In December 1979, Seoul had been enduring a harsh winter before the upcoming spring. After the assassination of President Park, martial law was declared. A coup d'etat bursts out by Defense Security Commander Chun Doo-kwang and a private band of officers following him. Capital Defense Commander Lee Tae-shin, an obstinate soldier who believes the military should not take political action, fights against Chun to stop him. The conflict between the two grows while military leaders are holding their decision and the Defense Minister is gone. Amid the chaos, the spring of Seoul that everyone longed for headed in an unexpected direction.