Cheolgi who dreams of a society that embraces justice begins classes at a night school There he learns about political and social contradictions and the realities the people face While doing research on factory conditions with his classmates Taeil Minsook and laborers Hyunsil and Bongjoon Cheolgi learns about the Revitalizing Reforms system and the improper practices in emergency measures After the military revolution during the election for a general student body in a move towards democracy Cheolgi unwittingly becomes a man on the run when emergency martial law is implemented in response by the government Cheolgi blames himself when hears about the deaths of Taeil and Minsook during the Gwangju Uprising from Hyunsil and Bongjoon Just when he and Hyunsil try to start a new life together Cheolgi is arrested and put in jail Inside the prison he starts another move towards prison democracy