Honest Candidate 2 (2022) ~ Truth, Double Truth, and Second Chances

“Honest Candidate 2” is a 2022 Korean film, categorized as Political Satire and Comedy, streaming on Viki. It is the sequel to the 2020 Korean film “Honest Candidate”.

 

• Memorable Quote:  “If we bite it (i.e., their tongue), we can live without talking for a while.”

SUMMARY: After confessing to her own corruption, Joo Sang-Sook is now a disgraced politician. She attempts to make a comeback into the political arena, but is cursed again. But this time, her campaign manager is also cursed. He can’t lie either!

♦ I Get a Second Chance! YAY!

In “Honest Candidate 2”, the comedic misadventures of Joo Sang-Sook continue. After disgracing herself, Joo Sang-Sook retreated to a quiet fishing village, hoping to regroup and rebuild her public image. Her political career seems all but over, until she dives into the water and rescues one of the villagers from drowning. This dramatic rescue-at-sea unexpectedly thrusts her back into the national spotlight.

Joo Sang-Sook campaigns in the rural province where the locals already know her. Not only did she work there among them, but she also risked her life and rescued one of their residents. She’s a hero! Surely, they’ll believe anything she says and vote for her. Joo Sang-Sook is super excited for the chance to re-enter the political arena, but Grandma’s spirit reaches out from the grave. Once again, her career as a politician making a comeback is upended by a supernatural curse that prevents her from lying.

Oh no! Not again! Joo Sang-Sook finds herself unable to tell a lie, no matter how desperately she tries. The curse, which once destroyed her political ambitions, now threatens to sabotage her career all over again. But she’s not worried because she still has her loyal secretary Park Hee-Cheol, who has stood by her through every scandal and meltdown. There is also Jo Tae-Joo, a new member on her campaign team. When it comes to deception, corruption, and twisting the truth, he’s a dark genius.

Oh no! You’ve Been Cursed Too?

When Park Hee-Cheol realizes Joo Sang-Sook is afflicted with the truth-telling curse again, he steps in and tries to do damage control. Only … something awful happens when he opens his mouth. He tells the truth, too! Park Hee-Cheol is also afflicted with the same truth-telling curse. How did this happen? His inability to lie exposes not only political secrets but also his own frustrations, insecurities, and long-buried feelings about his role as a political campaign manager.

The honesty of both Joo Sang-Sook and Park Hee-Cheol begins to expose corruption, hypocrisy, and backroom dealings. Her candid remarks create both enemies and unexpected allies.

• One standout moment occurs when Joo Sang-Sook sits in the President’s chair and bluntly admits she always wondered what it felt like. Yes, she openly admitted her dreams of being elected president and sitting in a chair at the Blue House. But will she even be elected as mayor?
• Another standout moment that proved Park Hee-Cheol’s loyalty is when he finds himself in a tight situation and physically bites his tongue so that he won’t answer a question truthfully.

“Honest Candidate 2” follows the same path as the first movie. It is a sharp, funny, and heartfelt political satire that reinforces its message about integrity, accountability, and the messy humanity behind public office.

Main Characters:

• Joo Sang-Sook (played by Ra Mi-Ran, “Hi-Five”, “Citizen of a Kind”, “The Good Bad Mother”, “The Dude in Me”, “The Highway Family”, “To the Moon”, “High Society”, “Avengers Social Club”, “Sympathy for Lady Vengeance”, “Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born”)
• Park Hee-Cheol (played by Kim Moo-Yul, “My Beautiful Bride”, “Grid”, “The Old Woman With The Knife”, “The Roundup: Punishment”, “Space Sweepers”, “The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil”, “No Way Out: The Roulette”, “Queen Woo”, “Juvenile Justice”, “Trolley”, “Bad Guys: Vile City”, “Sweet Home 1, 2 and 3”)
• Bong Man-Sik (played by Yoon Kyung-Ho, “Team Bulldog: Off-duty Investigation”, “The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call”, “The Legend of Kitchen Soldier”, “Humint”, “My Daughter is a Zombie”, “Juror 8”)
• Jo Tae-Joo (played by Seo Hyun-Woo, “Wall to Wall”, “Seoul Busters”, “A Shop for Killers”)

Where to Watch

• Honest Candidate (2020) ~ Korea’s Sharp Satire About a Politician Who Can’t Lie

Viewership and Rating:

• IMDb: 6.2 out of 10 stars
• My Drama List: 7 out of 10 stars
• Viki viewers rated this film: 8.9 out of 10 stars
• Letterboxd: 3.1 out of 5 stars

My personal rating is the same as the Viki viewers.

Since I enjoyed the first film, I figured the sequel would be just as enjoyable. And it was. Good old-fashioned clean humor is still a lot of fun!

LINKS OF INTEREST:

Honest Candidate 2 (2022) ☆☆(2/4): She Is Back – with Less Laugh. | Seongyong’s Private Place

Honest Candidate 2: Unraveling Granny’s Underwater Photo | TikTok

Ra Mi Ran and Kim Mu Yeol to Reprise Their Roles in ‘Honest Candidate 2.’ | ZAPZEE – Premier Korean Entertainment Magazine

TRAILER/TEASER:

tvN Movies. “Honest Candidate 2.” YouTube, 23 Jan. 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPJgz7v8tKQ.

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