Best Manhwa With Gangster Protagonists

Best Manhwa With Gangster Protagonists

As I delve into these captivating manhwa series, it’s truly fascinating to observe how each story unfolds and reveals the inner struggles and triumphs of its characters. From the powerful and relentless Shin Kim in “Castle” to the scrawny yet formidable Gray Yeon in “Weak Hero,” these stories are a testament to the resilience and determination that lies within each one of us.


Similar to manga from Japan, manhwa encompasses a wide range of genres in its storytelling. However, manhwa featuring tough, gangster protagonists add an unique edge to the artform and its audience. In these tales, readers delve into the crime-ridden and violent lives of the main characters as they strive towards their goals, which are both precise yet challenging due to the questionable means necessary to achieve them.

This writing focuses on captivating manhwa featuring protagonists who range from crime bosses to individuals driven by personal justice. These characters are renowned for their unyielding resolve and distinct sense of right and wrong. For readers drawn to tales about these gangster heroes and their engrossing narratives, here’s a compilation of top-notch manhwa that fit the bill:

8 Second Life of a Gangster

Anime- Planet Rating: 3.9 / 5

Best Manhwa With Gangster Protagonists

  • Creator(s):
  • No. of Chapters: 137 (Ongoing)
  • Genre: Action, Fantasy, Psychological, Romance, Seinen, Slice of Life

A Gangster’s Redemption is an exhilarating series that skillfully blends themes of second chances and teenage rebellion. The narrative centers around Oh Joong Seok, a 41-year-old character who has spent his entire life as a gangster, committing various criminal acts to advance within his organization.

Despite being infamously known as the ‘Demon of Incheon,’ I, Joong Seok, experience a heart-wrenching demise after being backstabbed and killed by my own comrades. Yet, in a twist of fate, an angel grants me a second chance, transporting me 23 years back in time. However, this opportunity comes with a caveat: my soul cannot be redeemed no matter the circumstances. Now, I must strive to live honorably and prove that I’ve changed for the better.

7 Hectopascal

Anime-Planet Rating: 3.9 / 5

Best Manhwa With Gangster Protagonists
  • Creator(s): Beopeoling
  • No. of Chapters: 97 (Ongoing)
  • Genre: Action, Drama

Hectopascal tells a story that underscores the connection between wealth and criminal activity, particularly among high school students, such as the main character, Park Hanjoon. The series delves into Park Hanjoon’s life, showcasing how he appears to bear the consequences of his past actions, which include once leading the infamous gang known as Nexus.

Two years after a violent clash with his rival Kim Cheonsoo, leaving him destitute and disgraced, Park Hanjoon’s life has been marked by solitude and humiliation. However, this all shifts when he receives a substantial sum of money, tempting him to reveal his past tendencies towards violence once more. With a benefactor who shares the same ambition of humiliating Kim Cheonsoo, Park Hanjoon is once again left with injuries from fights, this time bearing marks on his knuckles from fresh brawls.

6 Mr. Baek

Anime-Planet Rating: 4.0 / 5

Best Manhwa With Gangster Protagonists
  • Creator(s): Byeongjang, Park Tae-Joon Cartoon Company, Punch Kick
  • No. of Chapters: 100 (Ongoing)
  • Genre: Action, Drama, Seinen

In this intriguing narrative, we delve into the world of corporate crime and violence, focusing on the fascinating lives of the identical Baek Twins. The story unfolds around these two individuals who share the same visage but lead dramatically different existences. One twin, Yisu Baek, is a dedicated government agent, while his twin brother, Dogyeong Baek, heads a powerful criminal organization.

After Yisu is deceived by the government and marked for death in a concealed assassination plot, tragedy strikes when Dogyeong sacrifices himself for his brother. This leaves the management of their criminal empire to an ill-prepared twin. Meanwhile, Yisu’s sole mission becomes seeking retribution against those responsible for his brother’s murder. However, to accomplish this, he is forced to assume Dogyeong’s role as the crime boss.

