An event for the film “Bogota: City of the Lost” was held on January 12, videos of the event were later uploaded to YouTube.
Present at this event were the film’s main actors Song Joong-ki and Lee Hee-joon, along with special guest Lee Sung-min.
During the event, Lee Sung-min candidly observed: “When I got here, I noticed that the parking lot was almost empty. It broke my heart. There seems to be very few people in the theater. There could be many reasons for this, but when theaters are empty, it’s incredibly difficult for actors. Especially when a movie comes out in a time like that, it makes you feel like you’re dying.”
As Lee Sung-min spoke, Song Joong-ki nodded silently, visibly moved by his words.
Lee Sung-min continued, “But we have to resist because this is our role as actors. Please offer your support to help our film do well and end on a positive note.
Later, Song Joong-ki took the microphone. He shared, “As my senior said, Korean cinema is going through a very difficult time. Honestly, just having a movie screen in theaters right now is something to be grateful for. I worked harder than ever on promotions because I wanted to let people know about this film and present it in the best light.
“Even though the film industry is struggling, our role as actors is to create good content that comforts and entertains audiences who are facing difficult times. We will continue to put our hearts into different projects to bring strength and joy to everyone.” he added.
As he spoke, Song Joong-ki became emotional.
“I feel sick just talking about this…” he said, pausing as his voice trembled. After regaining his composure, he concluded with a simple “Thank you,” his eyes filled with tears. Lee Sung-min also looked like he was on the verge of tears.
Released on December 31, 2024, “Bogota: City of the Lost” recorded devastating results at the box office. As of January 15, the film has attracted only 400,000 viewers, a far cry from its break-even point of 3 million.
With this, Song Joong-ki is recording three consecutive box office failures in movies, starting with “Hopeless” (about 260,000 viewers) in 2023, followed by “My Name Is Loh Kiwan” and “Bogota: City of the Lost.”
It seems that public trust in Song Joong-ki’s films is collapsing as his acting skills are revealed, including his awkward pronunciation and fluctuating acting tone, as well as his weak ability to attract viewers.
In addition to the box office failures of his films, he is also steadily accumulating a negative image. In particular, Song Joong-ki had previously been criticized for taking a career break and complaining about missing out on opportunities after becoming a father.
Additionally, he recently appeared on an entertainment show on YouTube to promote and was criticized for calling his wife “that girl,” which seemed to belittle her.
