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As the Korean Wave (also known as the Hallyu Wave) sweeps across the globe, we’re seeing specific elements of Korean culture gaining more popularity on the international scale. Things like Korean dramas, K-pop, and webtoons—also known as manhwa—have gained the attention of people across the world, making them leading factors for the Hallyu Wave.
With the rise of Webtoons in recent years, it’s sparked a debate between readers. Webtoon vs. Manga, which is better? Though they’re not exactly the same, they are similar enough that many who read webtoons began as manga readers. But which is more popular now that technology has been integrated into society more? And why do we even have this debate?
Webtoon vs. Manga: What’s the difference?
While webtoons and mangas are similar enough for readers to switch between them, they each have their own unique characteristics. From the way they’re read to the genres the encompass, they are both great in their own ways.
In the most basic definition, webtoons are digital/web comics. They originated in South Korea around the 1990s/2000s as computers and smartphones started gaining traction.
Because of their digital nature, webtoons are designed specifically with scroll-related features. They have vertical layouts, adaptability for various devices, and appealing colors. They’re most often read from top to bottom, left to right. Some incorporate music to listen to while scrolling, but not all of them do.
To read webtoons, you can visit various websites or apps through your computer and phone. The most popular websites for Korean-language webtoons include KAKAO Webtoon and NAVER Webtoon. For translated versions or webtoons in the English language, you can check out the Line Webtoon app or website (a worldwide service from NAVER—it translates webtoons into various languages, not just English). Other popular sites for English translated webtoons include Tapas and Lezhin Comics.
Many have said that webtoons tend to stick to similar themes and genres. Though this isn’t completely true—there are webtoons for nearly every genre, including Action, Comedy, Romance, and more—there does seem to be an overarching feeling to webtoons that mangas don’t delve into. There’s almost a lightheartedness to them; most end up the way you expect them to and they stick to a lot of themes that gain views and likes. This doesn’t mean they’re repetitive, though, each webtoon dives into a theme in their own unique way. It’s just that they’re not always that surprising to read.
Compared to webtoons, mangas take on a very different visual appearance. Most often, mangas are black and white—very rarely will you see them made with color—and they are read right to left. They are also most often found as physical books.
Though they have a long history dating back to the 12th century, the term manga itself originated in Japan around the 18th-19th centuries. It refers to the cartoon, comics, and animation style that these specific books held. Further, in Japan, they also use manga to refer to anime—which is a term most international countries refer to television adaptations of mangas. But manga is a general term used to describe it all.
As mentioned, mangas are typically read as physical books. You can find manga sections in many bookstores around the world, showing that mangas are one of the largest industries for Japan. You can also find mangas translated into multiple different languages depending on where you live. Further, as the world gets more technology-based, mangas have taken to the internet more—though they do stick to the traditional black and white. One of the largest web-based manga sites is Pixiv, a place where manga readers and artists can share their love for mangas. The site has millions of members and is available in multiple languages.
Though mangas have such a distinct style, many have switched from reading mangas to reading webtoons because of those features. Some find it more appealing to read stories in color while others enjoy the ease of scrolling through a story rather than flipping pages of a book.
As technology continues to be the leading industry for the world, we’re seeing webtoons flourish under that attention. More and more, the webtoon industry is being talked about around the world. Some webtoons have taken to the international stage, gaining so much attention around the world it’s hard not to know about them.
But why is this? How did webtoons become so popular?
1. The Hallyu Wave
One of the biggest influences for the webtoons industry growth is the Hallyu Wave itself. As mentioned, the Hallyu Wave refers to the growing popularity of Korean culture and Korean entertainment across the world.
Most noticeably, K-pop has grown immensely popular internationally. As more fans are learning about the Korean culture in order to know more about their idols, they’re stumbling into other aspects of the Hallyu Wave (such as webtoons). Additionally, many idols and other famous Korean figures have spoken about webtoons they enjoy reading. Because of this, their fans have learned about certain webtoons and have even looked further into that industry.
As South Korea gains more attention from the Hallyu Wave, it only makes sense that webtoons gain that same amount of attention. With the availability of translations and adaptability for various devices, they have reached even the furthest corners of the world. And as long as the Hallyu Wave continues, webtoons will only reach more people.
