Plot
Days after his discharge from the army, Chan-woo receives a mysterious letter from Sun-hee, a woman he met before leaving for the service. The letter is actually a will, requesting that Chan-woo scatter her ashes in her hometown. She writes that he was her first love, and that she would never forget him. Chan-woo's emotions well up as he boards the train for her hometown. Her place of birth now lies under a spacious lake; after scattering the ashes, Chan-woo finds himself standing in front of a lodge inn which they once passed by together. He decides to stay there for the night. The inn is run by a young woman named Jin-kyung, who at first strikes Chan-woo as being somewhat unusual. Gradually, however, she begins to remind him of Sun-hee. Chan-woo finds it strange that while seeking to console the spirit of Sun-hee, all he can think of is Jin-kyung. He then learns that Jin-kyung is the concubine of a brutish local truck driver. Chan-woo finds this strange, as she is a quiet person who possesses deep inner thoughts. As the two share their feelings, they sense the birth of a genuine, humane love that transcends sensual attraction. This blossoming affection, however, results in tragic consequences for both.
