On December 1979, Seoul had been enduring a harsh winter before the upcoming spring. After the assassination of President Park, martial law has been declared. A coup d'etat bursts out by Defense Security Commander Chun Doo-gwang (Hwang Jung-min) and a private band of officers following him. Capital Defense Commander Lee Tae-sin (Jung Woo-sung), an obstinate soldier who believes the military should not take political actions, fights against Chun Doo-gwang to stop him. The conflict between the two grows while military leaders are holding their decision and Defense Minister is gone. In the midst of chaos, the spring of Seoul that everyone longed for heads to unexpected direction.