Radio Star

Choi Gon scores a massive hit with 'The Rain and You' in 1988, becoming one of the era's top stars. The sudden fame brings lavish lifestyle choices and bad habits, and he struggles to manage the spotlight. His wealth and reputation begin to slip as the years pass.

As the years pass, Gon battles the fading of his peak years. He adopts costly habits and spends money quickly, eroding his finances. The lingering fame fails to translate into stability, leaving him unsettled and volatile.

By 2006, Gon is past his prime and resents younger entertainers stealing the spotlight. He continues living the rock-star life, fueling incidents that include drunk driving and drug scandals. His reputation still clings to him, but the audience has shifted away.

Park Min-soo, Gon's longtime manager, stays by his side and keeps finding him small gigs in coffee shops on the outskirts of Seoul. He continues to look after him and shield him from bigger trouble, often at personal cost. His devotion is the only steady thread in Gon's chaotic career.

Gon quarrels with a customer in a cafe and ends up in jail. The altercation exposes his volatile temper and the consequences of years of reckless behavior. The legal trouble marks a turning point that forces Min-soo to seek help elsewhere.

Because of his prior record, bail is set impossibly high. Min-soo cannot cover the amount and is forced to go to a major radio station to call in old favors. The search for support shifts the path of Gon’s life toward a new opportunity.

The only option left is a DJ position at a local radio station in Yeongwol, a remote mountainous town. The assignment takes Gon away from his familiar surroundings and into a tight-knit community. This move sets the stage for an unlikely second act.

The Yeongwol station itself is almost shutting down, struggling to stay on the air. The staff cling to life and hope that new programming might salvage them. Gon's arrival brings an unexpected spark to the faltering station.

Gon arrives in Yeongwol, and nothing seems to fit him at first. He is pessimistic and negative, even when on air, sabotaging the move with stubborn mood and resistance. The locals’ curiosity grows as they watch this veteran star try to adjust.

Despite his initial resistance, Gon's daily show 'Choi Gon's Midday Songs of Hope' becomes a hit with the townspeople. He lets locals tell their own eccentric stories, which endears the audience to him. The program turns into a communal outlet rather than just a broadcast.

Hard rock music, once foreign to Yeongwol, becomes the bridge between Gon and the townspeople. The genre helps break down walls and reframe his image as a contributor to the community. The music scene in the town begins to pivot around his show.

Gon's newly recorded shows are uploaded by a growing fan club and begin to circulate on the internet. The rising online presence grabs the attention of big bosses in Seoul who see a potential comeback. However, they want the revival without Min-soo by his side.

The Seoul-based comeback talk threatens the fragile partnership with Min-soo, who has kept Gon steady all these years. Gon must decide whether to pursue a revival on foreign terms or to preserve the loyalty he shares with his longtime manager. The film ends by highlighting the unresolved tension between ambition and loyalty.

The story closes with the suggestion that Gon might return to the spotlight, but only if he reconciles with Min-soo and accepts a new, grounded path. The ending leaves the future open, emphasizing how far he has come from his peak and the people who supported him. The community of Yeongwol stands as the turning point in his redemption arc.