Data storage device performing recovery operation after sudden power-off and operating method thereof

A method for operating a data storage device, comprising:

• performing a level 2 designation operation, by storing start data in a level 2 management block including a plurality of level 2 regions, storing a location of the level 2 management block in a level 1 management block including a plurality of level 1 regions, and storing integrity check data in the level 2 management block;
• and
• performing a recovery operation to the level 1 management block depending on a state of a current level 2 management block corresponding to a last location stored in the level 1 management block in the case where a sudden power-off occurs.

A controller comprising:

• a block designation circuit configured to designate a first memory block in a nonvolatile memory device for storing management data, and controlling the nonvolatile memory device to sequentially store first and second data in the first memory block and to store location information of the first memory block in a second memory block thereof;
• and
• a recovery circuit configured to control the nonvolatile memory device to perform a recovery operation to the second memory block according to a state of the first memory block after a sudden power-off.