Uhm Jung-hwa, who previously underwent surgery for thyroid cancer, mentioned her voice and confessed "it's continually improving."
On the morning of the 4th at a cafe on Samcheong-ro in Jongno-gu, Seoul, an interview was held with Uhm Jung-hwa, the lead actor of the film 'OK! MADAM 2'.
'OK! MADAM 2' (director Lee Cheol-ha, presented by CGV Pictures·all (OAL), distributed by CGV Pictures, produced by all (OAL)) is a comic action film that unfolds when the family of former legendary agent Mi-young, who set off on a luxury cruise trip to escape the heat and everyday life, becomes embroiled in a cruise kidnapping incident in the middle of the blue sea. It returns after six years as the sequel to season 1, which drew 1.22 million viewers amid the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. Original members Uhm Jung-hwa, Park Sung-woong, Lee Sang-yoon and Bae Jung-nam returned, and distinctive new members Park Jin-joo, Ryeo-un and Choi Sooyoung joined.
Uhm Jung-hwa delivered a passionate performance as Mi-young, a former special agent who set off on a luxury cruise trip. She returned to the screen three years after 'Hwasahan geunyeo' (2023) and also appeared on the small screen in Doctor Cha (2023) and My Troublesome Star (2025).
After reading the script, Uhm Jung-hwa, who felt "what I had been waiting for had arrived," said "actually, works like this are not often offered. At my age, this kind of action… as time goes on it becomes rarer. I have always liked action films and grew up watching Hong Kong movies. I had that romantic longing, and when OK! MADAM first started I said 'I definitely want to do this,'" and added, "so when entering season 2 I practiced boxing hard and adjusted my diet. I couldn't do it without building stamina, so I lightened my body. After filming the first installment I found action enjoyable, and I practiced kickboxing in spare moments; when the investment was decided I worked harder."
Earlier, Uhm Jung-hwa discovered thyroid cancer during a health checkup in 2010 and underwent surgery. As a result, she lost her voice for about eight months, but through consistent rehabilitation she returned not only to acting but also as a singer, showing the steadfast image of a "diva."
During the interview, Uhm Jung-hwa remained mindful of her vocal tone and, when asked "you also make a lot of noise in the movie. How do you manage your voice?", she confessed, "I removed that fear itself. Actually it can't be entirely gone, but it's continually improving. I told myself not to focus on it or think about it. I approached it with that mindset," and added, "I can still do concerts, and right now I've somewhat moved away from that. Sometimes I worry, but I keep telling myself 'this is who I am now.' I think that a lot."
Meanwhile, 'OK! MADAM 2' opens on the 12th.
[photo] provided by CGV Pictures
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