Character Relationship Map: Stone Skipping

Characters

• Seok-ku (played by Kim Dae-myung) — protagonist

  A socially isolated man with a mental disability who lives in Hyocheong Village and is often treated as an outsider. He intervenes when Eun-ji is accused of stealing, later acknowledges hurting her du...

• Teacher Kim (played by Song Yun-ah) — supporting

  A teacher at the children's home where Eun-ji stays after arriving from Seoul. Teacher Kim and the others try to care for her, and when she disappears after Mass, Teacher Kim searches for her and lear...

• Priest (played by Kim Eui-sung) — supporting

  A priest who appeals for mercy during Seok-ku's criminal case. After Seok-ku is acquitted, the Priest is criticized for having helped him, and villagers turn against him. His actions place him between...

• Eun-ji (played by Jeon Chae-eun) — supporting

  A fourteen-year-old girl who arrives from Seoul looking for her father and stays at the children's home. She is grieving and refuses to accept that her father has died. Accused of stealing at a villag...

• Eun Ji's Mother (played by Lee Jin-hee) — supporting

  Eun-ji's mother arrives after Eun-ji is taken for medical care and blames herself for what has happened. Eun-ji initially reacts violently and cannot accept her presence. Later, her mother tries to ta...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Eun-ji → Eun Ji's Mother (Family Mother And Daughter) — Their reunion is strained by Eun-ji's trauma and rejection, while her mother attempts to bring her home and blames herself.

  Eun-ji's mother arrives after Eun-ji is taken for medical care. Eun-ji initially reacts violently and cannot accept her presence; later, her mother tr...

• Teacher Kim → Eun-ji (Professional Caregiver) — Teacher Kim helps care for Eun-ji and searches for her when she goes missing.

  Eun-ji stays at a children's home where Teacher Kim and others try to look after her. After Eun-ji disappears following Mass, Teacher Kim searches for...

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Seok-ku → Teacher Kim (Narrative Search Subject) — Teacher Kim's search for Eun-ji leads her to learn that Eun-ji left with Seok-ku.

  After Eun-ji disappears following Mass, Teacher Kim searches for her and learns that she left with Seok-ku.

• Priest → Seok-ku (Alliance Advocate) — The Priest publicly argues for mercy toward Seok-ku, a stance that brings public criticism after the acquittal.

  During the trial, the Priest appeals for mercy for Seok-ku. After Seok-ku is acquitted, the Priest is criticized for helping him.

• Seok-ku → Eun-ji (Unknown Protective Intervention Turned Harmful) — Seok-ku steps in during the accusation, but the case later centers on the harm he admits causing Eun-ji.

  Seok-ku intervenes when villagers grab and accuse Eun-ji of stealing. Later, he acknowledges in court that he hurt her.

Story Analysis

A village's response to a traumatic case deepens the isolation of Seok-ku and leaves the possibility of forgiveness uncertain.

Plot Progression

1. An Outsider and a Grieving Arrival — Seok-ku is isolated in Hyocheong Village, while Eun-ji arrives from Seoul searching for her father. She stays at the children's home, where Teacher Kim tries to care for her as she struggles with grie...
2. Accusation and Disappearance — When money goes missing at a village gathering, Eun-ji is accused and Seok-ku intervenes. After she disappears following Mass, Teacher Kim learns that Eun-ji left with Seok-ku; they are found at the r...
3. Trauma and the Trial — Eun-ji's mother arrives, but Eun-ji initially rejects her, and doctors warn of possible lasting psychological effects. At trial, Seok-ku acknowledges hurting Eun-ji, the defense cites his disability a...
4. Isolation and Uncertain Forgiveness — The Priest faces criticism after helping Seok-ku be acquitted, and Seok-ku is driven from the rice mill and abused. As Eun-ji's memories shift and her mother tries to take her from the hospital, villa...