Even more than the webtoon industry, the K-drama industry is absolutely massive throughout the entire world. There are millions of watchers, thousands of dedicated fans, and even more discovering K-dramas every day. As fans take to researching the backstory of K-dramas, many end up reading the webtoons they were inspired by. Most especially enjoy reading the webtoon to see the differences between the K-drama adaptation and the actual story itself.
Such highly watched K-dramas—like True Beauty and Itaewon Class—were able to introduce more people to webtoons. This helped spread webtoons even further. And readers of webtoons enjoyed watching their favorites being adapted into K-dramas, driving more and more adaptations being made. Truly, the K-drama and webtoon industries really help each other out.
So… Webtoon vs. Manga, which one is more popular?
That’s a pretty tough question with no right or wrong answer. Generally speaking, both are pretty popular in their own way. It’s mainly up to the reader to decide which one they prefer reading—though many do read both still.
With how long manga has been around, there’s really no “taking over” popularity from it. Manga has already set its roots deep into the hearts of readers and it’s not going to lose that any time soon. Especially since mangas were the start for a lot of comic/cartoon-based content. Webtoons wouldn’t be what they are today if there weren’t any mangas.
On the other hand, webtoons will only pick up more attention from here. With the continuous Hallyu Wave, the K-drama adaptations, and the accessibility around the world, the webtoon industry is only going to get more readers along the way. And, thus, the debate of webtoon vs. manga will continue pretty indefinitely.
Still, though, we won’t be able to truly say one is more popular than the other. It will mainly be discussions on which you prefer.
Between webtoons and mangas, do you have a preference? Do you like the ease of scrolling, the colors, and the web-based factor? Or do you prefer the classic black and white, more diverse genres, and physical books?
If you’ve got a love for Webtoons and a love for Korean dramas then you’re in luck! With the success of Webtoon to K-drama adaptations in 2020 and 2021, there are even more adaptations expected to be made this upcoming year.
From the action-packed and fast-paced Webtoons to the soft and romantic ones, the Webtoon to K-drama adaptations of 2022 won’t disappoint. Along with the rest of the K-dramas coming out in 2022, these ten are a must to check out! If you’re curious about which adaptations came out in 2021, feel free to check out this article about them—there are plenty of amazing ones there that you either didn’t know were based on Webtoons or new ones that you can enjoy!
Webtoon to K-Drama Adaptations of 2022: Romance / Drama
Starting off strong, these four Webtoon to K-drama adaptations of 2022 will capture your heart and make you fall in love with the characters (as they inevitably fall in love with each other, of course). After the success of adaptations True Beauty and Imitation, there were bound to be more romance/drama Webtoon to K-drama adaptations. These four will not only make your heart race with each passing episode, but they’ll bring you an unexplainable warmth that other genres can’t replicate.
A Business Proposal (Release: Feb. 21 – Mar. 15)
Kicking off our list, we have the upcoming Webtoon to K-drama adaptation A Business Proposal.
With twelve total episodes, the upcoming Webtoon to K-drama adaptation of A Business Proposal is set to follow main characters Shin Ha-ri and Kang Tae-mu. Tae-mu is the CEO of a company founded by his grandfather. When his grandfather keeps setting him up on blind dates, Tae-mu decides to marry the next one just to make them stop. That just happens to be Ha-ri… who’s actually pretending to be someone else. And did we mention that Ha-ri works for Tae-mu?
With a lot of quirky moments and an interesting plot, this Webtoon to K-drama adaptation is bound to keep you entertained. Its release is scheduled to start at the end of February, so make sure to keep an eye out for it! It’ll be released on Netflix for everyone to watch.
The next Webtoon to K-drama adaptation of 2022 on our list is See You in My 19th Life, a drama that will combine romance with the fascinating ability to remember your past lives.
Unfortunately, we don’t have too much information about the upcoming K-drama for this Webtoon. What we do know, though, is that it will follow the same kind of plot—the main character, Ban Ji-eum, is cut short during her eighteenth life and wishes to find the people from that life in her nineteenth life as well. Of course, it’s never that easy. There’s predicted to be about twelve episodes for this drama, but there’s no actual date saying when they’ll drop. Similarly, we don’t know where this drama will be available to watch—there’s been no mention of Netflix or Viki as of yet.
Cast Members
Along with the little information that we’ve received about this particular Webtoon to K-drama adaptation, there’s only been one actual actress confirmed for this show. And this is Shin Hye-sun (Five Enough [2016], Thirty But Seventeen [2018], and Mr. Queen [2020]).
