The Tower

In the bustling metropolis of Seoul, Lee Dae-ho (Kim Sang-kyung), a devoted single father and Tower Sky's manager, is torn between his professional dedication and his personal longing. His heart belongs to Seo Yoon-hee (Son Ye-jin), the charming restaurant manager, but their relationship remains a secret, hidden beneath the surface of daily life. As Christmas Eve approaches, the luxurious landmark building complex, Tower Sky, prepares for a grand "White Christmas" party, complete with helicopters illuminating the sky and snowflakes gently falling onto the festive gathering below. Dae-ho's initial plans to spend the day with his daughter Ha-na are thwarted by an unexpected call to duty at the party.

Unbeknownst to the revelers, however, the very foundation of Tower Sky is threatened by faulty water sprinklers due to frozen pipes. Mr. Cha, the building's safety section head, prioritizes the party's success over any potential structural issues, despite warnings from his colleagues about the looming danger. These concerns are exemplified in a minor kitchen fire, inadvertently sparked by cook Young-cheol (Jeon Bae-soo) as he secretly whips up an ice cream treat for Min-jung, the building's receptionist and object of his affections.

Meanwhile, Lee Seon-woo (Do Ji-han), a fresh-faced rookie firefighter, is about to embark on his journey at the Yeouido Fire Station. Initially thrilled by the prospect of saving lives, he soon discovers that many of his colleagues spend more time lounging than actual firefighting. In an attempt to initiate Seon-woo into their ranks, the firefighters pull off a prank, ringing the fire alarm while he's in the shower, leaving him standing naked and embarrassed in front of his entire team. Despite the initial humiliation, Seon-woo can't help but laugh along with his colleagues as they place his helmet on his head for the first time, marking the beginning of his fire-fighting career.

As the revelry reaches a fever pitch, Young-cheo's romantic overture to Min-jung is interrupted by a series of catastrophic events. A rogue gust of wind sends one of the helicopters spiraling out of control, its dazzling lights crashing into the glass-encased bridge connecting Tower Sky's two towering buildings and shattering against the side of one structure like shards of crystal. Another helicopter plummets from the sky, its fuel spilling onto the burning building below as flames lick at the air. The sound of shattering glass echoes through the night air as debris rains down on the partygoers, including Mr. Yoon (Song Jae-ho) and his friend Mrs. Jung (Lee Joo-shil), while a stray light beam comes crashing down onto a passing bus.

As chaos erupts, desperate individuals, including a security guard, ignore warnings to board an elevator, only for it to become stuck in its path as an explosion rips through the floor below. The resulting blast of heat and flames effectively fries those trapped inside, melting their shoes before the elevator finally explodes, claiming the lives of everyone on board.

Meanwhile, Dae-ho springs into action to rescue Ha-na, Yoon-hee, and his colleagues, even as firefighters Kang Young-ki (Sol Kyung-gu) and Seon-woo valiantly battle to contain the raging inferno. The Seoul television news reporter and cameraman join forces with the emergency responders, risking their own lives to save everyone trapped in the burning building.

As Yoon-hee, Ha-na, Young-cheol, Min-jung, and others take refuge in the Chinese restaurant on the 64th floor, the firefighters focus their efforts on containing the blaze at its source – the 63rd floor where the helicopter crashed. Despite their best efforts, however, the fire continues to spread throughout the building.

In a heroic sacrifice, Young-ki gives his life to save not only Seon-woo but also the countless lives that will be lost in future disasters by detonating a bomb to demolish the building, officially ending the tragedy with Mayor of Seoul Park Won-soon's solemn speech. The screen fades to black as the sounds of collapse, destruction, and devastation give way to a haunting instrumental score, marking the end of the film and its credits.