71: Into the Fire

In the brutal heat of the war, Oh Jang-beom, a South Korean student, is swept into a volunteer militia formed to defend Yeongdeok. He is placed in a breakout squad led by Lt. Kim Jun-Seop and quickly learns the brutal realities of combat. The early mobilization tests his resolve and loyalty as fire and fear forge his path forward.

The breakout squad fights to push back overrun lines and escape danger. They endure a harrowing crawl through fire and smoke, driven by duty and comradeship. The escape hardens their resolve and cements the bond between leader and soldiers.

Rescued by fellow South Koreans, the unit reaches a hospital in Pohang. There, Jang-beom faces the devastating loss of his mentor as Lt. Kim Jun-Seop dies by his side. The moment marks a personal turning point for Jang-beom and foreshadows the weight of leadership to come.

Captain Kang assigns Jang-beom to form and lead a new Student Volunteer Forces unit. He becomes one of the few veterans among many novices and must shape the unit's discipline and courage. The responsibility tests his ability to lead under fire.

Three young criminals led by Kap-jo join the unit, bringing reckless energy that challenges Jang-beom's authority. Their presence destabilizes morale and they ruin the students' food supply, heightening the peril of their defense. Tensions between discipline and bravado threaten the unit's cohesion.

On patrol, the students are lured into an ambush by a KPA sniper. Losses mount quickly and morale sags as retreat becomes painful. The regular army remains tied up at the Nakdong River, leaving the defenders to face the siege with dwindling external support.

Dal-young is captured by the 766th and interrogated by Major Park Mu-Rang. Park hints that sparing lives might depend on surrender, creating a cruel calculus. Kap-jo brutalizes Dal-young and clashes with Jang-beom before deserting with a comrade for the Pusan Perimeter.

A North Korean supply truck driven by Chang-wu and Kap-jo appears on the road, bringing the prospect of heavier weapons and a renewed push. The truck’s stuck position becomes a crucial moment that could tilt the defense toward either side. The defenders sense a real shift in the balance of power.

With numbers dwindling, the remaining students decide to defend the school at all costs. They hoist the South Korean flag rather than surrender, signaling unwavering defiance. Major Park begins planning an all-out assault to break the defense.

The supply truck finally delivers heavy weapons that boost the defenders' capacity. Chang-wu and Kap-jo drive a renewed push for victory, giving the defenders a fighting chance against the attackers. Ammunition and firepower return to the school in a critical turn of events.

The North Koreans press forward with a tank, advancing into the school building. Jang-beom and Kap-jo reach the rooftop, where the last machine-guns determine the fate of the defense. The hours drag on as the combat narrows to a brutal, sustained exchange.

Captain Kang arrives with a refreshed South Korean force to turn the tide. They destroy the North Korean tank and drive the attackers back across the school grounds. The defenders rally under the renewed assault and regain momentum.

Major Park arrives in person and corners Kap-jo. Jang-beom makes a last, desperate move, loading his rifle as Park fires. The exchange ends with Park dead, Captain Kang avenging him, and Jang-beom collapsing from wounds but being saved by his leader.

Out of 71 students, 48 die defending the school, marking a heartbreaking toll. A flashback shows a group portrait taken by an Army photographer, preserving their memory. The surviving veterans reflect on loss, sacrifice, and the heavy cost of war.

The film closes with a restrained meditation on courage, loyalty, and leadership under fire. It honors the soldiers' valor while acknowledging the long shadow left by their losses. The veterans, older and wiser, carry the memory of their fallen comrades into the future.