Song Joong Ki Faces Third Box Office Disappointment With 'Bogota'—Critics Call His Acting 'Awkward'
Actor Song Joong Ki’s career seems to be in serious crisis as his recent films continue to bomb at the box office, leaving him with a "flop" image.
From Hopeless to My Name Is Loh Kiwan, and now the latest Bogota, the actor’s film projects are struggling big time.
Bogota, which takes place after the IMF crisis, follows the story of Gukhee (Song Joong Ki), who moves to Colombia full of hope but soon gets mixed up with powerful members of the Korean community.
The movie was highly anticipated, especially with Song Joong Ki leading the cast and the unique filming location in Colombia. However, its release has been met with disappointment.
As of January 15, the film has only attracted around 400,000 viewers, a far cry from the 3 million needed to break even, according to the Korea Film Council.
This marks Song Joong Ki’s third consecutive box office failure, following the underperforming Hopeless(which drew only 260,000 viewers) and My Name Is Loh Kiwan. This stark contrast to the actor’s success in TV dramas is leaving fans questioning his future in the film industry.
Critics have pointed out concerns about Song Joong Ki's acting skills in these films, mentioning awkward speech and an unconvincing acting tone that failed to connect with audiences. His lack of ability to draw viewers to the theater has led to growing doubts about his star power.
On top of these failed projects, Song Joong Ki’s public image has taken a hit. After the birth of his first child, he faced criticism for discussing career breaks as a male actor, which didn’t sit well with many people.
Recently, his comments on a YouTube variety show about his wife, Katy Louise Saunders, referring to her as “that girl” in a casual, dismissive tone, sparked even more public backlash.
With three films flopping in a row and his reputation taking a hit, Song Joong Ki may soon find that his once-guaranteed TV success isn’t enough to save him from his sinking movie career.
Will he be able to turn things around, or is his career facing an irreversible decline? Fans are waiting to see.