History Manhwa / TheBreaker

** In Part II Shi-Woon's [[spoiler: broken ki center]] qualifies, as it [[spoiler: prevents him from doing high level martial arts without injury to himself. Most of the time, at least. Though as of the latest ark he's fully recovered and stronger than ever.]]

* GunsAreWorthless: Partially subverted but mostly played straight. Guns are a threat to most normal Murim-in, unfortunately the people using them are [[Badass:rarely facing the normal Murim-in]] and the result is generally [[CurbStompBattle:fairly predictable]].

** Deconstructed in New Waves with a wider variety of villains, which include {{Card Carrying Villain}}s, a couple {{Obviously Evil}} characters, and even a {{Complete Monster}}.

* AdultsAreUseless: Well any adult that isn't a Murim. Shi Woon is tormented endlessly by Chang Ho at school, [[spoiler: at one point being beaten by a bat in the middle of the hallway]] and the teachers are nowhere to be found. Not even his own mother notices any of attacks and beatings prior to this.

* BoundAndGagged: Shioon in chapter 71 of ''New Waves.'' It ain't pretty...can you say, StrappedToAnOperatingTable?

* BrokenMasquerade: Part of the meaning of the Title. The Nine Arts Dragon and members of the Black Forest Defense Group [[spoiler: and later the [[FunWithAcronyms S.U.C]] ]] are breaking long standing traditions around Murim society and especially its separation from interacting in view of the [[{{Muggles}} normal world]].

* BystanderSyndrome: Until Chun Woo showed up, no one does anything about Chang Ho's frequent assaults on Shi Woon.

* CerebusSyndrome: Interesting version of this. The first few chapters are actually fairly depressing with Shi Woon constantly being bullied. Then the mood gets lighter and more comical once Shiho arrives and as Shi-Woon TookALevelInBadass. [[spoiler: The last few chapters of the first series are pretty dark though, at least until the launch of the second series.]]

* ChekhovsGun: [[spoiler: The SUC code card Shi Woon was given back in chapter 35 of New Waves finally is used over 30 chapters later. ]]
** It appears that the blood sample Shi Woon traded to the doctor may be one in regards to [[spoiler:the attempt to bring Shiho back from the dead.]]

* CurbStompBattle: Mamungi and his gang, who'd absolutely brutalized Shi Woon, don't do so well against Chun Woo.
** Shi Woon vs Hyuk So Chun a unique twist because of Hyuk So's own conditions he "lost", but Shi Woon got his ass completely handed to him a dozen times over without doing any damage the entire time.
** Shi-Woon has handed out a few of these recently with the most impressive probably being when he [[spoiler: is under-estimated by one of the 5 heads of the SUC only to completely KO the guy in THREE HITS, with the last one blasting him down the length of a hallway and through a door.]]

* DangerousForbiddenTechnique: Gijuu during his fight with Chun Woo, was using level 10th Strong Metal Hand, without having a body capable of withstanding the strain it put on his hands. If [[spoiler: he survived the fight]] he would've been a cripple for the rest of his life.

* DeathGlare: Chun Woo is a pro with these, and Shi Woon is not half bad himself.
* TheDeterminator: Most of the martial artists to some degree, but Shi Woon takes the cake.

* DistressedDude: Shi Woon gets into some pretty extreme situations after meeting Chun Woo.

* DontYouDarePityMe: Jinie seems to take Shi Woon's nice guy personality to her as this early in the story.

** In Part II Shi Woon's [[spoiler: broken ki center]] qualifies, as it [[spoiler: prevents him from doing high level martial arts without injury to himself. Most of the time, at least. Though as of the latest ark he seems to be fully recovered.]]

* [[DudeShesLikeInAComa Dude He's Like In A Coma]]: Jinie seemed to attempt this with Shi Woon, but [[MomentKiller her cell phone goes off]] and she loses her nerve.

** Jinie, the girl who chewed out Shi Woon for trying to help her earlier.
* EarlyBirdCameo: Fattie, one of the members of the [=SUC=] and security for Shi Woon's school is seen in chapter 2 being yelled at by the principle.
* EasilyForgiven: [[spoiler: Elder Kwon. He eventually changes his mind and devotes himself to Shi Woon and comes to accept Jinie. But he still doesn't face much punishment or even apologize for attempting to kill Shi Woon several times, exiling his own daughter over an arranged political marriage, and emotionally abusing his own orphaned granddaughter, deeming her a useless foreigner.]]
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Yong-Hyun expresses disgust at [[spoiler: Sung-Jae bragging about hospitalizing Shioon's mother.]]

