High School Return of a Gangster explained

High School Return of a Gangster is a 2024 South Korean fantasy teen action television series starring Yoon Chan-young, Bong Jae-hyun and Lee Seo-jin. Based on the manhwa of the same Korean title by Horol.^[2] It was aired on Lifetime from May 29 to June 19, 2024, every Wednesday at 14:00 (KST). It is also available for streaming on TVING, Wavve and Watcha in South Korea, and on Viu in selected regions.^[3] The first two episodes premiered at CGV Theater and were released on February 22, 2024.^[4]

High School Return of a Gangster was the top viewed drama on Viu in Thailand and Indonesia during its release.^[5]

Synopsis

High School Return of a Gangster tells the story of a gangster who 'wants to go to college' and possesses the body of a 19-year-old outcast high school student.

Cast and characters

Main

• Yoon Chan-young as Song Yi-heon/Kim Deuk-pal^[6]
  1. Song Yi-heon: A 19-year-old high school student who suffered from bullying and decided to end his life. He is the illegitimate son of Chairman Bae, owner of one of the largest construction companies.
  2. Kim Deuk-pal: A 47-year-old gangster of the Chilsung Gang who dreams of studying and joining high school, as he wasn't able to study due to his poor background. One day, his soul enters the body of Song Yi-heon when he tries to stop the boy from committing suicide. Unable to escape the body of the young student, he finds out that the real Song Yi-heon was severely bullied, which caused him to commit suicide. He decides to punish his bullies and help him to get into university with good grades. During the process, he befriends the school's class president and popular boy, Choi Se-kyung.
• Bong Jae-hyun as Choi Se-kyung^[7]

The school's class president and a model student who is seemingly perfect in everything, but harbors a secret. He later develops a special friendship with Song Yi-heon.

• Lee Seo-jin as Kim Deuk-pal (special appearance)^[8]

A 47-year-old gangster whose soul enters the body of Song Yi-heon after he tries to save him. He is the respected leader of the Chilsung Gang.

Supporting

People around Kim Deuk-pal

• Won Tae-min as Kim Dong-soo^[9]

A member of the Chilsung Gang, and the right-hand man of Deuk-pal.

• Ko Dong-ok as Jong Cheol

A member of the Chilsung Gang.

• Lee Geung-young as Seo Chil-sung^[10]

The founder of the Chilsung Gang and Deuk-pal's mentor.

People around Song Yi-heon

• Hwang Bo-ra as Lee Mi-kyung

The secretary of Chairman Bae, and the one who manages Yi-heon's household.

• Lee Hee-jin as Song Min-seo

The mother of Yi-heon who raises him alone and was a former teen star.

People around Choi Se-kyung

• Seo Tae-hwa as Choi Myung-hyun

The father of Se-kyung and the Chief Prosecutor.

People from high school

• Joo Yoon-chan as Hong Jae-min^[11]

Classmate and the leader of the bullies who tormented Yi-heon, but later becomes his follower and friend.

• Lee Jeong-han as Byeong-cheol^[12]

Classmate and one of the bullies of Yi-heon.

• Jung Ji-in as Kim Ye-ji^[13]

One of the girl students who befriends Yi-heon.

Production

Development

The original manhwa created by Harol was a BL story. However, the producer stated that there could be limitation on production investment and backlash for a BL content. Therefore, it's produced as a bromance-themed story instead.^[14]

