Director Kim Sung-jae Discusses 'Bogotá: The Land of Last Chances' at Press Screening

On December 19, the press screening for the film 'Bogotá: The Land of Last Chances' took place at the COEX Megabox in Gangnam, Seoul. Director Kim Sung-jae shared insights about the film, stating, "This movie portrays the emotions of a young man who has had to grow up too quickly." Set to release on December 31, 'Bogotá' follows the story of Guk-hee (played by Song Joong-ki), who travels to Bogotá, Colombia, in search of new hope. There, he becomes entangled with influential figures in the Korean community, including Su-young (Lee Hee-joon) and Sergeant Park (Kwon Hae-hyo). Kim, known for his work on 'Minority Opinion,' helms this crime drama.

Kim explained his choice of genre, saying, "Just as Seoul is not a crime-ridden city, I believe Bogotá is not defined by crime either. I chose the crime genre to express the feelings of a young man who has matured too soon." Addressing concerns about the film potentially damaging the national image, he remarked, "I wasn't overly cautious about being embroiled in controversy. However, as many know, the infamous drug lord was active in the 1980s and died in 1993. The decade prior to the time setting of the film was indeed when Bogotá was one of the most dangerous cities in the world. While remnants of that past still linger, my intention was not to create a sensationalized narrative. I aimed to explore realistic themes and conflicts. I had extensive discussions with local production teams, and they seemed unfazed, likely due to their experience with more intense genres of film."