* EvilOldFolks: Chief of the Alliance in Part 1, [[spoiler: Sun Woo clan elder, Kwon Jae Kyu assumes that role in New Waves.
** [[spoiler:Elder Kwon isn't actually evil, it's just that he's devoted his whole life to the well-being of the Sun Woo clan. He's a lot nicer once Shi Woon proves himself worthy of being the new head and it's clarified that his daughter never betrayed him.]]

* TheFarmerAndTheViper: [[UngratefulBastard Li Joo.]] Turns out you can't be nice to everybody, [[AllLovingHero Shi Woon.]]

* GratuitousGerman: Chapter 86 of ''New Waves'' has the line "du armer Freund" (You poor friend) which not only plain wrong grammatically but also not something an actual native speaker would say in that situation, even if the grammar were correct.

* LetsYouAndHimFight: [[spoiler: Elder Kwong did this to Shioon and Yong-Hyun]]

-->[[spoiler:'''Li Jioo''' *as she strangles Shioon*]]: Die!

** [[spoiler: Li Jioo is petrified by Elder Kwong's aura after finding out S.U.C. gravely injured Jinie. Even Shioon is terrified by it.]]

* SuperToughness: Shioon.

* VillainProtagonist: [[spoiler: It is not clear until halfway through New Waves that we come to realize that Chun-Woo was always the baddest guy in a world of GreyAndGrayMorality, barring Shioon's Idealism]].

* DynamicEntry: [[spoiler: Kangsung]]
** And now Jinie, the girl who chewed out Shi Woon for trying to help her earlier.

* AdultsAreUseless: Well any adult that isn't a Murim. Shi Woon is tormented endlessly by Chang Ho at school, [[spoiler: at one point being beaten by a bat in the middle of the hallway]] and the teachers are nowhere to be found. Not even his own mother notices any of attacks and beatings prior to this. Averted with the Murim adults.

* BewareTheNiceOnes: Shi Woon is the nicest guy in the series but hurt his family and friends [[spoiler:(or keep him from saving a friend who got horribly injured saving ''his'' ass)]] and even ''[[TheMessiah HE]]'' will seriously consider killing you.

* TheFarmerAndTheViper: [[UngratefulBastard Li Joo.]] Turns out you can't be nice to everybody, [[TheMessiah Shi Woon.]]

* [[spoiler:GiveHimANormalLife]]

* HeroicSacrifice: Jung Jipsa, and then [[spoiler: Chun Woo's master]] in a flashback

* HopelessBossFight: Shi Woon vs. Hyuk So Chun

* IdiosyncraticEpisodeNaming: In New Waves it's Battle 1, 2, 3 etc

* InvisibleToNormals

* AdultsAreUseless: Well any adult that isn't a Murim. Shi Woon is tormented endlessly by Chang Ho at school, [[spoiler: at one point being beaten by a bat in the middle of the hallway]] and the teachers are nowhere to be found. Not even his own mother notices any of this. Averted with the Murim adults.

* DisproportionateRetribution: Shioon is at the receiving end of this just for being Chun Woo's disciple. Jinnie is also at the receiving end of this, because her mother, Lady Hae-jin, ran away to the United States and breaking the arranged marriage that Elder Kwon had set up for her and the previous head of the Sunwoo Clan.

** In Part II Shi Woon's [[spoiler: broken ki center]] qualifies, as it [[spoiler: prevents him from doing high level martial arts without injury to himself. Most of the time, at least.]]

** Subverted completely with the head of the S.U.C. who has no problems [[spoiler: attacking a school to get at Shi-Woon and the Sunwoo clan]].

** Ha-ll Kang is this to Ji-Nie and Shi Woon.

** HeIsNotMyBoyfriend moment comes from New Wave Jinie towards Shoon Yi. Though the LuminescentBlush she gives off while around him makes it so EveryoneCanSeeIt.

* SpannerInTheWorks: Shi-Woon.

* SpringtimeForHitler: Shi-Woon asks the Sun Woo heads to train him, and they agree... with the intention of [[TrainingFromHell training him so intensely]] that he would burn out and not be able to continue. Instead he takes the training in stride, shocking everyone, and it is revealed that [[spoiler: he still has his HealingFactor due to his whole body being infused with ki, despite his ki center being broken]].