5 The Bully In-Charge

Anime-Planet Rating: 3.8 / 5

Best Manhwa With Gangster Protagonists
  • Creator(s): Grimzo
  • No. of Chapters: 110 (Ongoing)
  • Genre: Action, Drama, Seinen

The Leading Troublemaker offers an exhilarating narrative that explores the idea of using force to counteract force. This captivating series centers around Daegun Kwon, a high school dropout with a past as a delinquent and bully, who now spends his time part-timing at a convenience store.

One evening, following an unpleasant run-in with a band of rowdy miscreants, Daegun is sought out by a secretive lady affiliated with the Education Foundation regarding a unique anti-bullying initiative. She proposes that he regain a conventional existence, but only if he re-enrolls in high school as the assigned bully. By agreeing to her proposition, Daegun steps back into high school with a single objective: To dismantle the other bullies and restore order to the educational environment.

4 Reawakened Man

Anime-Planet Rating: 4.0 / 5

Best Manhwa With Gangster Protagonists
  • Creator(s): Chae Yongtaek, Kim Jaehan
  • No. of Chapters: 175
  • Genre: Action, Supernatural

The Series “Reawakened Man” tells an unusual and ominous story that swiftly escalates into tales of would-be heroics. The narrative primarily centers on Hwan Seok, a high school student who harbors deep contempt towards injustice, regardless of the victim.

Initially, Hwan doesn’t understand that certain situations don’t require intervention when he starts meddling with some men harassing his neighbor, eventually leading to his death. After an unexpected span of three days, Hwan inexplicably returns to life with a renewed determination to save his neighbor. However, as events unfold, he gradually comes to suspect that the plot he’s entangled in might be far more dangerous than he initially believed.

3 Boss In School

Anime-Planet Rating: 4.0 / 5

Best Manhwa With Gangster Protagonists
  • Creator(s): Lee Hoon Young, Ui-Kwom Kim
  • No. of Chapters: 199
  • Genre: Action, Drama

The “Boss In School” series chronicles the life of its protagonist, Seth Kang, who was born with a natural inclination for fighting. However, in an effort to keep his mother’s wish, he vowed never to fight again. This promise is upheld throughout Seth’s journey from middle school into high school. It isn’t until the death of his father that he finally breaks this promise.

Raised under the rule of a criminal kingpin and gang boss, Seth Kang finds liberation upon receiving a posthumous message from his father, urging him never to submit to defeat. This cryptic advice frees Seth Kang from his charade of appearing as a pushover.

2 Castle

Anime-Planet Rating: 4.1 / 5

Best Manhwa With Gangster Protagonists
  • Creator(s): Jeong Yeon
  • No. of Chapters: 120
  • Genre: Action, Drama

This drama unfolds an engrossing narrative of crime and turmoil, showcasing it at its most captivating and exhilarating. The storyline revolves around the powerful South Korean organization known as Castle, a syndicate that wields immense influence, and Shin Kim, a Russian contract killer born in Korea, who seeks to bring down this empire.

Instead of relying on fate alone, Shin Kim journeys back to Hoe-Am City, home of Castle in Korea, to carry out his master’s last wish. With support from various city associates, Shin Kim channels his burning desire for vengeance towards Korea’s largest criminal network.

1 Weak Hero

Anime-Planet Rating: 4.2 / 5

Best Manhwa With Gangster Protagonists
  • Creator(s): RAZEN, Seopass
  • No. of Chapters: 267
  • Genre: Action, Drama

In this exhilarating series, titled “The Weak Hero,” we delve into the realities of bullying and misconduct, predominantly set within high schools. The narrative focuses on Gray Yeon, a skinny high school student, who unexpectedly finds himself at the center of Eunjang High School’s limelight after confronting and overpowering his tormentors.

Through a single bold move, Gray poses a challenge to the existing hierarchy of bullying at his school. Standing just over 5 feet tall and possessing a frame that seems insignificant, Gray appears to be a lone figure ready to overturn bullying in his school.

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2024-11-15 20:34