Sooyoung, a 9-year-old boy (played by Cheon Young-deok), lives with his mother (played by Na Young-hee), who works as a haenyeo (female diver), and waits for his father who disappeared long ago after going out on a boat. One day, a man named Dokgo (played by Lee Young-ha) from the city comes to lodge at Sooyoung's house. Seeing Dokgo caressing his mother, Sooyoung, feeling the crisis of losing his mother, reports him to the police. Dokgo, a folk novelist pursued for his anti-regime writings, is arrested by the police. Sooyoung, unaware of Dokgo's circumstances, is merely relieved by his disappearance and spends his vacation at his aunt's house. However, upon returning home, Sooyoung discovers that his mother has already left with Dokgo...