‘Okay Madam 2’ Returns After 6 Years — Cruise-Action Led by Uhm Junghwa and Choi Sooyoung

From 'Flight' to 'Cruise'… The evolution of a comedy action returning after six years

The comedy action bible 'Okay Madam', which swept through theaters in 2020, returns at last with a sequel after six years of sharpening. Due to hit theaters on Aug. 12, 'Okay Madam 2' once again brings together 'Uhm Junghwa', 'Park Sung-woong', 'Lee Sang-yoon', and 'Bae Jeong-nam', the cast that helped drive the success of the previous installment, and also adds 'Choi Sooyoung', 'Ryeoun', and 'Park Jinjoo', completing an even more hard-hitting ensemble. The most striking change is the expansion of the set. Leaving the confines of a cramped airplane cabin behind, the film scales up over the vast open sea with the 'luxury cruise', raising both the visual pleasure and the density of its action.

The production briefing held at CGV Yongsan I-Park Mall in Seoul on the 13th served as a clear sign of their strong confidence. 'Uhm Junghwa' said, "Thanks to the action sequences with an amount that overwhelms the first film, I felt my blood boil with thrill throughout the shoot," showing her deep attachment to the action genre. 'Director Lee Cheol-ha', who held the megaphone, meticulously crafted how a peaceful cruise trip morphs into a kidnapping spree by a criminal organization. In particular, he heightened anticipation for the work by paying tribute to the leading actors who throw caution to the wind, calling it an "undeniably Korean 'Tom Cruise for Women'."

Choi Sooyoung turns into a villain, taking control of the story’s tension

The most daring casting choice in this new work is, without a doubt, 'Choi Sooyoung'. Making her first foray since her debut into a ruthless action villain, she breaks down as the head of a criminal organization, 'Anya', keeping the drama’s tension tight. 'Choi Sooyoung' said, "The text itself—being a 'female villain' with rarity in the Korean film industry—came across as an incredibly powerful draw," adding, "I put everything into shaping a three-dimensional character where charisma and humor coexist, not just a simple antagonist." The sharp standoff she will create opposite 'Uhm Junghwa', her senior, is cited as a key point to watch that cuts through the entire film.

A powerful IP that survived the pandemic, stepping in as a savior for a sluggish theater scene

The cheerful synergy of the original members is still very much in progress. 'Park Sung-woong', who proved the perfect ensemble in the previous film, showed off his tight-knit teamwork with his characteristic candidness, saying, "If a third film is made, that stage would have to become a spaceship or a submarine." 'Bae Jeong-nam' also teased an overwhelming amount of eye candy and tightly packed comedy, saying, "It feels like I actually went on a real cruise trip with fellow actors." Joining them is 'Ryeoun', a rising star who has demonstrated solid fundamentals through multiple series, saying, "Thanks to the steady support from the seniors, I was able to overcome the pressure of making my screen debut," putting the finishing touch on the harmony between veteran and newcomer.

'Director Lee Cheol-ha'’s feelings are hard to compare with anyone else. That’s because it is the result of getting back up after a painful past when he had to release the first film amid the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. He recalled, "Even in the theater industry’s deep freeze at the time, the support audiences sent and the explosive response in the ancillary rights market became nourishment that helped give birth to a six-years-later sequel." When the long-planned idea he had nurtured for years finally takes shape on the real-world screen, 'Okay Madam 2' is expected to become more than a popcorn movie—an indicator that proves the Korean film industry’s enduring vitality.