The film follows the lives and aims of the people of Gyehwa Island whose livelihood depends upon the sea. The Seamangeun Reclamation changes the social fabric of the communities - and various factions struggle both against the government and each other. One such conflict arises, for example, between the shellfish farmers and the ship owners over questions of compensation for the reclaimed land. On its part, the government proves to be both insensitive to the positions of the islanders and deliberately divisive.