Song Joong-ki Reflects on His Acting Journey and Upcoming Film 'Bogotá'

On December 23, actor Song Joong-ki reminisced about his early days in acting during an interview at a café in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. He shared, "I debuted at the late age of 26, and I can only imagine how much my mother must have worried about me."

Having made his acting debut in the 2008 film 'The Battle of Wits' (쌍화점), Song has now been in the industry for 16 years. He recounted, "While attending university, I started my career at 26. Occasionally, I run into my peers from Sungkyunkwan University during interviews. Most of my friends had returned from military service and were quickly starting their careers, while I chose to pursue acting without serving. I began as an extra, which was a risky choice. My mother had invested so much in my education, and when I suddenly decided to become an actor, I can only imagine the stress it caused her (laughs). If I wanted a stable path, I would have taken the civil service exam with my friends. Fortunately, I was offered a lead role in the drama 'Deep Rooted Tree' (뿌리깊은 나무) at that time. The project was excellent, and I felt fulfilled. I resolved to choose projects that resonate with me, even if my experience is still growing."

Song also discussed his upcoming film 'Bogotá: The Land of Last Chances' (보고타: 마지막 기회의 땅), which began filming in 2020 but faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to work on 'Bogotá' and reconnect with his beloved 'Vincenzo' (빈센조) family. "While filming 'Bogotá,' the unexpected outbreak of COVID-19 halted production. During that time, I received a call from a producer I had previously worked with, who mentioned they were still looking for a lead for 'Vincenzo' and sent me the script. I am thankful for that connection."

When asked about the pressure of 'Bogotá's' box office performance, he candidly replied, "Of course, there is pressure. If the production cost is 10 billion won and it were my money, I wouldn't worry as much. However, this film was made with investments from others. As the lead actor, I feel responsible not just for my own desires but for everyone involved in the project. Therefore, those of us in this industry must avoid any harmful actions. Ultimately, while I want the film to succeed, I understand that not everything goes as planned."

Set to release on December 31, 'Bogotá' tells the story of Guk-hee (Song Joong-ki), who travels to Bogotá, Colombia, filled with hope after the IMF crisis, and becomes entangled with influential figures in the Korean community, including Su-young (Lee Hee-joon) and Sergeant Park (Kwon Hae-hyo). Directed by Kim Sung-jae, known for 'Minority Opinion' (소수의견), Song portrays a young man who dreams of rising from the lowest to the highest positions in life.