Almost half of all gangsters currently imprisoned hope to return to their organizations after their release, according to a recent Justice Ministry survey.

In the survey conducted on 751 mobsters in 41 prisons nationwide between 1999 and 2000, 46 percent of the pollees said they want to return to their groups, while 47 percent said they had no such plans.

While some said they hope to return to their groups out of "a sense of obligation," others said it is because "they have no other way of making a living."

With those responses, the ministry pointed out that the social environment must be changed and cooperation from society is necessary to prevent gangsters from returning to the underworld.

Some 35 percent of respondents said they regret having joined organized crime groups, while 24 percent said they have no regrets.

Forty percent said they were unsure if it was a good decision or not.

Asked the benefit of belonging to a mob, many said it made "conducting their duties" easier, while others said it was exciting.

The mobsters also see disadvantages in being part of the underworld. Many said it negatively affected their families, while others said they were unable to conduct normal everyday life after joining the mob.

Among reasons for not being able to leave their groups, many listed obligations to the mob as well as being unable to cut ties with their bosses and sworn brothers, according to the survey.

Asked what would enable them to leave the underworld, many responded that they need to cut contacts with their mob headquarters. Some also said they need to find a solid income source and people with whom they can consult.