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Life, Once Again!

Life, Once Again!

인생, 다시 한 번!

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Life Once Again,LOA,다시 한 번!,인생, 다시 한 번!

Life, Once Again!

Details

TypeWeb Novel
StatusCompleted
Start Date2014-04-10
End Date2017-01-20
Word Count/Chapter4000
Words4000000
Chapters1303
Last Updated3 weeks ago

Genres

DramaSlice of LifeFantasyRomance

Tags

ReincarnationSecond ChanceActingCelebrityModern SettingFamilyRegretMultiple POVEntertainment IndustryTime Loop

Content Warnings

  • Profanity
  • Mild Psychological Distress

My List

Overview

Synopsis

Han Maru, a 45-year-old bus driver, has lived a simple but fulfilling life with a loving wife and cherished daughter—until a sudden accident sends him back to his high school days with a chance to start over. At first, the second chance feels like a gift, but as memories of his previous life begin to fade, fear consumes him: what if he loses his wife and daughter forever? Complicating matters, the dream he abandoned long ago—becoming an actor—calls to him with renewed force and threatens everything he once held dear. Faced with a choice between reclaiming his family and chasing an unfulfilled dream, Maru must navigate the delicate balance between past wisdom and youthful ambition. The story follows his journey through the drama club and into the entertainment business, exploring themes of regret, second chances, and the meaning of a life well-lived. Set against the backdrop of 2002 Korea, the novel unfolds as a deeply human tale of reincarnation—not one of revenge or power-seeking, but of a man simply trying to correct small mistakes and enjoy being young again. With gentle pacing and multiple perspectives, it reveals a hidden layer: Maru's wife is the architect of a reincarnation cycle spanning thousands of lifetimes, and the story we read is ultimately the final, happy ending she grants them both.
Illustrators

Awawawart

Publishers
WuxiaworldTappytoonTapasWebnovel
Translator
KTLChamberEnsj
Author

Wise Dragon (어진용)

Languages
KoreanEnglish
Platform
WuxiaworldBIFROST

Read Available

English Platform
WuxiaworldWebnovelTappytoonTapas
Visit Official Website

Characters

Main

Han Maru

Main

Dojin

Main

Daemyung

Main

Maru's wife

Main

Geunseok

Relations

Adaptations
Life, Once Again! Manhwa

Notes

Special Notes

  • The "Gentle Reincarnation" Hook: Unlike the vast majority of regression/reincarnation web novels that center on revenge, power accumulation, or harem-building, Life, Once Again! is explicitly a "feels"-driven slice-of-life story. Maru is not a vengeful antihero—he's a kind bus driver who simply wants to correct small mistakes and enjoy being young again. One reviewer perfectly captured the tone with the quote: "Fun doesn't necessitate a risky adventure."
  • The "Acting Dream" Central Conflict: The entire 1,000+ chapter narrative is fundamentally about Maru's journey as an actor, from the high school drama club all the way into the professional entertainment business. This makes it a niche pick—readers who aren't interested in acting/celebrity arcs are explicitly warned off. The tension between his abandoned dream and his fading memories of his wife and daughter forms the emotional spine of the story.
  • The "Wife's Reincarnation Game" Twist: The novel's most shocking late-game revelation is that Maru's wife is the one orchestrating his repeated reincarnations—she is the reason he got stuck in a vicious cycle. According to forum spoilers, this is his 19,999th reincarnation, and the story we read is the final, happy ending she grants them. The perspective literally shifts to the wife after Maru dies near the end, recontextualizing the entire narrative.
  • The "2002 Korea" Period Detail: The novel is meticulously researched for its 2002 Korean setting, with reviewers praising the absence of anachronisms—no video calls in 2003, no smartphones before their time. This grounded historical accuracy gives the reincarnation premise a rare sense of authenticity, making Maru's nostalgia feel tangible rather than generic.
  • The "Multiple POV" Structure: The story smoothly transitions between multiple points of view, giving readers access to characters beyond Maru. This ensemble approach—combined with the gentle, river-like pacing—allows for deep character development across the sprawling 1,300-chapter length, including a 200+ chapter epilogue.
  • The "Translation Legacy" Factor: The English translation has a notable history—it was originally handled by translator Ensj (chapters 1–218), then passed to KTLChamber from chapter 219 onward, with editors Advy, Sighhhhh, and proofreader Sumguy rotating through the project. This multi-team transition is unusually well-documented on Wuxiaworld, reflecting the novel's long-running popularity and dedicated fanbase.

Contributors

Librarian's Notes

One of the most underrated webnovels in the industry. In 2026, if someone hears the two words "Korean" and "reincarnation," the first word that might come into your mouth is "another slop." But trust me, this novel hits different, and the reason is timing—it's pre-COVID 2017. One of the best-written webnovels of all time, I may say. Now you may ask what's special about it? Well, there is nothing! It's a story about a person who loves his family, and more importantly, his wife. He dies and reincarnates, but after reincarnation, he gains a small ability to read speech bubbles—and that's the extent of the powers and supernatural elements. If I have to talk about what I like the most, it's the regret: the MC regrets his past. He regrets not studying well, failing his loving parents and wife. (Like how I fear every day I'm wasting time, that I might not get a job, or won't have enough money to look after my parents—it truly scares me... but then again, I'm following what I like, but it's hard... and I don't know if I'll succeed). So in his next life, he chooses to follow rationality, not passion, but slowly this rational decision becomes passion, growth, and I love that fact... I didn't get to complete it, but up to what I've read, I know so much more about movie-making and cinema than average people. Overall, it's a great experience and a must-read... after writing this, I'm even going to give it a 10/10.

Contributors

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Beta Tester

6/23/2026

10/10
Truly an underrated novel of all time, seriously I don't know how much fan base it has... but one thing is I like this novel very much!