“Second chance” in this context can mean a chance to turn your current life around or going back in time to redo a life that’s often a failed one. I tried to limit this list to only include those novels which had a certain degree of realism as much as possible. Furthermore, each of the novels in this list bear a resemblance to one another.
God of Cooking (KR)
Jo Minjoon originally dreamed of becoming a chef, but due to his parent’s opposition, he gave up on it. As his parents wished, he chose to be a high school teacher. It was neither that much of a success nor a failure of a career; it was a stable job. However, he realized that teaching wasn’t his calling; and that he was meant to do something else. One day, he resigned from his job, and started working at a restaurant. He was a dishwasher who, in his free time, learned how to make salads and some side dishes. That’s it. He is now 30 years old at a dead end job, and nowhere near to becoming a chef. Starting late on this path was his biggest regret. He wishes for nothing except for the chance to go back in time; and he gets it.
My Rating: 8/10
The Great Storyteller (KR)
When he was in high school, Yun Woo submitted a manuscript to a writing contest. This won him 1st place in the contest, and the story he wrote as a way of venting his anger got published. He thought that was the end of it, but surprisingly, his book became a best-seller. Opportunities brought by fame came to him, a naive high school student. It did not end well for him because after his initial success, his subsequent works weren’t well-received. Thirty years passed, he is now 47 years old without a home, with only a bottle of alcohol to keep him warm. He regretted being greedy for wealth and fame. On a rail by the river, he was leaning in close when he slipped and drowned, or so he thought.
My Rating: 9/10
Life, Once Again! (KR)
All of his passengers lived, while he, the driver, died. This was the last good thing Han Maru did before a bus accident killed him. He was an honest bus driver, and a person who cared a lot about his family. When he woke up to the presence of an angel, the first of his concerns were his passengers and his family. When he was alive, Han Maru had shown kindness to others in passing; and although he didn’t think much of it, the ones he helped did. The deceased old lady whom he helped occasionally was given a chance to relive her life again by the angel. Nonetheless, she gave her chance to Han Maru.
My Rating: 8/10
Genius of a Performing Arts High (KR)
Future Performing Arts School was a place where the best art prodigies gather; and Jo Yunjae was lucky enough to be accepted into this school’s opera department. What he lacked in talent, he made up for in passion. Ten years since then, nevertheless he was still dedicated to opera as a baritone. However, a huge setback turned him into a shut-in. If it weren’t for his empty wallet, he wouldn’t have sung in a play. His lucky chance happened after a Christmas eve gig at a church because after that, he woke up to 20 years ago, the day before his high school admission
My Rating: 8/10
About the Reckless Girl Who Kept Challenging a Reborn Man Like Me (JP)
Most rebirth stories tell the tale of the protagonist changing the world because he knew more now than before. However, reality is not like that at all. “A prodigy at ten, a genius at fifteen, a common man past twenty.”, this quote cannot be more accurate to the protagonist. Although he regressed. he still lacked the talent to make his dreams come true because against the truly talented people who are as hardworking as him, the starting line is just too far apart. He saw all of this unfold in the presence of his childhood friend and rival, a girl genius. Yet, maybe a life of mediocrity isn’t so bad at all. What matters the most is how you live it.
My Rating: 10/10 (This was originally a short story.)
God of Music (KR)
He owed millions to loan sharks, and because he can’t pay his employees properly, they left him. Lee Kang Yon was a failed planner of an entertainment agency. It wasn’t like this back when he was just starting; he had a few successes here and there until he ran out of luck. Every music album he put his hands on always failed which eventually led to him gaining the infamous moniker “Minus Hand”. He received a news that his sister, whose medical treatment relied on him, was in a serious condition. As he was urgently looking for a taxi, he was ran over by a truck, and woke up to 10 years in the past.
My Rating: 8/10
Big Life (KR)
Ha Jaegun was a third-rate writer. He was destitute, exhausted and depressed. The years of receiving nothing but negative results for all his efforts have taken a toll in his confidence as an author. While he was on his way home from a gathering, a fallen-down tombstone from the hillside caught his eye. No one seemed to have visited it for so long that it was overgrown with weeds. Feeling somehow similar to the tombstone’s situation, he pulled it back to an upright position, and tidied it up despite his drunken state. Suddenly, he saw a cat sitting on a box. The items inside will change the trajectory of his life.
My Rating: 7.5/10
Past Life Returner (KR)
February 28, 1985 was the date of his birth. Na Seon Hu chose to go back all the way to his life’s starting point. It was a time before the apocalypse came and humanity was enslaved. He knows that a powerful ability alone can’t protect anyone from what’s to come. What’s the first step? Earn money… So much money that the entire world will be at his beck and call.
My Rating: 8.5/10
Starting Over (JP)
Most, if not all, have one regret or two in their lifetime that they wish never happened. Thoughts like “If only I did this or did that…” or “If only I can go back in time…” aren’t alien to any human being; but what if you are given the chance to do so? Will you change anything or just live life the same way? When he turned 20 years old, the protagonist of the this story was sent back to 10 years ago and was confronted with this question.
My Rating: 8/10
Top Management (KR)
Jung Sunwoo wasn’t exactly talented in any sense of the word. That was about to change when a dream that he thought nothing much of started happening in real life. Apart from the dreams giving him foresight, he also got a synesthesia-esque ability. While originally planning to be a manager for actors and actresses, a series of events led him into falling in love with music and dreaming of creating music that will leave a golden mark in history while slowly traversing the complexities of show business and human relationships.
My Rating: 7/10
(Last updated on October 29, 2023 UTC+08:00)
Iyashi's Long-windedness 
very nice reco~
LikeLike