Sabuk region is located deep in the Taebaek Mountains. Once a promising town with a flourishing coal-mining industry, it is slowly transforming into ruins, due to government′s policy for decreasing coal production and subsequent closings of collieries by the firms. In Sabuk, two kinds of people exist now, those who are leaving and those who can′t leave. The Old Miner′s Song uses driving snow in the middle of winter as its backdrop, to display the harsh nature of the layoff process in a destitute coal mining town. As subcontractor for Dong-Won Coal Mine, Cheil Enterprises decides to cease its operation. Faced with sudden layoffs, miners start to resist. Their outrage is heightened upon discovering the union representative′s secret agreement with the company. A countermeasure committee and hunger strikes fail to materialize their goals. Rather, internal conflicts develop when dealing with a proposal for compensation of laid-off workers. Originally there to make a documentary on pneumoconiosis patients, the crew for The Old Miner′s Song become interested in capturing the voices of the coal miners. Their strike against Cheil Enterprise stops further closings of coal mines and creates better conditions for laborers′ compensation, but it remains a deep wound for those involved. As a view of this desolate town indicates, the site of a once hopeful town is no longer an energetic, productive place. Now it stands as a dusty home soon to fall into oblivion. (Nam In-Young)