Moonlit Winter

After the divorce, Yoon-hee and her daughter Sae-bom live in the Korean countryside. Sae-bom discovers a romantic letter addressed to Yoon-hee from Jun, a Korean-Japanese classmate from Yoon-hee's youth, revealing a long-forgotten relationship. This revelation underscores Yoon-hee's loneliness and Sae-bom's determination to comfort her mother by reconnecting with Jun.

Upon Sae-bom's high school graduation, she insists they celebrate with a holiday in Japan, knowing Jun lives in the quiet town of Otaru. Yoon-hee is wary of reopening old wounds but agrees, hopeful yet anxious. The trip sets the stage for confronting a shared past neither woman can fully escape.

In Otaru, Yoon-hee goes to Jun's home but cannot bring herself to approach. She tells Sae-bom that they haven't reconnected and that the past must stay secret for now. The delicate balance between past and present adds tension to the journey.

In a local cafe, Sae-bom meets Jun's aunt Masako and asks her to inform Jun to come to the cafe the next morning. Masako's willingness to bridge the generations exposes the fragility of the situation. The cafe becomes a hinge point where the plan for reunion begins.

Back at Masako's home, Jun confesses to Masako that she and Yoon-hee are together in her dreams. The admission underscores a love that persisted across time and distance. It also reveals the emotional pull that could still reshape their lives.

Yoon-hee discovers that Sae-bom's boyfriend Kyung-soo has secretly joined the trip to Otaru. The discovery introduces a complication and a reminder that Sae-bom is not simply seeking closure, but also navigating her daughter's life. The moment heightens the emotional stakes of the journey.

The next day, Sae-bom orchestrates Jun's dinner meeting and arranges for Yoon-hee to pick her up at the same time and place. The setup creates a charged rendezvous where past and present collide. Both women are drawn toward a reconciliation that has long been denied.

When Jun and Yoon-hee finally meet, they are overwhelmed with emotion and walk along the canal together. The stroll becomes a quiet, intimate moment that validates their love and courage. It also signals a turning point in their relationship and in Sae-bom's support for her mother.

A final letter from Yoon-hee to Jun reveals the depth of their past: she confessed her love to her parents, was sent to a mental hospital, and later married the man arranged by her brother. On her wedding day she still thought of Jun, and when strangers wished her happiness she imagined Jun. She concludes that their love was never wrong and that they should feel no shame.

Yoon-hee and Sae-bom decide to move to Seoul, seeking a fresh start away from the countryside. Sae-bom enrolls in university there, pursuing her studies, while Yoon-hee gains newfound courage to build a life of her own. The move marks a hopeful new chapter for both.

Sae-bom enrolls in university in Seoul, pursuing her studies and maintaining their close relationship. The move reinforces their resilience and commitment to a hopeful future as they adapt to city life. Their bond helps redefine their identities beyond the past.

With newfound courage, Yoon-hee opens a restaurant in Seoul, turning her loneliness into purpose. The restaurant becomes a space for connection and healing as they build a future together. This act embodies the courage to live openly and without shame.