Bogotá: City of the Lost goes beyond the conventions of an action thriller by combining brutal violence, political tension, and the influence of organised crime. Led by Song Joong-ki, the film presents the journey of an underdog immigrant who rises to power in a foreign land. Directed by Kim Seong-je, the narrative focuses on ambition, loyalty, and survival in an unforgiving criminal world.
Economic Collapse and Legal Crackdowns Ignite Ambition, Conflict, and Moral Divides Abroad
The story is set after South Korea’s late 1990s IMF economic crisis, which forced many Koreans to seek opportunities abroad. Song Kook-hee migrates to Colombia with his family and gradually becomes involved in the smuggling trade. Written by Hwang Seong-gu and Kim Seong-je, the film premiered at the 29th Busan International Film Festival in October 2024, highlighting its international and political scope.
Bogotá: City of the Lost (Megabox Plus M)As the Colombian government introduces the Anti-Smuggling Act of 2008, law enforcement intensifies raids across Bogotá. Kook-hee’s partner and mentor, Soo-young, loses his goods during these operations and grows consumed by anger. While Soo-young wants revenge, Kook-hee believes continuing illegal activities will only lead to destruction. He proposes shifting to legitimate business ventures, revealing a growing divide in their visions and values.
Calculated Betrayals Culminate in Power as Kook-hee Eliminates Rivals and Ascends Alone
Understanding Soo-young’s ambition and influence, Kook-hee anticipates that his former mentor will eventually turn others against him. To protect his position, he secretly stages an assassination attempt on himself. This move frames Soo-young as the prime suspect and provides Kook-hee with a public and strategic justification to eliminate him, marking a decisive turn in his moral descent.
Soo-young attempts to escape Colombia and visits Dr. Hong to convert his illegal earnings into emeralds. During a phone call, Kook-hee admits to staging the assassination and asks Soo-young to return. When Soo-young refuses and issues threats, Dr. Hong, who has already been bribed by Kook-hee, kills him slowly. Soo-young’s death seals Kook-hee’s dominance over the Korean smuggling network.
After burying Soo-young, Kook-hee faces another assassination attempt orchestrated by Sergeant Park, whom he had betrayed years earlier. Acting on instinct, Kook-hee kills Park and his accomplice, ensuring his survival. The film ends with Kook-hee standing bloodied on a hill overlooking Bogotá, symbolising his rise to Zone 6, the domain of the city’s wealthy and powerful, and the complete transformation of the once hopeful immigrant into a hardened crime lord.
