Miracle in Cell No. 7

Ye-sung and her father Yong-gu yearn to buy a Sailor Moon backpack, a small symbol of a simple wish they can't quite afford. They rush to a store, but the police commissioner and his daughter beat them there and push Yong-gu aside. The next day, misfortune compounds the moment when the commissioner’s daughter slips on ice and dies after a brick falls.

A bystander misreads Yong-gu's clumsy CPR as guilt, fueling rumors that he committed rape and murder. Soon he is arrested, and the family is stunned by an accusation that seems unjust. The town's perception shifts as Yong-gu is branded a killer he did not become.

Yong-gu is imprisoned and placed in Room 7 with five inmates who are wary of him, viewing him as both disabled and dangerous. The cell block becomes a tense new world where trust is scarce. He prepares to face a trial that could seal his fate.

During a brutal stabbing, Yong-gu saves his cellmate and gang leader So Yang-ho, creating a debt of gratitude that binds them. This act slowly reshapes the inmates' view of him from an accused killer to someone capable of courage and protection. The bond between them deepens into a form of loyalty.

The inmates smuggle Ye-sung into the prison during a choir performance, allowing a night-time visit with Yong-gu behind the bars. The moment is tender and fragile, serving as a fragile bridge between innocence and harsh reality. It marks the first real connection between father and daughter in years.

The warden witnesses the growing bond between Yong-gu and Ye-sung and starts to realize Yong-gu's humanity rather than his supposed guilt. His perspective begins to shift away from seeing Yong-gu as a monster. A subtle change in the prison’s dynamic foreshadows a deeper examination of the case.

The warden approves Ye-sung to visit Yong-gu after school, establishing a fragile routine that keeps their connection alive. The routine gives Ye-sung a glimmer of hope and a sense of father-daughter bond. It also humanizes Yong-gu in the eyes of the prison staff.

Room 7 inmates coach Yong-gu on how to answer questions with calm, composure, and a steady voice. Their guidance helps him craft a measured defense rather than a panic-filled response. The inmates’ mentorship becomes a crucial part of his courtroom preparation.

The commissioner assaults Yong-gu in a fit of rage, pressing him to confess. To protect Ye-sung, Yong-gu lies that he killed the commissioner’s daughter, a confession that seals his death sentence. The lie becomes the hinge on which the case ultimately turns against him.

Yong-gu is sentenced to death, with the execution date set for December 23, a date that coincidentally overlaps with Ye-sung's birthday. The family and inmates cling to a fragile thread of hope. The date casts a shadow over every hope for exoneration.

Inmates construct a hot air balloon to aid Yong-gu and Ye-sung in an escape plan. During a prison concert, they stage a distraction, sending the two up into the sky on the balloon. It is a poignant symbol of escape, love, and desperate hope.

The rope catches on barbed wire, abruptly ending the escape attempt and forcing the pair back to the ground. The dream of freedom collapses in the cold air. The failure cements the brutal limits of the prison system.

On the day of Yong-gu’s execution, Ye-sung and the inmates gather to celebrate her birthday, clinging to hope even as the outcome nears. The heavy atmosphere mirrors the impossible balance between love and loss. The day ends with the predictable, heartbreaking verdict.

A reimagined court scene unfolds as Ye-sung, the warden, and the Room 7 inmates attend a mock trial that becomes real. The judge overturns the old verdict and orders the investigation reopened, offering some closure to the long vigil. The film reframes the past as a quest for truth rather than a simple tragedy.

The ending circles back to the opening image as memory and hope settle into peace. Ye-sung becomes an advocate for truth, guided by the bond with her father and the inmates who never stopped believing. The balloon motif lingers as a quiet symbol of release and memory.