Life is Easier If You’re Handsome

Third Week of October.

The overwhelmingly positive reception from the VIP premiere had sparked an unexpected box office boom.

From early morning screenings to midnight showings,
every seat for True Hero was sold out.

And nowhere was the madness more intense than at the IMAX theater nicknamed Yong-A-MAX.
Securing a ticket here required beating odds of hundreds to one.

Among those lucky few was Ji Eun-bi, a die-hard Kim Donghu fan.

“This is insane! Prime-time screening! The absolute best seat!”

Seat J14.
Close to the screen’s center, perfect viewing angle, immersive sound.

Suppressing her excitement, Ji Eun-bi turned off her phone.

“And on top of that, there’s a stage greeting afterward!”

She briefly wondered if a front-row seat might have been better—
At least then, she could see Kim Donghu up close.

But today, the movie was the main event.

“It’s painful, but…”

She had no regrets about picking J14.

“…The person next to me is… Japanese? Cute.”

A quick glance at the occupant of seat J15 confirmed it—
Another hardcore Kim Donghu fan.

“His popularity really knows no borders.”

Muttering to herself, Ji Eun-bi adjusted to the dimming theater lights.

As the brightness faded, so did the murmurs of the crowd.

And then—

A deep, resonant thud from the speakers.
The film began.

The first images appeared in black and white.

A scene eerily similar to the opening of the indie film Hero.

THUD. THUD. THUD.

A child.

Brutally beating a stray dog that had been chasing after other children.
He thought he would be praised for his heroism.

But when he turned around—
All he saw was fear.

Children screamed and fled.

Why are you running? I saved you.
I saved you from that villain, from evil!
I’m a hero. A true hero. I destroyed evil.