JTBC gives a glimpse of Lee Je Hoon and Park Bo Gum's upcoming K-dramas
Actor Song Joong Ki shares his thoughts on his upcoming K-movie Bogota: City of the Lost during an interview at a café in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, explaining why he chose to be cast in the movie, his responsibilities as a lead actor, and more.
Set against the backdrop of Bogotá, Colombia, Bogota: City of the Lost tells the story of Korean immigrants who, out of desperation, turn to smuggling in this city of last hope. The story takes place in the aftermath of the IMF crisis, following Guk Hee (Song Joong Ki), who travels to Bogotá, Colombia from South Korea, the other side of the globe, with new hope of a better future.
The movie was filmed on location in Bogotá, with Song Joong Ki playing the lead role of Guk Hee.
Song Joong Ki shares his experience acting in Bogota: City of the Lost
When asked why he chose Bogota: City of the Lost, Song Joong Ki said, "Director Kim Sung Je's ability to portray characters with incredible depth and density as seen in his film Minority Opinion, overlapped with my sense of challenge, which made me very curious about this project."
The actor also revealed he learned Spanish and even ad-libbed to make his performance more natural.
In the film, Guk Hee gradually adapts to life in Bogotá, changing from the naive person he was when he first arrived in the country. His transformation is also conveyed visually, with a short haircut, earrings, and sharp suits.
Regarding his portrayal of this transformation, Song Joong Ki explained, "Guk Hee left Korea because there was no hope [of a better future]. He was just a kid who didn't speak the language and had no financial means. His father was irresponsible, and his mother was helpless. I thought he must have developed a survival instinct, realizing he needed to take care of his mother, his family, and himself. That's where I focused my acting."
He also recalled, "During the pre-production stage, I mentioned that I wanted to visit Colombia, so I accompanied the director and producer there. I shared the impressions I got from being on location with the costume designer," and "I even had my ears pierced at a local shop."
Guk Hee and the other characters in the film ultimately find themselves trapped in a "hell of desire" in the land of Bogotá.
Reflecting on this, he said, "I wondered why they couldn't escape from that hell of desire. I thought it might be because they had never seen a bigger world. Although the story is set in Colombia, it felt to me that no matter where it is, once you latch onto a place and settle in, you become a frog in a well, confined to that small world."
Song Joong Ki expresses his desire to take on new challenges
As an actor, Song Joong Ki enjoys taking on challenges to avoid being confined like a "frog in a well." He has recently been praised for showcasing different facets of himself as an actor through films such as Hopeless and My Name Is Loh Kiwan. His relatively late start in the industry further highlights this aspect of him.
"I try not to settle down [on one thing] and aim to challenge myself with things I haven't done before," he said. "I think that's just part of my nature."
Song Joong Ki's experience in the drama Tree With Deep Roots further strengthened his spirit to take on new challenges. Playing the young King Se Jong, he engaged in intense confrontations with Baek Yoon Shik, who portrayed King Tae Jong, drawing immense attention during the drama's early episodes.
Reflecting on that time, he said, "I've realized that being the lead who gets all the spotlight isn't always the best. Maybe it's because I experienced that firsthand. Back then [when I was doing Tree With Deep Roots], I felt a sense of fulfillment."
Song Joong Ki's favorite actor is Brad Pitt, whom he admires for taking on roles regardless of their size or prominence. Song Joong Ki shares a similar mindset, which translates into his passion for exploring new genres.
"I believe a fresh look [a new side of myself as an actor] ultimately comes from new genres. That’s why I'm very drawn to them. Even if my character stands out less, if the genre feels new, I tend to go for it. My desire to show a new side of myself is satisfied by discovering and tackling new genres."
Song Joong Ki also expressed a strong sense of responsibility as a lead actor. As part of this, he will appear on the JTBC variety show Please Take Care of My Refrigerator, marking his first TV variety appearance in over a decade.
He explained, "This [profession of an actor] is a job where we work with the money that others have invested in us. In this industry, focusing solely on personal desires without considering that aspect is something I see as irresponsible."
He added, "A lead actor's role is to introduce a project to the audience and say, 'Please look kindly upon it.' "Since it's been a while since I'm greeting audiences with a film in theaters, I'm committed to fulfilling my responsibilities."
Song Joong Ki shares his happiness after having a daughter
When asked, "Have you become a doting father to your daughter?" he replied, "I have become a silly doting father. Let me show you," showing a picture of his daughter.
Responding to the question, "Does having a daughter give you a different feeling [on its own]?" he said, "For those who are raising children, you might relate, but this happens — am I being too much? I just want to brag so much," and added, "When my daughter was born and I held her, unlike my first child, who is a boy, she clung to me tightly. I can never forget that feeling."
He also shared, "(The baby) is growing up healthy, and my wife is recovering now after giving birth. She hasn't been able to see Bogotá yet but plans to see it later after she recovers. I'm busy with the movie promotion and filming the drama My Youth with Chun Woo Hee. She knows this. She's been so supportive because she knows that I'm either filming or doing promotions."
He added, "With the babies now here, my sense of responsibility has grown even more." He continued, "Both of our children have Korean and Spanish names because my wife and I are of different nationalities. They're growing up so well. They're so pretty. I might be acting silly, but I want them to live a long, healthy life."