* SupernaturalMartialArts
* SuperSerum: [[spoiler: How Shi Woon was able to do martial arts after the destruction of his ki center at the end of Part 1 for most of New Waves. Also revealed later to be how the S.U.C. are able to get non murim to be able to perform [[SupernaturalMartialArts murim techniques]] without the normal extensive training.]]

* SuspiciouslySpecificDenial: Shiho casually mentions that it's been a few days since Shion last came by. Shosul then loudly proclaims that she has no interest in guys like him. [[LampshadeHanging Shiho points out that she didn't ask.]]

** Uttered repeatedly by [[spoiler: Shi-Woon's]] opponents in Series 2 generally by the person he's fighting or some bystander.

* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity: The Black Origin Threshold is described as "the highest existing level of the martial spirit" that had previously only been found in legends. Unfortunately using this technique pushes the user into an uncontrollable, AxCrazy, [[UnstoppableRage rage-driven]] [[SuperpoweredAlterId state of mind]] in which they cannot distinguish friend from foe.

* BladeRun: [[spoiler:In New Waves, Shi-Woon seemed to lure Ju Sang Sik into showing him an opening by which he launched a powerful attack, only for once the dust to settle after the attack to reveal Ju Sang Sik had evaded it [[RuleOfCool by balancing himself off Shi-Woon's out stretched fist... on one finger]].]]

* CantCatchUp: The bullies.

* CerebusSyndrome: Interesting version of this. The first few chapters are actually fairly depressing with Shi Woon constantly being bullied. Then the mood gets lighter and more comical once Shiho arrives and as Shi Woon TookALevelInBadass. [[spoiler: Then Shiho dies, and the story becomes darker again until the launch of the second series.]]

* DangerousForbiddenTechnique: Gijuu during his fight with Chun Woo, was using level 10th Strong Metal Hand, without having the body, capable of withstanding the strain it put on his hands. If [[spoiler: he survived the fight]] he would've been a cripple for the rest of his life.

* EasilyForgiven: [[spoiler: Elder Kwon. He eventually changes his mind and devotes himself to Shi Woon and comes to accept Jini. But he still doesn't face much punishment or even apologize for attempting to kill Shi Woon several times, exiling his own daughter over an arranged political marriage, and emotionally abusing his own orphaned granddaughter, deeming her a useless foreigner.]]

* EvilOldFolks: Chief of the Alliance in Part 1, [[spoiler: Sun Woo clan elder, Kwon Jae Kyu assumes that role in New Waves]].

* {{Fanservice}}: Mostly [[MsFanservice Shiho]], though Yoon Ji and even Sae He have their moments. In New Waves Jinie provides most of it, as she frequently wears clothing that shows off [[ShesGotLegs her assets]]. Taken UpToEleven in recent chapters, where she's stuck in a skimpy maid outfit.

* PoliceAreUseless: Even the ordinary SUC fighters were able to defeat ordinary patrolmen and the NPA's famed anti-riot division.

* PressurePoint

* SuspiciouslySpecificDenial: Shiho casually mentions that it's been a few days since Shion last came by. Shosul then loudly proclaims that she has no interest in guys like him. [[LampshadeHanging Shiho points out that she didn't ask]].

* TimeLimitBoss: Gijuu had rigged the place to blow up within 10 minutes.

* TookALevelInBadass: Shi Woon, ''majorly.''
** [[spoiler: Chang Ho in New Waves as a member of SUC. ]]

* WillTheyOrWontThey: Chun Woo and Shiho. [[spoiler: They do.]] [[spoiler: Until Murim kills her.]] [[spoiler: And as of Chapter 38 of New Waves, no she's not dead!]]

** In general, a lot of the events going on could've simply been avoided if anyone Shi-Woon encountered would simply ask him what he knows. Instead, they senselessly fight him or otherwise occupy his time.

* PoorCommunicationKills: Shi-Woon is attacked by Yoo Ji-Gun because he thought Shi-Woon was a member of the S.U.C. that was running around causing trouble under the name of the Nine Arts Dragon. If he bothered to actually talk things over with Shi-Woon, that would have be cleared up immediately. To his credit, it was established that Shi-Woon had mysterious allies protecting him and the Sunwoo Clan was trying to keep the outside world from realising Shi-Woon was the new Clan Head.

-> "Isn't it better to fight and lose than not fight at all?"

Part one ends after 10 Volumes (72 chapters), after which a TimeSkip occurs. Part Two is called [[OddlyNamedSequel The Breaker: New Waves]].

Has a character page [[Characters/TheBreaker here]].

