SANDGLASS

In the spring of 1976, South Korea is under authoritarian rule. Hye-rin, a university student, takes part in a campus protest against the Yushin Constitution and dictatorship. Woo-seok, meanwhile, is determined to become a prosecutor, while Tae-soo, an aspiring military academy student, finds himself on the opposite side of the protest as a member of a street gang sent to suppress the demonstrators. Despite being brought together by conflict, the three form an unexpected bond that develops into friendship and love. Their relationship becomes increasingly complicated when Woo-seok discovers that Hye-rin is the daughter of Chairman Yoon, a powerful businessman who operates casinos through corrupt political connections. Unable to reconcile his feelings with his principles, Woo-seok leaves for military service. Tae-soo, who has fallen in love with Hye-rin, vows to protect her at any cost. As the years pass, each pursues a different path: Woo-seok seeks justice as a prosecutor, Hye-rin struggles to find her place in a world shaped by her father's power, and Tae-soo rises within the criminal underworld. Caught in a web of political intrigue, corruption, and power struggles, the three must confront the consequences of their choices as the sands of time continue to fall.