Song Joong-ki Obtains Heavy Vehicle License for “Bogota: City of the Lost”: Immersion-Boosting TMI Revealed
“Bogota: City of the Lost” is a film set in the aftermath of the IMF crisis. It follows Guk-hee (Song Joong-ki), who moves to Bogotá, Colombia in search of new hope. There, he becomes entangled with Soo-yeong (Lee Hee-joon), a key figure in the Korean community, and Sergeant Park (Kwon Hae-hyo).
Behind-the-Scenes Insights
1. Song Joong-ki’s Commitment to His Role
Song Joong-ki demonstrated extraordinary dedication to embody his character. He shared, “Because the character had to drive a large truck, I obtained a heavy vehicle license. When I arrived in Colombia, I noticed that the strong sunlight caused many locals to have freckles. Inspired by this, I incorporated that aspect into my character’s appearance.”
Director Kim Seong-je revealed, “The scenes of driving a large truck were performed by Song Joong-ki himself. He even suggested having short hair to match the character. As a director, I was extremely grateful for his willingness to take on these challenges.”
2. Lee Hee-joon’s Professional Transformation
Lee Hee-joon underwent a dramatic transformation to bring Soo-yeong to life, sporting a thick beard and tanned skin to embody the local Colombian vibe. Additionally, he reduced his body fat percentage to 8% early in the shoot to fit the tight-fitting outfits his character wears.
Lee Hee-joon explained, “Soo-yeong is a stylish character who enjoys sophistication. He often wears tight clothing in the early parts of the film, so I dieted to fit the outfits. I also wanted to immerse myself in the local rhythm, so I attended salsa dance classes on days when filming was off. I love self-improvement.”
3. Actors’ Cohesion Through Colombian Living
The third behind-the-scenes highlight is the strong camaraderie built during the actors’ three-month stay in Colombia. While shooting on location, the cast and crew lived together in a Colombian hotel, cooking Korean meals, sharing ramen brought from Korea and deepening their bond.
Song Joong-ki remarked, “Since we always ate and talked together at the hotel, it was fascinating how many new ideas emerged.” This shared experience created a synergy that brought vibrant energy to the film.
Meanwhile, “Bogota: City of the Lost” is currently screening in theaters nationwide.
