If you’ve spent any time reading the Weak Hero webtoon, you know that the moment Donald Na (or Na Baek-jin) enters a scene, the temperature in the room basically drops ten degrees. He isn't just some final boss at the end of a video game. He is a force of nature. Honestly, it’s rare to see a character in the "delinquent school" genre who manages to be both a terrifying physical combatant and a literal business genius.
Most people see him as just the "evil leader" of the Union. That’s a huge mistake.
To really understand Donald Na, you have to look at the cracks in the armor. He’s a guy who built a financial empire while most kids his age were worried about midterms. But beneath the Versace shirts and the "KING" tattoos on his fingers, there is a story that is genuinely tragic.
The Myth of Donald Na and the Reality of Na Baek-jin
Let’s get one thing straight: Donald Na is the ultimate foil to Gray Yeon. While Gray is the "White Mamba" who uses his brain to survive being physically small, Donald is what happens when you combine that level of IQ with a body that can actually go toe-to-toe with monsters like Ben Park.
He didn't start at the top.
Donald grew up in a world that basically tried to eat him alive. His mother was terminally ill, and his stepfather was an absolute scumbag who eventually ran off with the life insurance money. In school, he wasn’t the popular kid; he was the poor kid being bullied by students and exploited by teachers who made him do their chores.
🔗 Read more: Ghostbusters New Movie Cast: What Most People Get Wrong About the Future Lineup
That kind of environment does something to a person. It makes them realize that the only things that matter are power and money. He didn't just decide to be a "thug." He decided to become a system.
Why the Union is a Business, Not Just a Gang
The Yeongdeungpo Union isn't just a group of kids hitting each other with pipes. It’s a sophisticated operation. Donald Na basically revitalized failing businesses, like the KHG uniform company, by forcing schools into the ecosystem. He turned school-level bullying into a corporate structure.
- Intelligence: He won three million won just by solving a math problem so complex he practically wrote the book on it.
- Charisma: He controls guys like Wolf Keum and Jimmy Bae—people who hate being told what to do—through sheer intimidation and the promise of profit.
- Decisiveness: If someone is useless, they are out. No second chances.
It’s easy to hate him for how he treats people like Eugene. But from Donald’s perspective, the world is a zero-sum game. You are either the hammer or the anvil.
The Ending Everyone Argues About
Okay, we have to talk about the finale. If you haven't finished the webtoon, look away now.
The final showdown between Donald Na and Gray Yeon is probably one of the most stressful things I’ve ever read. Gray did everything right. He wore a bulletproof vest, used grease on his jacket to make Donald’s grip slip, and even targeted the ankle injury Donald got from his fight with Changhui Han.
And Donald still won.
That’s the part that sticks in people’s craw. In most stories, the "weak hero" finds a way to win. But in the reality of the webtoon, Donald was simply too much of a wall. He beat Ben Park. He beat Gray. He proved he was the strongest.
The Accident That Changed Everything
What happens next is where the fandom gets split. After winning the fight, Donald is exhausted. He’s mentally done. He disbands the Union. He basically gives up the empire he spent years building because, for the first time, he felt "stopped" by Gray’s tenacity.
Then comes the truck.
Some fans call it "Truck-kun" and hate that such a legendary fighter died in a traffic accident. I look at it differently. Donald Na was a character that no human could beat. The only thing that could take him out was fate—or a literal ton of moving steel.
His dying thoughts are the most heartbreaking part of the entire series. He wonders if he and Gray could have been friends if things were different. He imagines a world where they’re just normal students. It shows that beneath the "Emperor" persona, he was just a kid who wanted a connection he never got.
Manhwa vs. Live Action: A Different Beast
If you’ve only watched the K-Drama (Weak Hero Class 1 and Class 2), you’re seeing a slightly different version of Na Baek-jin.
In the show, played by Bae Na-ra, he still has that chilling aura, but the pacing is different. The live action focuses heavily on the "Union" as an underground syndicate with ties to actual adult gangsters like CEO Choi.
Some manhwa purists feel the show makes him look a bit more like a "pawn" to adults, whereas in the webtoon, Donald Na was the one holding the leash. He blackmailed principals. He manipulated government officials. He was the boss, period.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Readers
If you're trying to wrap your head around his character arc, here’s how to view the legacy of Donald Na:
- Read the Backstory Chapters Carefully: The details about his mother and the "notes" she left him are crucial. It explains why he snapped when the bullies destroyed them. It wasn't just about the bullying; it was about the destruction of his only link to love.
- Look for the Foil Imagery: Pay attention to how often Donald and Gray are positioned in similar ways. They are two sides of the same coin. Gray chose friends; Donald chose power.
- The "Sand Castle" Metaphor: Donald’s empire was built on fear. The moment he died, it all vanished. This contrasts with Gray’s group, which stayed together because they actually liked each other.
Donald Na isn't a hero. He did terrible things. But he is a reminder that the "monsters" in our society are often built by the systems that failed them when they were most vulnerable. He was a genius who used his gifts to build a cage because he was too afraid to be weak again.
If you want to understand the full weight of his death, go back and look at the panel where his ashes are placed next to his mother’s. That’s the only place he ever truly wanted to be.
To get the most out of the story, re-read the Yeouinaru arc with the knowledge of his childhood. It changes every interaction he has with his subordinates from "bossing them around" to "protecting the only stability he has."