Seong Han-mo is a barber who owns a shop in the president's neighborhood, the Blue House.

Politically not very well-versed, he always joins his acquaintances' opinions and at first isn't aware what consequences result from president Rhee's resignation in 1960 after several student demonstrations.

Rhee leaves a power vacuum that is soon filled by a military regime led by General Park Chung Hee who puts himself at the top of the government in 1963.

Han-mo, however, has different concerns as his wife Min-ja brings a son into this world of politically turbulent times.

From that day on simple-minded Han-mo is the president's barber and at least for his neighbors one of the most important people in the country.