The film "Bogota" starring Song Joong-ki failed at the box office in South Korea, and he couldn't hold back his tears in the theater, sparking discussions. In fact, Song Joong-ki's recent three films have all underperformed, with some netizens criticizing him as a box office poison and saying he completely failed to transform; Korean media bluntly stated that this is his biggest crisis, delivering a heavy blow.
Song Joong-ki gained traction with Korean dramas “Vincenzo” (2021) and “Reborn Rich” (2022). However, his subsequent works struggled to make an impact. First was the film “Hopeless” released in 2023, which marketed itself with Song Joong-ki's self-made and self-acted appeal and was screened at the Cannes Film Festival. However, according to data from the Korean Film Council, the film only attracted 260,000 viewers; his starring in Netflix's original film "Lu Qi Wan" received mixed reviews as well.
Now, the movie "Bogota" he stars in is similarly struggling at the box office. Since its release on December 31 last year, it attracted over 400,000 viewers by January 17 this year. Korean media believes that at this pace, the film is unlikely to break even. Although the South Korean film industry is generally sluggish, within the same period, the film “Harbin” had more than 4 million viewers, a significant contrast. Korean media harshly criticized Song Joong-ki's acting, and combined with his insufficient drawing power, the public's confidence in his films is dwindling.
Korean media also mentioned that after Song Joong-ki married Katy Saunders in 2023 and had a child, his image deteriorated significantly. He once said, “In this entertainment circle, becoming a father, having a child, and marrying a wife seem to lose many work opportunities,” which again angered netizens. The media also pointed out that with the failure of three films, coupled with his accumulating negative image, it might affect his status as a "rating guarantee” for Korean dramas.
Source: Liberty Entertainment