* HardWorkHardlyWorks: Shi-Woon, seems to learn techniques that would take years after just seeing them once. Sera even lampshades this fact with GreenEyedMonster jealousy at this fact.

* ButtMonkey: Shi Woon. Also Yoon Ji has her moments of this, thanks to the running gag of her dates with Chun Woo ending poorly. Especially since it's all PlayedForLaughs.

* CerebusSyndrome: Interesting version of this. The first few chapters are actually fairly depressing with Shi Woon constantly being bullied. Then the mood gets lighter and more comical once Shiho arrives and as Shi Woon TookALevelInBadass. [[spoiler: Then Shiho dies, and the story becomes darker again.]]

* ChekhovsGunman: [[spoiler: Hyun Tae, who went crazy after Gijuu's death and tried to get revenge on Chun Woo only to get beat up earlier in the story when they first meet.]]
** [[spoiler: Much more on the spot is [[ManipulativeBastard Jung Lae Won]] aka the [[ScaryShinyGlasses bespectacled]] government agent]]

* BigBreastsBigDeal: Kim Soon Lee is Murim but her main technique is only a leg swipe because her breasts got in the way of everything else.

** [[spoiler: Much more on the spot is [[ManipulativeBastard Jung Raewon]] aka the [[ScaryShinyGlasses bespectacled]] government agent]]

* DrivenToSuicide: [[InterruptedSuicide Almost]].

* GetAHoldOfYourselfMan: Delivered by [[spoiler: Shi Woon]] to [[spoiler: Chun Woo while in Demon King mode]], no less!

** As of New Waves, Shi Woon [[spoiler: still has it to a degree.]]

* MadeOfIron: ''Anyone'' who fights.

* ManipulativeBastard: Quite a few notables include Jung Raewon and Sera Kang

* HotForStudent: Shiho isn't really, but she [[TheTease teases]] Shi Woon in a couple instances. It's very awkward for him.

* IDidntMeanToTurnYouOn: Shion tends to evoke this in his love interests. Especially Jinie.

* [[IHaveNoSon I Have No Granddaughter]]: Jinie's grandfater thinks of her as nothing more than a useless child. Even when one asks him about saving her, he merely replies, "I never saw that red headed foreigner as my family".

* KickChick: Jinie

** [[spoiler: Later on Jung Chun and Jae Gal manage to do this to Sun Woo and the Alliance]].

** In New Waves it appears to be Shi Woon, Sera, Jinie, as Sae He and Sosul have been {{Put On A Bus}}.

* OldMaster: The Chief for sure and later Elder Kwong Jae-Kyu.
* OnlyMostlyDead: [[spoiler: Shiho. Wonjae appears to be keeping her in a state of suspension and plans to revive her later]].

* RunTheGauntlet: Shi Woon goes through a smaller scale version at the start of the final arc of Part 1 going from a skirms with Chang Ho through various Mooks in the rain and ending with Kangsung and later Yu Gyu Bum. Chun Woo goes through the a more literal one when he decides TrapIsTheOnlyOption later in the same arc.
** [[spoiler: Jinie in New Waves goes through one as well.]]

* SelfSacrificeScheme: [[spoiler: Sera when confronting Bae Sung-Jae in the dark to let Shi Woon escape.]]

* ShouldntWeBeInSchoolRightNow: [[spoiler: Shi Woon, Jinie and Yoo Ji Gun after the first two dozen chapters of New Waves, when the SUC take more story prominence. ]]

* SpannerInTheWorks: Shi Woon.

* SpringtimeForHitler: Shi Woon asks the Sun Woo heads to train him, and they agree... with the intention of [[TrainingFromHell training him so intensely]] that he would burn out and not be able to continue. Instead he takes the training in stride, shocking everyone, and it is revealed that [[spoiler: he still has his HealingFactor due to his whole body being infused with ki, despite his ki center being broken]].

* SuperSerum: [[spoiler: How Shi Woon is able to do martial arts after the destruction of his ki center at the end of Part 1. Also revealed later to be how the S.U.C. are able to get non murim to be able to perform [[SupernaturalMartialArts murim techniques]] without the normal extensive training.]]

* TooAwesomeToUse: Shi Woon's powers, without proper training, can kill ordinary people which is why several characters prevent him from using it on some bullies. They also rip his body a part without proper training.

* WillTheyOrWontThey: Chun Woo and Shiho. [[spoiler: They do.]] [[spoiler: Until Murim kills her.]] [[spoiler: And as of Chapter 38, no she's not dead!]]