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For director Kim Seong-je of the upcoming crime drama film "Bogota: City of the Lost," capturing the dual nature of feeling overwhelmed -- both positively and negatively -- was a central theme.

"I thought a lot about how to express this complex emotion, which can resonate universally," Kim said during a press event where he and cast members discussed the film's production and behind-the-scenes efforts.

While the emotion is not overtly dramatized in the film, it serves as a central thread throughout the story, as the main characters try to navigate their lives, constantly feeling overwhelmed by their circumstances, he elaborated.

Cast members and the director of "Bogota: City of the Lost" pose for photos during a press event in Seoul on Dec. 6, 2024. (Yonhap)

The director also reflected on a sense of displacement, noting that most live far from where they were born and raised.

"Most places you remember from your childhood exist only in memory. When you return to them as an adult, they are often long gone," he said, adding the movie delves into the lives of those who move forward -- willingly or unwillingly, leaving behind the places and people that remain only in their memories.

The film follows Guk-hui (Song Joong-ki) and his family, who relocate to Bogota, Colombia, after their family business collapses in the wake of the 1997 Asian financial crisis. An unexpected burglary at the airport traps them in the foreign country much longer than anticipated.

Desperate for success and a way out, Guk-hui makes every effort, only to find himself entangled even deeper in the challenges of survival.

Song portrays a man struggling to survive in a precarious existence in an unfamiliar land, doing whatever it takes to make ends meet. Along the way, he becomes entangled with influential businessman Park (Kwon Hae-hyo) and another powerful figure, Soo-young (Lee Hee-jun).

Song Joong-ki (L) and Lee Hee-jun (R) attend a press event for "Bogota: City of the Lost" in Seoul on Dec. 6, 2024. (Yonhap)

At the press event, Song, who recently starred in Netflix's original film "My Name is Loh Kiwan," described his character as a man driven by ambition "as intense as lava" and a deep sense of responsibility to support his family.

"Guk-hui becomes increasingly ambitious as the story progresses, driven by the need to survive," he said, adding that the theme of feeling responsible for one's family is a universal experience that will resonate with audiences.

The actor said he was drawn to the project by the conflicts, big and small, among Koreans striving to establish themselves in the unfamiliar and exotic setting of Bogota, the capital city of Columbia.

"I think the movie turned out as good as I expected," he said.

The director portrayed Guk-hui as a man who had to grow up too quickly in order to survive. "I felt sympathy for him. The film explores the themes of friendship and betrayal in the process of becoming a grown-up man."

"Bogota: City of the Lost" is set for domestic release on Dec. 31. It premiered at this year's Busan International Film Festival in October.

A still from "Bogota: City of the Lost" is seen in this photo provided by Plus M Entertainment and Watermelon Pictures Co. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Written by Woo Jae-yeon