Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War

An elderly man receives news from the South Korean Army excavation team that they have identified remains believed to be his brother's from a Korean War battlefield. He, accompanied by his granddaughter, rushes to the site, which sparks memories of the war's harrowing events.

In June 1950, the Lee family lives a modest life in Seoul. Jin-Tae Lee runs a shoeshine stand to support his younger brother Jin-Seok's education while his fiancée, Young-shin, works at a noodle shop.

On June 25, 1950, North Korean forces invade South Korea, throwing the country into chaos. As a result, Jin-Seok is conscripted into the army, and in a desperate attempt to save him, Jin-Tae is conscripted as well, leading them both to the battlefield.

The brothers survive their first artillery strike in combat, but the experience nearly leads Jin-Seok to a heart attack due to shock. This event marks the harsh reality they face as soldiers in a war.

Jin-Tae learns from his commanding officer that achieving the Taeguk Cordon of the Order of Military Merit could get his brother discharged. He volunteers for dangerous missions, pushing himself to the limit for Jin-Seok's sake.

The American-led U.N. forces invade South Korea and engage in the Battle of Pyongyang. During the intense fighting, Jin-Tae captures an important North Korean captain and is awarded the military medal, but not without deeply felt losses, including his friend Yong-man.

As they advance north, Jin-Seok and Jin-Tae witness the aftermath of massacres. The sight sickens Jin-Seok, leaving a lasting impact on his conscience as they grapple with the violence surrounding them.

On a patrol, the brothers encounter a group of North Korean soldiers hiding in a tunnel, one of them being Yong-Seok, whom Jin-Seok taught. Instead of executing them, Jin-Seok argues for their lives, leading to their capture as POWs.

As China enters the war on the side of the communists, the South Korean and U.N. forces are forced into a desperate retreat. In a chaotic turn of events, Jin-Tae inadvertently kills Yong-Seok during a confrontation with POWs.

After a spate of unfortunate events, Young-shin, Jin-Tae's fiancée, is captured and later killed by anti-Communist forces. Subsequently, Jin-Tae is arrested for trying to save her, leading to painful realizations for both brothers.

Jin-Tae is brought to the prison where his brother is held. In a desperate attempt to save him, Jin-Tae confronts a commander, and in a fit of rage, kills him but is restrained during an artillery strike.

While Jin-Tae thinks that Jin-Seok perished in the fire set by the guards, Jin-Seok has actually survived and been transferred to a military hospital. Rejecting the hope of his brother's letters, Jin-Seok learns of Jin-Tae's supposed defection.

Jin-Seok, desperate to find his brother, surrenders to the North Koreans to claim allegiance. A showdown occurs where Jin-Tae, now a North Korean unit commander, and Jin-Seok engage in a brutal fight, neither recognizing the other until the last moment.

In a tense and emotional climax, Jin-Tae recognizes Jin-Seok just as he is gravely wounded. They share heartfelt promises, with Jin-Tae giving his brother a silver pen to remember him, a symbolic gesture of hope and connection.

Back in the present day, an elderly Jin-Seok visits the excavation site and finds the silver pen among his brother's remains. Overcome by emotion, he recalls their promises on the battlefield, marking a bittersweet closure to their tragic story.