"A man must break an ancient curse within a year if he and his lineage want to live beyond the age 32."

I like version B. If you knew you are dying fear is an obvious outcome. Add in an emotion if you can use it to subvert the audience expectations. For example ?turned on by death ..?

Or, to throw another option out there.
In Korea, your birthday is considered the date of conception, not birth.
What if his brother moved to Korea and dies, then upon further investigation the MC discovers the curse.
Now the hero has nine months to break it.