The Beauty Inside
Woo-jin wakes up in a different body everyday, regardless of age, gender and nationality. Sometimes he's a man, a woman, old, young, or even a foreigner. He's the same person on the inside, but on the outside he's always someone new. Looking at a different face in the mirror every morning is hard for him to get used to. The only constant in his life is the girl he loves, Yi-soo, who knows his secret and loves him anyway. Each time he transforms, Woo-jin must figure out how to reunite with Yi-soo.
The film earned $14.3M at the global box office.
5 wins & 14 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
The Beauty Inside (2015) demonstrates carefully calibrated story structure, characteristic of Baik's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 7 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.3, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Woo-jin wakes up as a different person, establishing his isolated existence. He records video diaries documenting his condition, showing a life lived in complete solitude due to his inexplicable transformation curse.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 16 minutes when Woo-jin meets Yi-soo at a furniture store where she works. Despite knowing the danger of forming attachments, he's immediately drawn to her warmth and authenticity, disrupting his carefully controlled, isolated existence.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 31 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Woo-jin makes the active choice to pursue Yi-soo romantically, asking her on a date. This decision to open himself to love despite his condition is an irreversible commitment to entering a new world of vulnerability and connection., moving from reaction to action.
At 64 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat False victory: Woo-jin decides to tell Yi-soo the truth about his condition. He believes their love is strong enough to withstand this revelation. This moment of hope and courage raises the stakes - everything now depends on her reaction., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 94 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Yi-soo breaks up with Woo-jin, unable to continue the relationship. The death of their love and his hope for acceptance represents the "whiff of death." Woo-jin's worst fear is realized - that his true self is unlovable., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 102 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. Yi-soo realizes that true love means accepting someone completely, changes and all. She understands that Woo-jin's inside - his soul, personality, and love - never changed. She synthesizes the theme: love is about seeing the beauty inside, not outside., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Beauty Inside's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping The Beauty Inside against these established plot points, we can identify how Baik utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Beauty Inside within the drama genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Woo-jin wakes up as a different person, establishing his isolated existence. He records video diaries documenting his condition, showing a life lived in complete solitude due to his inexplicable transformation curse.
Theme
Woo-jin's mother tells him "You have to learn to accept yourself before anyone else can." This thematic statement foreshadows his journey toward self-acceptance and the possibility of being loved despite his condition.
Worldbuilding
Woo-jin's daily routine is established: waking up in a different body each day, running his furniture design business remotely, avoiding relationships. We see the logistics of his condition and how he's adapted to survive but not truly live.
Disruption
Woo-jin meets Yi-soo at a furniture store where she works. Despite knowing the danger of forming attachments, he's immediately drawn to her warmth and authenticity, disrupting his carefully controlled, isolated existence.
Resistance
Woo-jin debates whether to pursue Yi-soo, knowing the impossibility of a relationship. His friend Sang-baek encourages him but doesn't know about the condition. Woo-jin makes excuses to visit the furniture store repeatedly, drawn to Yi-soo despite his fears.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Woo-jin makes the active choice to pursue Yi-soo romantically, asking her on a date. This decision to open himself to love despite his condition is an irreversible commitment to entering a new world of vulnerability and connection.
Mirror World
Yi-soo becomes the mirror character who embodies the theme of acceptance. Her genuine, open nature contrasts with Woo-jin's hidden life. She represents the possibility of being loved for who you are inside, not what you look like.
Premise
The "promise of the premise" - Woo-jin and Yi-soo date while he appears in different bodies. He creatively maintains continuity through voice recognition, specific clothes, and consistent behavior. Their relationship blossoms as she unknowingly dates "different people" who are all him.
Midpoint
False victory: Woo-jin decides to tell Yi-soo the truth about his condition. He believes their love is strong enough to withstand this revelation. This moment of hope and courage raises the stakes - everything now depends on her reaction.
Opposition
Yi-soo struggles to process the truth. She tries to accept Woo-jin but finds the reality harder than she imagined. The physical unpredictability strains their relationship. Society's judgment and her own discomfort create mounting pressure as bad guys (doubt, fear, societal norms) close in.
Collapse
Yi-soo breaks up with Woo-jin, unable to continue the relationship. The death of their love and his hope for acceptance represents the "whiff of death." Woo-jin's worst fear is realized - that his true self is unlovable.
Crisis
Woo-jin returns to isolation, but now it's more painful because he knows what love feels like. Yi-soo also struggles with her decision, realizing what she's lost. Both process their grief and what the relationship meant - the dark night of examining their choices.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Yi-soo realizes that true love means accepting someone completely, changes and all. She understands that Woo-jin's inside - his soul, personality, and love - never changed. She synthesizes the theme: love is about seeing the beauty inside, not outside.
Synthesis
Yi-soo searches for Woo-jin, learning to recognize him regardless of appearance. They reunite and commit to making the relationship work. They develop systems to navigate his condition together, choosing love despite the challenges. The finale resolves both plot and theme.
Transformation
Closing image mirrors the opening but transformed: Woo-jin wakes up in a different body, but now Yi-soo is beside him. He's no longer alone. The video diary shows two people, not one. He has been accepted and loved for who he truly is inside.