The film exposes the atrocities of war through the eyes of two children who are stranded in the DMZ after the end of the Korean War. The DMZ, strewn with abandoned tanks, dead bodies, land mines, and unexploded shells, is an exceedingly dangerous place for children. But what most endangers them in the end are not weapons but people.

A young sailor arrives in Busan Harbour; an outrageous-looking, woolly bear of a man appears in downtown Busan with a shotgun over one shoulder, a heavy knapsack thrown over the other; a tough-looking young woman joins her friend in robbing a naïve fat man in a suit. The strands of character and story will slowly converge, well after the audience, tuned to the coincidences and mistaken identities of melodrama, has recognised that these three have a shared history and are fated to meet and reconcile.

Jung-ae volunteers at a juvenile prison when she graduates from college; but the violent boys threaten her safety. Her boyfriend visits and begs Jung-ae to quit. She considers but feels compelled to continue; until the day when an escapee puts her methods at risk. Will she get to the escaped boy in time? Will his negative attitude convince her to quit, or will she affect him positively? And will there ever be happiness at the prison?

Following the death of his parents, Yeong-cheol shines shoes in the streets, struggling to care for his sick younger sister Yeong-hui and make ends meet. Despite the persuasive efforts of low-life criminal boss Wang-cho, pickpocket Jjang-gu, and prostitute Mi-hwa, Yeong-cheol vows to lead an honest life by looking after Yeong-hui with cigarette salesgirl Myeong-sun and helping newly arrived shoeshine boy Dong-seok settle in. However, a tragic accident forces Yeong-cheol to make an important decision that may change his life. ※ Sharing the same Korean title with Vittorio De Sica’s classic Shoeshine (1946), this film was noted at the time of release for its strong neorealistic approach. All of the picture elements have been lost and only 4 original sound negative reels (around 40 minutes) survive today. The plot summary and scene descriptions have been added in the form of title cards as well as a selection of production stills to aid the viewing experience.

Hye-ok and doctor Jeong, are happily married, but she worries that they are childless. While the doctor is away on business, a boy shows up saying he's her husbands son from a one night affair during the war. He's been raised in secret, but now that she's on her death bed he has no choice but to meet his father. Hye-ok feels betrayed and tries to send him to an orphanage, but he refuses. While he lives with her, Hye-ok begins to feel for him, and he for her. Upon her husbands return Hye-ok is set to leave, and Jeong begs for forgiveness. Meanwhile the boy waits for his real mother by the train tracks and nearly falls to his death by a train. She is killed saving him. Will the boy reunite with his step mother and finally know his father?

Gu Bong-seo and Kim Hui-gab are good buddies. Bong-seo has no where to go, so he lives at Hui-gab's place. Naturally, Hui-gab often gets into quarrels with his wife, and Bong-seo gets involved to help them reconcile. One day, Bong-seo wins a lottery. He saves Hui-gab from the financial trouble and returns to his hometown with the rest of the money.