After the declaration of independence from Japanese colonization, the dispute and fight between the left-wing and the right-wing parties intensified. Then on October 1948, the Yeosun Rebellion breaks out, which remains as a crucial part of Korean history of turmoil. Yum Sang-jin and other leftists dominated Bulgyo and purged the opposition force until they retreated to Jogye Mountain to avoid the rebels' attack. The right-wing party including the police force that returned to the village inspected the leftists and their families. Yum Sang-gu, the head inspector of Daedong Youth Party, misbehaves because of his rage against his older brother, Yum Sang-jin. His raping of the wife of communist Kang Dong-jin is just the beginning of his egregious actions. On the other hand, Jung Ha-sup, a director of the faction sneaks into Shaman Sohwa's house and Sohwa and Jung fall in love as she helps him out doing petty things for him. Kim Bum-woo is a teacher at Soonchun Middle School and a democrat. He criticizes both the right and left-wing parties. However, it is he who's being accused of being a communist and experiences hardships. The party of Yum Sang-jin dominates Yool-eo as an area under rebel control and directors of the punitive force Shim Jae-mo and Kim Bum-woo begin to realize the upcoming hardship in the country. They try to practice rational and logical policy but powerful forces in the nation show strong opposition. In the end, Shim Jae-woo succeeds in winning back Yool-eo but is soon transferred to another region. Kim Bum-woo could foresee the possibility of a war as he painfully watches people being sacrificed under ideological madness. Yum Sang-jin and his communist troop live in pain and starvation since the winter of 1949 due to the attack on rebel forces until they hear the news of war breakout. For people who first had high expectations on policies in the early years of People's Republic, several policies such as collection of tax in kind and the People's Court seem disappointing. Also, Yum Sang-jin and Yum Sang-gu who had been hiding out here and there finally make a fateful encounter with one another.
