In Yongchodo, a small island off the west coast, Gom-chi (Kim Seung-ho) has spent his entire life as a fisherman. But no matter how hard he works for the shipowner (Byun Ki-jong), his life is not getting any better and only his debt has increased. Do-sam (Namgoong-won), Gom-chi's son, wants to escape from the life of a fisherman. Do-sam doesn't see eye to eye with his father on everything. One day, Gom-chi and his fellow fishermen go out to the sea hoping for a full ship and Do-sam joins them as he needs some money to leave the island. A big storm hits the ship. Gom-chi and a few are lucky to survive and return to the village. Do-sam dies trying to save his father. This tragedy makes Gom-chi's wife (Ju Jeung-nyeo) lose her mind. She puts her baby on a boat. Gom-chi, who tries to save the baby, drowns to death.