler at a national level in the USA, but was kicked out of the league because of an issue. He now works as club bouncer, and a grocery store security, until a friend calls him with an opportunity to get his life back. This also meant going back to his country Korea. Little did he know, he’s not only getting his arm wrestling life back, but he also gets to meet his sister and her family. With their support, he challenges himself to become a champion.

From Train to Busan, The Outlaws, Veteran, Familyhood and the upcoming sequel to Along with the Gods, actor Don Lee (Ma Dong-Seok) always emobodied his characters with creative twists that only he’s able to pull off. In Champion, he has transformed into Mark, an arm wrestler whose forearm reacts faster than his heart and aims to surprise his fans once again.
Mark’s partner-in-crime Jin-ki is played by Kwon Yul, who started in Roaring Currents, The Hunt and The Worst Woman. Mark’s sister Su-jin, who has to juggle between running her business and taking care of her kids, is played by The Hunt and Worst Woman star HAN Ye-ri. The film is directed by Kim Yong-wan who began his career in the industry as an assistant director on several notable films such as Harmony (2009) and Quick (2011) which also had a Philippine release.

“Champion” opens in Philippine cinemas on May 30 from Warner Bros Pictures, distributed by Rafaella Films International.

You’ve seen him as the brawny dad-to-be in Philippines’ highest grossing foreign film “Train to Busan.” Now, Ma Dong-Seok, also known as Don Lee returns to Philippine cinemas in the sports comedy “Champion.”


Here's the full trailer of the movie;


The film tells the story of Mark (Ma Dong-Seok), a disgraced arm-wrestling champion who was adopted by an American family when he was a boy. He’s working as a bouncer at a club when he meets Jin-ki, a Korean student who has a knack for schemes to make money from any situation he’s in. Jin-ki convinced Mark to return to Korea after 30 years to join an arm-wrestling tournament. Upon arriving, Jin-ki gives him his biological mother’s address. Hesitant at first, he visits the address and gets united with a sister he didn’t know existed. Max, while embracing the new family he has, prepares to make a mark in the arm wrestling tournament. The film also stars Kwon Yul, Han Ye-ri, Choi Seung-hoon-I, Ok Ye-rin, Yang Hyun-min, Nam Yeon-woo, Kang Shin-hyo and Lee Kyu-ho. Written and directed by Kim Yong-won (Quick).
“Champion” opens in Philippine cinemas May 30, 2018 from Warner Bros. Korea, distributed by Rafaella Films International.