Kim Baek-du, the protagonist in Like Flowers in Sand, was once a ssireum prodigy, but he now finds himself feeling hopeless because of his failing career.
Kim Baek-du is a wrestler in his thirties who represents the Geosan-gun team in ssireum matches.
There was a time when he was considered a rising star in the world of ssireum. Years ago, after getting discharged from the military, he placed fifth in Taebaek Class in the Chuseok Championships.
Baek-du was so good that other wrestlers used to be scared of competing against the wrestling prodigy. Everyone in his town had high hopes for him.
Baek-du used to get a lot of attention back then, but it waned over time, as Baek-du never won a championship title.
Prodigy without a title
Baek-du’s father, Kim Tae-baek, is a ssireum champion who has had a legendary career. Baek-du’s older brothers are also champions in their categories.
It is only Baek-du whose career has not gone the way everyone expected. The townspeople keep talking about Baek-du’s failed career.
One day, Baek-du accidentally gets drunk and calls his coach to tell him that he will quit ssireum if he does not win the championship this year as well.
The next day, when Baek-du remembers what he told his coach, he decides to keep up the pretense until someone convinces him not to retire.
However, when no one tries to dissuade Baek-du from his decision, he realizes that no one believes he can win.
To make matters worse, Baek-du comes to know that his match is going to be against Lim Dong-seok, a wrestler currently ranked among the best.
On the day of the match, Baek-du puts up a tough fight against Lim Dong-seok, but ultimately, he loses the match, leading to his retirement.
Baek-du’s father tries to change his mind about retiring, but he does not succeed, as Baek-du has started to doubt whether he will ever win a championship.
Baek-du sees himself as a loser, the only wrestler in his family who failed to make a name for himself, and he apologizes to his father for being a failure.
At a time like this, Baek-du’s childhood friend, Du-sik, returns to town. When she hears about Baek-du’s retirement, she tries to get him to coach the Geosan-gun team.
Du-sik’s arrival might change the course of Baek-du’s faltering career and lead him to become the champion that others have long anticipated.
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