'Female Tom Cruise' Jeong-hwa returns after six years... 'OK Madam 2' is even funnier [Comprehensive]

*This content was translated by AI.

The "female Tom Cruise," Uhm Jung-hwa, is returning after six years. "OK Madam" will visit audiences as a sequel, boasting an even grander scale set against the backdrop of a luxury cruise, exhilarating action, and tighter team chemistry.

On the 13th, a production report meeting for the movie "OK Madam 2" (directed by Lee Cheol-ha) was held at CGV Yongsan i-Park Mall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Director Lee Cheol-ha and actors Eom Jeong-hwa, Park Sung-woong, Lee Sang-yoon, Bae Jung-nam, Park Jin-joo, Ryeo-un, and Choi Soo-young attended the event.

"OK Madam 2" is a comedic action story about the family of Mi-young (played by Eom Jung-hwa), a former legendary agent who embarks on an extravagant cruise trip to escape the heat and her current life, only to get caught up in a blue sea hanbok-themed cruise hijacking incident.

It is the follow-up to "Okay Madam" (1.22 million viewers), which captivated audiences with refreshing laughter and thrilling action even amidst the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.

Director Lee Cheol-ha said, "I searched for the situation six years ago during the COVID-19 pandemic. After the film's release, as the virus spread, tickets that had already been booked were cancelled. I remember how sad the actors looked while doing stage greetings." He added, "It was heartbreaking that a work we put so much effort into could not reach many viewers, but even in those circumstances, we are grateful that many audiences watched it. Thanks to OTT, we also made decent profits. Because of that, we were able to make a second film."

While the previous installment unfolded aerial battles within the confined space of an airplane, this time it expands its world-building with overwhelming-scale underwater combat spanning a luxurious cruise ship on the vast ocean, beaches, and the deep sea.

Director Lee Cheol-ha explained, "At first, I couldn't imagine borrowing a boat, but Je Jak-sa (CEO) demonstrated their abilities and actually provided the vessel. With a massive 12-story cruise ship available for filming, it was a great opportunity as a director."

Original members Eom Jeong-hwa, Park Sung-woong, Lee Sang-yoon, and Bae Jung-nam were joined by new cast members Park Jin-joo, Ryeo-un, and Choi Soo-young.

First, Eom Jeong-hwa and Park Sung-woong, who already displayed a perfect couple dynamic in the previous installment, will showcase even more exhilarating action and cheerful couple chemistry in this series.

Eom Jung-hwa shared her feelings about reuniting with Park Sung-woong after six years, stating, "We became so close that it felt natural, and the filming was so enjoyable that it didn't even feel like filming."

Park Sung-woong then said, "I remember that during 'OK Madam 1,' my sister was so scared of me that she almost got fired, but if I could just have a meal together once, I promised to show her that I'm not scary." He added, "Meeting Soobin, the daughter from 'OK Madam,' after six years, her face remained the same, but only her body had grown. When we took a family photo together as three people, it was such a heartwarming scene as memories of the six years came flooding back."

Lee Sang-yoon is set to appear once again as "Cheol-seung," a former colleague of "Mi-young," showcasing an even more intense charisma, while Bae Jung-nam will make his comeback in the role of "Hyun-min," who has turned his life around from being a harsh flight attendant in Part 1 to becoming the protagonist of a lavish cruise wedding.

Lee Sang-yoon revealed that he took on a bold new hairstyle this time and has a secret to share.

Bae Jung-nam added, "The actors are so close that it was wonderful to eat together and chat after filming ended. It felt less like a shooting set and more like a cruise trip with friends." He also said, "I always act seriously, but they laughed a lot. This time, I am even more serious."

Park Jin-ju took on the role of "Seon-a," the representative of a cruise ship who tolerates not even a single scratch on her luxury cruise liner. She expressed her gratitude to Park Sung-woong, with whom she has shared many moments.

He said, "The director gave me complete trust and accepted whatever I did, so there was some pressure because he also expected a comedic element from me, but the set felt very comfortable." He added, "Senior Sung-woong paved the way for me to do anything. From the first day of filming, seeing him use his face freely made me feel, 'This is the kind of place this is.' I realized that on a film set, you have to let go completely to get quick approval."

Ryeo-un has joined the cast as 'Ji-hoon', a popular magician who captivates cruise passengers with his gentle manners and appearance. When asked about her chemistry with Ryeo-un, Eom Jeong-hwa shyly smiled, saying, "Just looking at him brought me joy," and added, "I felt excited while filming alongside actor Ryeo-un."

Ryeo-un, making her screen debut with 'Okay Madam 2', said, "I was very nervous for my first movie and felt stiff because there were so many distinguished seniors around." She added, "However, Senior Eom Jeong-hwa and all the other seniors spoke to me first and made me feel comfortable, so I think my nerves finally calmed down," expressing her gratitude.

The role of Anya, the captivating villain and leader of a criminal organization that sent a luxury cruise into terror, was played by Choi Soo-young, who embarked on expanding her acting spectrum with a powerful presence.

Choi Soo-young explained, "There are many female villain roles, yet not enough of them. When I was first offered the role, I was extremely happy and had a strong desire to make it something unconventional. I contributed many ideas regarding costumes and wanted to highlight An-ya's childlike qualities. While a purely terrifying and chilling villain is fine, I wanted to create a female villain who possesses both charisma and humor."

He conveyed, "This is actually my first action scene in a confrontation with actress Jung Jung-hwa. It has been about 20 years since I started my activities this year, so the fact that it is my first action scene carries special meaning, and working alongside a senior actor like her feels like it brings new significance."

He added, "My senior performed a wide range of actions from beginning to end. Watching my senior gracefully execute such diverse action scenes while I practiced alongside them felt almost shameful, and it made me think, 'I must not become like that.' My senior was overflowing with consideration and treated me with special care. Thanks to the thoughtful support on set, I was able to film comfortably."

Director Lee Cheol-ha expressed satisfaction, saying, "I am so grateful that we filmed this action movie safely without anyone getting hurt. Although we looked out for each other in the beginning, seeing us coordinate our action sequences so intensely made me feel good deep down. It was nerve-wracking."

In particular, Director Lee Cheol-ha praised Eom Jung-hwa as the "female Tom Cruise," while Eom Jung-hwa said, "I love doing action scenes so I worked hard. I was anxious because the rehearsal period was too short, but the martial arts director adjusted well to me, and my co-actors prepared thoroughly, so it seems we all came together with one heart and filmed without any injuries." She also told Tom Cruise, "I am Eom Jung-hwa, an actress who is actively active in Korea. Let's meet someday and run together, oppa," which brought laughter.

Original member Park Sung-woong also expressed anticipation for the third installment. He said, "If the second film was like a cruise ship, the third one must have an even bigger scale, so I had unnecessary worries about whether we should shoot it on a submarine or in a spaceship."

Director Lee Cheol-ha said regarding the expected number of viewers, "We would be grateful if we surpass the break-even point, and any audience members who come after that are a gift. The more people who come, the better prepared we will be for the next installment."

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*This content was translated by AI.