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At the same time, the provincial Governor's son, Mong-nyong, decides to take a walk by the river with his servant, Bangja. He is allured by a beautiful voice and sees Chun-hyang on the swings all alone. Mong-nyong and Chun-hyang soon fall in love and secretly begin to meet each other behind the backs of their parents. However, the Governor finds out about their secret love affair and forbids Mong-nyong to meet Chun-hyang. In desperation the two lovers decide to elope. But, Chun-hyang cannot runaway without her blind father. Bangja decides to bring Hak-gyu to Chun-hyang, but eventually their plans are revealed and the two lovers are forcefully separated. Mong-nyong promises to return after passing the national exam and leaves for Hanyang.

One year later, Byun Hak-do, the new Governor comes to town. He is a respected man with refined manners, and is welcomed by the town folk. One day he sees Chun-hyang by the river crying in the snow. Contrary to the bad rumors he had heard about Chun-hyang, he is captured by her beauty and falls in love. Hak-do argues that in the real world love is not meant to last forever and persuades Chun-hyang to leave Mong-nyong and be with him. However, Chun-hyang refuses Hak-do's continuous proposals. Then, after hearing that Mong-nyong passed the national exam, Hak-do resorts to extreme measures.

Hak-do grants pardon to Hak-gyu in return for Chun-hyang's hand in marriage. Hak-gyu who is just happy to be free again from serving time for Chun-hyang's crime is overwhelmed with joy when he hears that Hak-do wants to marry his daughter. Hak-gyu returns home and shares the good news with Chun-hyang, but Chun-hyang refuses the offer, because she is still deeply in love with Mong-nyong. After a big argument with Hak-gyu, Chun-hyang goes to Hak-do and pleads her case. But, Hak-do in a desperate measure to persuade Chun-hyang to become his wife, lies to Chun-hyang that Mong-nyong has already married into a respectable family in Hanyang. Chun-hyang is heartbroken.

The next day while Mong-nyong is on his way to town, and Hak-do is preparing for his marriage, Chun-hyang sings her last song and drowns herself in the Indang river where she made wedding vows with Mong-nyong. Hak-do is in remorse and Mong-nyong is choking with sobs. Mong-nyong then throws himself into the river to be with Chun-hyang forever. The two meet again in the other world and ascend to heaven.