简介：AftertheGwangjuUprisingandDemocratizationMovementswassubduedwithforce,Jong-sugoestoDongducheoninsearchforhischildhoodfriendTae-ho,inordertoescapetheinvestigationofthedictatorialregime.HeisastudentofChonnamNationalUniversityandateacheratanightschool,andheiswantedforparticipatingintheGwangjuUprisingandDemocratizationMovements.Tae-howorksatasnackbarinaU.S.militarybase,buthismainincomeisderivedfromsellingAmericangoodstoKoreans.Jong-sufindsitdifficulttolivewithhisfriendwhoselifegoalistoearnenoughmoneytoimmigratetotheU.S.,andtheroughprostituteswhoselltheirbodiestoAmericansoldiers.HealsostrugglesdailywiththepainfulmemoriesoftheGwangjuUprising.Jong-suremembersGu-chil,ashoeshineboyhemetatnightschoolwhocontrastedsomuchwithTae-ho,whoiswillingtoputAmericanmilitarygoodsontheblackmarkettoreachhisgoalofimmigratingtotheU.S.,andtheprostitutesaroundthemilitarybasewhothoughtthatiftheycouldmarryanAmericansoldierandgototheU.S.,itwouldbethebeginningofawholenewlifeforthem.UnlikeTae-hoandtheprostituteswhowantedtoescapetotheU.S.,Gu-chiljoinedtheDemocratizationMovementswithJong-suandfoughttotheend,hopingfordemocratizationtofinallycometrue.Jong-su’smemoriesalienatehimfromrealityandhisagoniesgivepaintothepeoplearoundhim.Tae-ho,whosegoalistomakemoneyandimmigratetotheU.S.,isbetrayedbySteve,asoldierwithwhomhewasdoingbusinessandloseseverythinghehas.Jenny,whocherishesthehopeoflivingwithSteve,isalsobetrayedandkillsherself.DespiteTae-ho’srageandJong-su’sdespair,theyareunabletodoanythingbutrepresstheiremotionsandreturntotheireverydaylives…