‘OK Madam 2’ sets sail after a COVID-era setback, with sequel mixing bigger action and familiar comedy

A film that took a direct hit from the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 returns with a sequel after six years. Releasing on August 12, 〈OK Madam 2〉 is the follow-up to 〈OK Madam〉 (2020). The comic action film follows former legendary agent Mi-young (Uhm Jung-hwa), who springs back into action after getting swept up in a kidnapping case during a luxury cruise trip.

When 〈OK Madam〉 opened on August 12, 2020, it surpassed 1,000,000 admissions within eight days but faced heavy headwinds as the COVID-19 outbreak led to mass cancellations. The film ultimately drew a cumulative audience of 1.22 million, and later gained word of mouth on OTT platforms and elsewhere, eventually leading to a sequel six years later.

Where the first film focused on an airplane hijacking, this installment centers on a kidnapping case on a cruise ship. This installment is more lavish in scale. While the cruise’s confined spaces remain the main stage, the film exploits unfamiliar interiors such as a shipboard magic theater, the engine room below deck and the captain’s quarters. It also pushes the action out to islands, caves and the shore, giving the film a wider visual range.

That said, despite the amplified action, the comedy does not evolve as much as the action does. At times the exaggerated performances and contrived situations read like an old-school comedy, which is likely to divide audiences. As with the first film, the story takes a while to arrive at full-scale action, which may test viewers who prefer brisk pacing.

Even so, there is a clear case for continuing the series: led by the singular entertainer Uhm Jung-hwa, the film delivers satisfying women-led action that provides real catharsis. Following the airplane in the first film, the sequel showcases Uhm Jung-hwa's high-intensity land-sea-and-air action across tight cabins, wide decks and the deep ocean, hinting at the series' potential to expand.

On the afternoon of the 27th, a press screening and press conference were held at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Seoul for 〈OK Madam 2〉. Actors Uhm Jung-hwa, Park Sung-woong, Lee Sang-yoon, Bae Jung-nam, Park Jin-joo, Ryeoun, Choi Soo-young and director Lee Cheol-ha answered questions from domestic reporters who watched the film.

Putting the first film’s pandemic-era disappointment behind them, the original cast spoke with shared emotion about making a sequel. Uhm Jung-hwa, who plays former legendary agent Mi-young, said, “When the first film ended disappointingly because of COVID, I dreamed that this movie would become a series. Coming back as Mi-young after six years feels truly miraculous and moving.” Park Sung-woong, who plays Mi-young’s husband, added, “We worked to prove wrong the assumption that the sequel would be less entertaining than the first film,” expressing confidence in the richer follow-up. Bae Jung-nam, who plays the groom Hyun-min at the cruise wedding, said, “The score for the first film felt so unfair. If there had been no spaced seating, we would have added another two or three million. To be able to make a second film made me so happy I could cry,” then shouted, “Please help me out!” which set the room roaring with laughter. Lee Sang-yoon, who plays Mi-young’s former colleague Cheol-seung, said, “It’s an honor to take part in a series sequel at a time when films are facing difficulty.”

Director Lee Cheol-ha said they had already planned the series through a third film when making the first installment. He hinted at how the sequel differs from its predecessor, saying, “If the first film revealed Mi-young’s hidden past, the second film is about what Mi-young will choose in her life.”

Notably, Choi Soo-young stands out for taking on a villain role for the first time. Choi plays An-ya, the leader of the criminal organization that terrorizes the luxury cruise, and brings a comic, hard-to-pin-down charm that energizes the film. Choi said, “Although I’ve prepared for action over time, this was almost my first time actually filming action. Rather than focusing on bulking up my body, I wanted my eyes to be unpredictable so you couldn’t tell where I would strike — that’s the scary feel I aimed for.”

The beach action sequence in which Uhm Jung-hwa and Choi Soo-young face off is a highlight. Uhm described the showdown with Choi as “designed so that from a distance it looks like a dance,” and added that the beach fight is “an action scene from a mother desperate and determined to save her daughter.”

Behind-the-scenes details from the beach shoot were also revealed. Choi Soo-young recalled, “It was a November day with hail so heavy the wind ripped tents out of the ground. The director came over and called it 'heaven-sent weather,'” which set the room roaring with laughter. She continued, “I exchanged a look with Uhm Jung-hwa, wondering if it was dangerous, but Uhm Jung-hwa quickly gave me the kind of look that said, 'Let's go for it,' and I filmed without complaint,” expressing deep admiration for Uhm's fighting spirit.

〈OK Madam 2〉 opens on August 12.