Japan refuses to accept the decision, claiming rights to the railway lines based on official documents imprinted with the imperial seal of Emperor Gojong of Joseon a century ago.

It is a race against time and hidden agendas as the South Korean president (Ahn Sung-ki) employs the outspoken historian Choi Min-jae (Cho Jae-hyun) and the descendant of the Joseon royal bloodline Kim Yu-shik (Kang Shin-il) to find the authentic seal and prevent the history of Japanese occupation from repeating itself.

The JoongAng Ilbo gave the film a largely negative review, calling its plot far-fetched, the acting overdone, and criticizing its heavy-handed nationalism.

The review commented positively on the accuracy of scenes in which the South Korean prime minister deals with businessmen, and on the "beautifully choreographed" though bloody depictions of historical events at the end of the Joseon period.

According to the review, the conclusion of the film, in which Japan apologizes for its occupation of Korea, provides viewers with catharsis in a country in which anti-Japanese sentiment is still strong.