In 1801, after a new king ascended the throne, a scholar Jeong Yak-jeon who served the late king is exiled to Heuk-san Island. When he lands on the unknown island with fears, rather he is amazed by wonders of various sea creatures. There he meets Chang-dae, a young fisherman who is a huge admirer of Confucianism and has a wide knowledge about the sea. Fascinated by his knowledge, Jeong decides to write a book about the sea and asks Chang-dae to help him write the book, in exchange for helping Chang-dae's study of Confucianism.—Canon y mus