“Bogota: City of the Lost” is a film starring Song Joong-ki, currently in the promotional phase ahead of its release in South Korea at the end of December. Beyond the quality of the film – which received mixed reactions following its screening at the 2024 Busan International Film Festival – Song Joong-ki’s appearance and transformation in the film captured significant attention from the media and the Korean audience.
In the film, Song Joong-ki plays Guk Hee, a character who evolves from a troubled youth to achieving success in a foreign land. Although the story spans a long period, Song Joong-ki appears “young” at every stage of the character’s life. The only noticeable changes are her hairstyle, wardrobe, and the darker skin tone applied by the production team.
Another point of interest is how Song Joong-ki’s appearance in “Bogota” closely resembles his appearance seven years ago in the hit film “The Battleship Island.” From his hairstyle to his aged demeanor, he looks like he stepped out of that previous film. What’s even more surprising is that despite the seven-year gap between the two roles, Song Joong-ki doesn’t seem to have aged at all – in fact, some even claim he looks younger now, leaving audiences stunned.
In “Bogota,” Song Joong-ki plays Guk-hee, who arrives in Bogota, Colombia, with the hope of starting over after the IMF financial crisis. However, he becomes entangled with Soo Young (played by Lee Hee-jun) and Park Byeong-jang (played by Kwon Hae-hyo), influential figures within the Korean community in Bogota. As the story begins, Guk Hee’s family loses all of their savings due to an airport theft, forcing them into a daily struggle for survival.
The film was initially expected to revive Song Joong-ki’s career after a period of public attention to his personal life, which often drew criticism. However, after its screening at the Busan International Film Festival, the film failed to win over critics. Many Korean journalists have expressed concern about the uncertain prospects of “Bogota: City of the Lost” before its theatrical release. In addition to the limitations of the script and problems with the film’s setting, Song Joong-ki’s performance was also criticized as relatively disappointing in this project.
Source: K14
