Actor Song Joong Ki, who recently experienced a lull after the box office performance of his latest film, Bogota: City of the Lost, grabbed headlines this week as he beamed back into the limelight.
According toAllKpop, the 38-year-old star, who gained fame from various hit Korean series and movies, has been out of the public eye for almost two months.
He was not present after some emotional comments about the film's comparatively weak performance of 400,000 total audience for 6th place at the box office this week, according to the Korean Film Council.
Set against the backdrop of the IMF crisis, Bogotá, which centers around Gukhee (Song), portrays dreadfully the harsh realities of a man who bursts out of Korea and comes to Colombia.
For his role, Song prepared by getting a heavy vehicle license and physically transforming himself to play a character who undergoes a drastic change over 15 years.
He tried to drum up interest in the film through TV appearances, social media posts, and numerous interviews, but the box office numbers left a lot to be desired.
At a recent GV in January, Song spoke about the emotional impact that the film's box office performance had on him, saying it was a very difficult time for the Korean film industry.
"I worked harder than ever to promote the film," he said, as quoted by AllKpop. "Even if I lacked something or faced criticism, I tried my best. I sincerely thank everyone who watched the movie."
Song posted on social media on March 2 with a glimmering smile, announcing that he is now the global ambassador of a major brand and is "looking forward" to future events.
Along with his professional life, Song Joong Ki's personal life has also attracted the public eye.
In January 2023, he became engaged to his wife, ex-British actress Katy Louise Saunders, with whom he welcomed their first child in June of the same year.
Many fans were able to empathize with Song's emotional difficulties, but others remained unsure of his sentiments.
However, his recent announcement is hopeful, indicating that he will divert into new ventures and keep audiences entertained.
