Highlights
- Delinquents in manhwa can be heroes when they resist corruption and fight against the status quo.
- Some delinquents in manhwa transition from troublemakers to fighting for justice and positive change.
- Stories like “Weak Hero” show that delinquency can be a result of circumstances, not innate behavior.
In most manhwa, delinquents are portrayed as the antagonists of the story, harassing the timid main character until they reach a breaking point. They usually instigate fights and resort to physical means to solve their problems, which ultimately gives them a bad reputation. However, it isn’t just fighting that makes them delinquents.
As protagonists, delinquents are often used to depict resistance to an established power or a discrepancy in a uniform system. While they are known to flagrantly break rules and oppose authority, it’s when they do it to expose corruption or protest the status quo that they become heroes.
8 Hectopascal
MyAnimeList Score: 7.17
- Published: 2022 to Present
- Genres/Themes: Action
- Author: Buffering
- Illustrator: Seonggeun Gil
In a lot of manhwa, delinquency and gangs go hand in hand with many school troublemakers joining various crime groups after graduating. That’s why stories with those themes are very similar or even considered the same. Hectopascal is a great example of those two ideas coming together.
This story revolves around Park Hanjun and his revenge. As an incredibly skilled fighter, he once brought down a group of bullies known as Nexus, but it was a much larger organization than he initially believed. Hanjun was sued, and as a result, his family suffered for it. After being approached by a sponsor, he begins fighting against Nexus once more.
7 Second Life Of A Gangster
MyAnimeList Score: N/A
- Chapters: 136
- Published: 2018 to 2021
- Genres/Themes: Action, Drama, School
- Author: SaYeol
- Illustrator: YeRang
In some manhwa, delinquents don’t always stay delinquents. Whether it’s through meeting the main character or experiencing some sort of loss, they find a reason to turn things around. In Jeoong Seok’s case, it was meeting an angel and going back in time. With the chance to start over, he decides to live well without hurting others.
Although many time-travel stories feel the same, this one is refreshing because his goal isn’t to avenge or to be stronger. Jeoong Seok only wants to be a better person, and seeing his growth is very rewarding. Of course, there’s still fighting and gangs, but they only serve to show how he’s changed.
6 Designated Bully
MyAnimeList Score: 7.25
- Published: 2022 to Present
- Genres/Themes: Action, Delinquents, School
- Author: Grimzo
- Illustrator: Grimzo
While delinquents are usually on the opposite side of the law, this story features one who works with it instead. Kwon Daegun was once a notorious school delinquent known for being the strongest in the area, but after he dropped out of school, he had no reason to fight. When the government wants to employ him for his skills, he doesn’t hesitate.
His job is to rule the school even if it means using violence, putting all other bullies under his feet. While the fights are impressive and fun, people read this manhwa for the main character. Kwon Daegun is cool and strong, one of the best protagonists in this genre in terms of skill.
5 Juvenile Offender
MyAnimeList Score: 7.30
- Published: 2023 to Present
- Genres/Themes: Action, Delinquents
- Author: Namja-ui Iyagi
- Illustrator: Jongtaek Jeong
Revenge stories that are set in schools often include a protagonist who becomes a delinquent. In this manhwa, Lee Yunseong was a regular student, but after endless bullying and harassment, he and his family suffered physically, financially, and emotionally. Now he’s out for revenge on all the people who wronged him.
Truthfully, Yunseong edges the line between delinquent and criminal. He seeks to return the pain he experienced tenfold, which results in serious, illegal activity involving drugs, trafficking, and murder. Those are definitely outside the bounds of being just a school bully.
4 An Eye For An Eye
MyAnimeList Score: 7.45
- Published: 2014 to 2016
- Genres/Themes: Action, Drama, School
- Author: Byeongjang
- Illustrator: Byeongjang
After his brother almost dies, Lee Yongjin seeks out the bullies who hurt him. With the school doing nothing to stop classroom violence, he takes justice into his own hands, hunting down every bully involved. He’s determined to do whatever it takes to make them pay.
Yongjin wasn’t much of a delinquent when he was in school, but he also wasn’t the best student. He preferred being alone and had a short fuse, but overall, he didn’t get into much trouble. Now he’s taken off all his restraints. This manhwa definitely isn’t for everyone, but it’s a very well-crafted and emotional story.
3 To Not Die
MyAnimeList Score: 7.53
- Published: 2021 to Present
- Genres/Themes: Action, Drama
- Author: Parae
- Illustrator: Jinguk Lim
In many cases, not all delinquents are rule breakers from the start. Im Dajun was a normal student at the start of the story, but due to excessive bullying and certain circumstances, he was disowned by his family and left to look after himself. He’s able to get by with the help of other runaways.
This is a story about strength and desperation. Dajun craved strength because he no longer wanted to be a victim, but now that he was living on the streets, there were many more dangers to worry about. The fights are what many people read this manhwa for, but it has some incredible character development and storytelling.
2 Dokgo
MyAnimeList Score: 7.74
- Chapters: 90
- Published: 2012 to 2014
- Genres/Themes: Action, Drama, Delinquents, School
- Author: Meen
- Illustrator: Seung Hoon Baek
As far as delinquent manhwa go, Dokgo is known as a classic, and as a character, Kang Hyuk epitomizes what it means to be a delinquent. The story starts after his brother, Kang Hu, dies after being beaten by an organized group of school bullies. Aiming to take down the leader of the group, Hyuk pretends to be his brother and returns to school.
That being said, he doesn’t put much effort into pretending to be his brother, and he’s only at school to fight and get to know his enemies. The entire school is under the thumb of these bullies, and even though Hyuk is fighting for his reasons, it doesn’t change the fact that he’s making the school a better place.
1 Weak Hero
MyAnimeList Score: 7.97
- Chapters: 267
- Published: 2018 to 2023
- Genres/Themes: Action, Drama, School
- Author: Seopass
- Illustrator: RAZEN
Gray Yeon is the opposite of a delinquent. He studies hard, gets good grades, and remains quiet throughout the day, and he’s probably never done anything illegal either. However, after entering Eunjang High, the school for delinquents, it was inevitable for him to get involved with the wrong crowd. It’s the same for the rest of the main cast.
What makes them delinquents is their position in the narrative. There’s a large extortion ring that is operated across many school districts, but Eunjang refuses to take part. To keep themselves safe, Gray and his friends must fight all the other schools.
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