I think it is safe to say that Netflix’s Bogota: City of the Lost didn’t live up to its potential, given how generic and risk-free the narrative is presented. South Korean crime dramas tend to be much more engaging, raw, and political in their portrayal of follies and vices, and Kim Seong-je’s latest venture wasn’t any of those things. As a result, despite having a good cast and premise and hence, the potential to make a better movie, the weak script renders the end product pretty forgettable.
Kook-hee Played By Song Joong-ki
Korean actor Song Joong-ki is a popular face in the small screen scene, and in his acting career spanning one and a half decades, he has starred in many diverse, acclaimed roles. Some of his notable works include playing the role of Sejong in the historical drama series Deep Rooted Tree, playing the lead in Netflix’s drama The Innocent Man, playing the lead in the fantasy movie A Werewolf Boy, and starring as Captain Yoo Si-jin in the series Descendants of the Sun. In Bogota: City of the Lost, he portrayed the lead role of Kook-hee, a South Korean expat trapped in the maze of Columbia’s black market underworld. The story of Kook-hee’s rise to power with the help of his determination, wits, and cunning would have been much more entertaining fare had the story incorporated more emotionally strong connections between the lead and supporting characters. Unlike his father, who hit rock bottom after being burdened with a sense of failure and being unable to cope with the reality of life in a foreign land, Kook-hee is quick to adapt to his changed circumstances. Through sheer perseverance and hard work, Kook-hee made a mark by standing out from the herd of luckless, aimless teenage immigrants like him; no wonder Sergeant Park considered him to be a valuable addition to his smuggling racket.
Kook-hee’s opportunistic mindset gave him the necessary edge to survive in the dangerous arena of the underworld. He was perceptive enough to understand that despite having command over the trade, Sergeant Park’s controlling and old-school methods would not allow the business to grow. Most importantly, if Kook-hee stayed on as a loyal servant, he would not be able to attain the future he envisioned for himself. Kook-hee trusted Soo-Young’s pragmatic ideas, and their partnership saw meteoric success as well. But what made Kook-hee truly unique is how he responded to adversities; even at the lowest point of life following his father’s tragic death and losing a lump sum of trade money, Kook-hee remained as resilient as ever. Taking back the seized shipment and eliminating aggressors like Alejandro from the picture, Kook-hee proved his caliber when his mentors turned their backs on him. Kook-hee’s foresight comes into play when, following the introduction of the Anti-Smuggling Act, he decides to use Soo-young’s plan to legitimize the apparel trade. Even when he systematically eliminated Soo-young and Sergeant Park after assessing their true intentions, Kook-hee was not burdened by moral scruples, and his apathetic demeanor are what make him the final survivor—‘La Cucaracha’ at the end.
Soo-young Played By Lee Hee-joon
Korean actor Lee Hee-joon has been active for over two decades. Aside from starring in series like Killer Paradox and Mouse, he is also known for his movie roles in 1987: When the Day Comes, Handsome Guys, etc. In the movie, he portrayed the role of Soo-young, a lackey of Sergeant Park who has good connections with Colombian customs and military personnel in rebel areas. Initially trying to assume the role of a brotherly figure in Kook-hee’s life, Soo-young eventually shows his true colors as he tries to exploit his desperation for his personal gain. Although Soo-young had more of a pragmatic mindset, he was too preoccupied with maintaining the existing status quo—which led to a conflict between him and Kook-hee. Surely at the end, after knowing that Kook-hee had one-upped him at his own game, the street-smart broker might have thought that he was better off with his simpleton university grad lackeys—but by then his protégé had assumed control already.
Sergeant Park Jang-soo, played by Kwon Hae-hyo
Veteran Korean actor and activist Kwon Hae-hyo has a prolific career spanning three decades, having worked in numerous small screen and silver screen ventures—and viewers might remember him from his appearances in the Train to Busan sequel Peninsula and drama movies like Walk Up and The Day After. In the movie, he played the role of Sergeant Park, a world-weary, opportunistic war veteran who prioritized his self-interest in the guise of making a safe haven for his fellow countrymen in the Colombian black market. A Godfather-like figure, Park is shrewd enough to entangle those he feels are of use in his trap by offering security and favors; however, his tactics didn’t work with Kook-hee. Park’s mistake is underestimating his opponents and holding on to the power he gained through deceit. Ironically enough, it was his attempt to trigger the ambition of a young Kook-hee that ultimately brought his own downfall.
Miscellaneous Characters
Aside from the lead trio, the supporting cast of Bogota: City of the Lost was decent according to the screen time they were provided with. Andrew Gonzalez left a mark with his portrayal of Miguel, Kook-hee’s comrade in the smuggling trade. In the role of Kook-hee’s father, Kim Jong-soo’s tragic portrayal was moving, and Park Ji-hwan was good in the role of Little Park.
