Hope 2014

So-won’s life begins in a quiet, ordinary rhythm, living with her working-class parents, Dong-hoon and Mi-hee, until a sunny school morning shatters everything. On her way to class, a male stranger named Jong-sool abducts her, leaving her body scarred by brutal violence. Miraculously, So-won survives and calls for help, but the path ahead is anything but simple. The hospital becomes a place of hard truths, where her family is confronted with the full gravity of her injuries. Medical teams explain that So-won will bear the physical aftershocks of the attack, including major surgeries and the need to wear a colostomy bag for life. As she regains consciousness, she faces the unnerving prospect of identifying her attacker and testifying in court, aided by Jung-sook, a devoted psychiatrist.

The moment the attacker is arrested at his home, the case erupts into a media frenzy, turning So-won’s hospital room into a public stage that electrifies and terrifies her family and friends. To shield So-won from the relentless glare of reporters, Dong-hoon leads her to a different room and keeps her away from the cameras. Yet the emotional toll continues to mount: So-won begins to show symptoms of post-traumatic stress, and in a heart-wrenching moment, she mistakes her own father for the attacker while he tries to help her manage her colostomy bag. The pain of that scene leaves Dong-hoon crushed, and Mi-hee’s own exhaustion deepens when she faints and is hospitalized, later learning she is pregnant. The family’s stability feels increasingly fragile, even as love threads through the crisis.

Mi-hee initially resists psychology for So-won, hoping for a return to normal life, but she changes her mind and, with Jung-sook’s support, pursues help to repair her daughter’s mind. Dong-hoon confronts financial strain, trying to keep his job while caring for So-won, and turns to his friend and manager, Gwang-sik, who recognizes the family’s hardship and steps in with both advice and money to cover medical bills. In a bid to lift So-won’s spirits, Mi-hee and her friends rent mascot costumes, hoping to spark joy. This small spark of whimsy leads Dong-hoon to a larger, more personal act: he dresses as So-won’s favorite cartoon character, Cocomong, and secretly stays close as So-won begins to trust the presence in the suit. The moment she feels a comforting hug from the masked figure is pivotal, and while the girl doesn’t know who is inside, this mysterious helper becomes a lifeline. Gradually, So-won’s physical health improves, and her family brings her home to begin healing in earnest.

Back at home, Dong-hoon doesn’t stop there; he returns to work but continues to slip into the Cocomong costume to accompany So-won on the way to and from school. The daily routine slowly rebuilds her sense of safety, and the bond between father and daughter grows stronger. The truth of the masquerade—that her father was beneath the Cocomong head all along—becomes a turning point: So-won finally looks at him clearly for the first time since the attack, and the act of seeing marks a step toward healing.

Yet the shadow of the courtroom lingers. So-won must testify against Jong-sool, and the family faces the difficult task of reliving the trauma in front of an audience of strangers. With great courage, she describes the night of the assault and identifies her attacker. The verdict offers a bitter note of injustice: Jong-sool is sentenced to twelve years in prison. Dong-hoon, overwhelmed by anger and a burning sense of loss, nearly acts on his impulse to kill, but So-won begs him to take her home instead, seeking a sense of closure that remains just out of reach. The family leaves the courtroom with fragile stitches of peace, not a complete resolution.

Time moves forward, and life continues its quiet resilience. Mi-hee gives birth to a son, So-mang, welcomed by a circle of family and supportive friends, including Jung-sook and Gwang-sik. In the closing moments, So-won explains that the struggle in her mind persists—school interruptions and lingering fears—but the arrival of her little brother bestows a renewed purpose. The family’s journey—marked by courage, care, and a father’s unseen devotion—shows how love and small acts of kindness can become a steady anchor when the road ahead remains uncertain.