"Actors Feel Like Dying": Song Joong-ki Tears Up at Lee Sung-min’s Words (Video)

Actor Song Joong-ki has opened up about his feelings following the box office failure of the film Bogota.

On January 12, a video from a GV (Guest Visit) event for Bogota was uploaded to YouTube. A GV is an event where directors or cast members visit screenings to discuss the film and engage in Q&A sessions with the audience.

The event featured lead actors Song Joong-ki and Lee Hee-jun, with a special appearance by actor Lee Sung-min, who had previously worked with Song Joong-ki on the JTBC drama Reborn Rich (available on Netflix).

Lee Sung-min shared candidly, “It was heartbreaking to see the parking lot so empty when I arrived. There seem to be very few people at the theater. For various reasons, when a theater lacks an audience, it’s incredibly hard for actors. When a film is released during such times, we sometimes feel like dying.”

Song Joong-ki nodded quietly as Lee spoke.

Lee continued, “But as actors, we have to endure. Please support us until the end and help us conclude this film on a good note.”

Lee Hee-jun emphasized the significance of Bogota, describing it as a cherished project that took five years to release due to COVID-19 delays. “We know it won’t hit 10 million viewers, but its performance has been below our expectations. We deeply appreciate each and every person here today. Please continue to show interest in our film,” he said.

When it was Song Joong-ki’s turn to speak, he echoed Lee’s sentiments: “As my senior mentioned, the Korean film industry is struggling right now. Honestly, we’re at a point where just having a film screened in theaters is something to be grateful for. I’ve worked harder than ever to promote this film because I wanted people to notice it and appreciate it.

“While the industry is tough, our role as actors is to create good content that comforts and entertains audiences going through hard times. We’ll keep making heartfelt projects to give people strength.”

As he spoke, Song Joong-ki became visibly emotional, pausing as his voice wavered. “Talking about this is making me tear up...” he said before regaining composure and thanking the audience. He was seen holding back tears, as was Lee Sung-min, whose eyes also glistened.

Bogota, released on December 31, has faced dire circumstances at the box office. As of January 15, the film has drawn only 400,000 viewers, far short of its break-even point of 3 million.