Hope 2013

So-won, Lee Re, is an eight-year-old girl who enjoys a carefree life with her parents, Dong-hoon Sul Kyung-gu and Mi-hee Uhm Ji-won. One rainy morning, she is late for school and sets off on foot, hoping to reach on time. Along the way a stranger approaches and asks to share his umbrella, an encounter that turns terrifying as he abducts her. The attacker, Mr. Kim Yoon Jong-goo, rapes and brutalizes her, leaving her badly scarred but miraculously alive, able to call an ambulance.

In the hospital, doctors discover internal injuries and perform emergency surgery; the prognosis is serious, and So-won will have to wear a colostomy bag for the rest of her life. Three days after the assault, Jung-sook Kim Hae-sook, the psychiatrist, arrives to speak with the family and guide them through the emotional aftermath. With her support, So-won begins to navigate the trauma, and, using photos in a lineup, she identifies her attacker, a moment that provides a sense of agency while deepening the family’s pain.

Meanwhile, the case draws intense media attention. Dong-hoon tries to visit the police to learn more, while Mi-hee wrestles with fear and sorrow as reporters congregate at the hospital. The news coverage brings the incident home in a new, invasive way, and the family’s sense of safety continues to erode. The strain intensifies when a late-night incident underscores So-won’s vulnerability: a leak from her colostomy bag as Dong-hoon carries her to a new room, followed by Mi-hee’s fainting from exhaustion and shock.

Adding to their burden, Mi-hee reveals she is five months pregnant, deepening the emotional stakes for everyone. Dong-hoon’s own heartbreak grows as he witnesses his daughter’s fear of men and the difficulty of communicating with her after such trauma. Desperate to reach her, he searches for a way to bridge the gap, eventually choosing a bold, symbolic path: he dresses up in her favorite mascot costume and becomes a living link to her world. The Cocomong disguise proves to be a turning point; So-won reaches out, hugs him, and the two share a moment of closeness that begins to restore trust—though she remains wary of the world around her.

Therapy continues to shape So-won’s recovery. She learns to express herself with the help of a magnetic erase board and starts to reclaim her voice, bit by bit. The family returns home, and even as signs of healing appear, So-won still experiences flashbacks when she revisits the scene of the crime, sometimes causing her to vomit in response to the memory. The house itself becomes a symbol of renewal, as neighbors leave positive notes and the home is cleaned and prepared for their return.

Young-seok, Jang Dae-woong as So-won’s friend, returns with remorse for how he abandoned her that day. He visits Dong-hoon and apologizes, offering comfort and even candy as a small gesture of reconciliation. He also informs the community about So-won’s needs at school, including the request to limit contact with male teachers to keep her at ease. Dong-hoon supports his daughter by creating small coping aids, such as a candy-filled bag to help her cover the sounds from the colostomy bag.

As So-won grows more confident, she identifies her attacker once more in court. The man is sentenced to twelve years in prison, a verdict that leaves Dong-hoon with a mix of rage and relief. In a moment of raw emotion, Dong-hoon considers taking action, but So-won’s tearful plea to go home together halts him, and they leave the courtroom side by side.

Time moves forward and life continues to evolve. A baby brother is born, adding new responsibilities and moments of joy to the family. So-won returns to school and gradually re-engages with her interests, especially papercrafts, finding calm in creativity. The film closes on a hopeful note: So-won is back to playing with her brother, lifting a paper plane into the air, a small sign of resilience and the possibility of a brighter, safer future.