Notes and References

1. 1. High School Return of a Gangster. TVING. May 29, 2024.
2. Web site: Nath . Nikita . June 10, 2024 . High School Return of a Gangster K-Drama: Is It Based on a Manhwa or a Webtoon? . June 21, 2024 . Yahoo Entertainment . en-US . June 21, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240621113310/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/high-school-return-gangster-k-155632143.html . live .
3. Web site: Jae-hwan . Park . May 29, 2024 . '조폭인 내가 고등학생이 되었습니다'.. 오늘(29일) 첫 방송 . 'I, a gangster, became a high school student'… First broadcast today (29th) . . ko . . May 29, 2024 . June 17, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240617150855/https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/438/0000065179 . live .
4. Web site: Jae-hwan . Park . February 5, 2024 . 웨이브 드라마 '조폭인 내가 고등학생이 되었습니다'... CGV 1,2화 특별상영 . Wavve drama 'I, a gangster, became a high school student'... CGV special screening of episodes 1 and 2 . February 5, 2024 . ko . . May 19, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240519074303/https://m.entertain.naver.com/now/article/438/0000062459 . live .
5. Web site: Lee . Ho-je . 동성애 지우고 ‘브로맨스’ 변형… 지나친 ‘조폭 미화’는 논란 . Transformed from "BL" to "Bromance"... Controversy over the Beautification of School Violence . . ko . August 2, 2024 . August 2, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240802085729/https://www.donga.com/news/Culture/article/all/20240702/125717680/2 . live .
6. Web site: Park . Rosa . May 16, 2024 . '조폭고' 윤찬영, 조폭에서 왕따 학생으로.. 1인 2역 열연 . 'Gangster High School' Yoon Chan-young, from a gangster to an outcast student... a passionate performance in two roles per person . May 16, 2024 . . May 19, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240519074303/https://m.mk.co.kr/news/broadcasting-service/11016673 . live .
7. Web site: Su-jin . Kim . May 14, 2024 . 골든차일드 봉재현, 드라마 '조폭인 내가 고등학생이 되었습니다' 대본 리딩 현장 . Golden Child's Bong Jae-hyun, script reading for the drama 'I, a Gangster, Became a High School Student' . May 14, 2024 . Star News Korea . ko . May 19, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240519074312/https://m.starnewskorea.com/view.html?no=2024051409343412499&ref=#_DYAD . live .
8. Web site: Hyang-hee . Jin . April 6, 2023 . 이서진, 조폭 된다…'조폭인 내가 고등학생이 되었습니다' 출연 . Lee Seo-jin becomes a gangster... Appeared in 'I, a Gangster, Became a High School Student' . April 6, 2023 . . May 19, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240519074304/https://m.mk.co.kr/news/hot-issues/10705491 . live .
9. Web site: So-yoon . Yoon . May 27, 2024 . '조폭고' 이서진에 빙의된 윤찬영→'내안의 그놈'과 다른 성장 스토리[종합] ]. Yoon Chan-young, possessed by 'Gangster High School' Lee Seo-jin → A growth story different from 'The Guy Inside Me' [Comprehensive] . . ko . . June 6, 2024 . June 6, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240606084755/https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/144/0000964221 . live .
10. Web site: Kim . Na-yul . 2024-05-22 . '조폭고' 황보라X서태화X이희진X이경영, 탄탄한 라인업 . 'Gangster High School' Hwang Bo-ra X Seo Tae-hwa X Lee Hee-jin X Lee Kyung-young, a solid lineup . 2024-06-21 . . ko . September 18, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240918054407/http://www.heraldpop.com/view.php?ud=202405221312226425581_1 . live .
11. Web site: Yoon . Seongyeol . 2023-09-26 . 신예 주윤찬, 웰스와 전속계약..'조폭인 내가 고등학생' 캐스팅 [공식] ]. Rookie Joo Yoon-chan signs exclusive contract with Wells... Casting for 'I'm a Gangster in High School' [Official] . 2024-06-21 . Star News . ko . June 21, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240621142535/https://www.starnewskorea.com/stview.php?no=2023092615115934557 . live .
12. Web site: Jang . Jin-ri . 2024-06-21 . '조폭고' 이정한 "'시작점'으로 기억될 작품…좋은 경험이자 원동력" . 'Gangster High School' Lee Jeong-han "A work that will be remembered as the 'starting point'... a good experience and driving force" . 2024-06-21 . SPOTV NEWS . ko . June 21, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240621142536/https://www.spotvnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=686716 . live .
13. Web site: Bong-seok . Son . May 28, 2024 . 신예 정지인, '조폭인 내가 고등학생이 되었습니다' 예지 역 낙점 . Rookie Jeong Ji-in selected for the role of Ye-ji in 'I, a Gangster, Became a High School Student' . . ko . . May 29, 2024 . June 17, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240617150827/https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/144/0000964512 . live .
14. Web site: Jang . Han-byeol . BL 원작에서 노선 바꾼 '고등학생이 되었습니다', 이유는 . The Reason It's Changed from an Original BL Story to a Story for "Becoming a High School Student" . . ko . August 2, 2024 . August 2, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240802085729/https://www.hankookilbo.com/News/Read/A2024022007010001273 . live .