Oh Jung-Seok becomes a target when the Iljin Alliance—a coalition of bullies spanning multiple schools—begins terrorizing students at Sampo High School. What starts as isolated violence quickly escalates into organized intimidation, leaving students powerless and afraid. Amid the chaos, Jung-Seok encounters a mysterious man who invites him to return whenever he wishes, setting the stage for a second chance at life. Armed with the instincts and experience of a former gangster, Jung-Seok steps back into the brutal world of school violence, determined to dismantle the Iljin Alliance and protect those caught in its grasp. This time, he won’t hesitate—and he won’t back down.
Second Life of a Gangster strips away fantasy and focuses on raw confrontation. The regression element doesn’t grant supernatural power—it gives Jung-Seok maturity, restraint, and decisiveness. His actions are shaped by experience rather than rage, making every move calculated and impactful.
The story excels at portraying how violence spreads through systems of fear and hierarchy. As the Iljin Alliance expands, so does the scale of conflict, transforming school bullying into something resembling organized crime. Jung-Seok’s presence disrupts this structure, not through heroics, but through inevitability.
This manhwa is intense and unapologetic. Readers who appreciate realistic action, street-level power struggles, and protagonists who fight back without illusions of heroism will find Second Life of a Gangster compelling and hard-hitting.