Cherry Blossoms After Winter (Release: Feb. 24 – Mar. 18)
To keep the lovey-dovey romance going, our next Webtoon to K-drama adaptation is Cherry Blossoms After Winter, a boy-love drama that will melt your heart (like the snow after winter… that was a bad pun, sorry).
Based on the Webtoon 겨울 지나 벚꽃 (Cherry Blossoms After Winter), this K-drama is expected to bring in a ton of viewers. The Webtoon was first started back in 2017 by Bam-woo and published on Mr. Blue. There are over 140 total episodes for this Webtoon, but there’s said to be another season coming at some point in the future. You can find the Korean version on the Mr. Blue website here and the English version on the Tappytoon website here.
Like the other boy-love K-dramas on Viki, Cherry Blossoms After Winter will only be eight episodes. It will follow both Hae-bom and Tae-sung as they grow up together (living together because of Hae-bom’s situation, but not actually family) and as they figure out their feelings for one another. The first episode for this Webtoon to K-drama adaption will drop on February 24th, so make sure to head over to Viki and save it to your list soon.
Cast Members
The two main leads of this drama include:
Trot idol group SUPERFIVE’s member Ok Jin-wook (Be My Dream Family [2021]);
The last of the romance/drama Webtoon to K-drama adaptations of 2022 on our list is The Sound of Magic, a K-drama that’s been expected for quite some time now. If you read through our blog about 2021 Webtoon to K-drama adaptations, then this one should sound familiar to you!
The Webtoon to K-drama adaptation was originally mentioned to be released in 2021, but the date was never fully announced and there has yet to be anything more than a plot and main cast. However, just recently, Netflix announced that filming has finished for this drama so we might be able to expect it sometime soon!
This drama will follow Yoon Ah-yi, a strong character who’s been supporting her and her sister by taking on part-time jobs and busying herself with her studies. When Ah-yi wishes to grow up faster, so she can better support her sister, a magician changes her life completely.
Cast Members
The main cast for The Sound of Magic are quite familiar faces if you’ve kept up on K-dramas over the past few years. They include:
Ji Chang-wook (Melting Me Softly [2019] and Lovestruck in the City [2020]);
Webtoon to K-Drama Adaptations of 2022: Horror / Thriller
The next major genre for Webtoon to K-drama adaptations of 2022 is the horror and thriller genres. These genres, if you don’t know, are the next most popular genres besides romance. Everyone absolutely loves a good scary story and one that’ll keep us on the edge of our seats. These four horror/thriller Webtoon to K-drama adaptations of 2022 are sure to have you holding your breath with each new episode release.
This first horror Webtoon to K-drama adaptation has actually already started releasing on Netflix this past week. If you love high-stake dramas and zombies, then you’ve probably already got this one on your list to watch.
The Webtoon to K-drama adaptation for All of Us Are Dead is said to have twelve total episodes, each ranging at the one-hour mark. They began releasing on January 28th, just a few days ago. A new episode will air on Netflix every Friday.
Watch the trailer for this highly action-packed and blood-pumping drama here:
In such high energy and emotional dramas such as this, the show really needs to have impactful actors and actresses. The main cast for this drama will definitely pull you into this story more. They include:
Park Ji-hoo (Beautiful World [2019] and Little Women [2022]);
Much like The Sound of Magic, this particular Webtoon to K-drama has been a long time coming. Island was first mentioned to be released in 2021, but without a proper release date or notice, it’s been pushed back until now.
Based on the Korean Webtoon 아일랜드 (Island) written by Yoon In-wan and illustrated by Yang Kyung-il, there has been a lot of hype for this upcoming Webtoon to K-drama adaptation. The Webtoon was first published in 2016. You can find the Korean version on the Naver Webtoon website (Part 1 and Part 2). Unfortunately, there’s not an official English-translated version to read.
Though there still isn’t too much information about this Webtoon to K-drama adaptation, what we do know is the plot. This drama will follow the story of a woman who moves to Jeju Island to become a teacher. However, she doesn’t know that the island is a place where evil just roams free. This twenty-episode drama will follow the group of characters banning together to get through it all.
For now, this drama is said to air on tvN during the first half of 2022, no word on whether it will also be on Netflix or Viki so we will just have to wait for more information.
Cast Members
The predicted cast as of right now include:
Kim Nam-gil (Queen Seon Duk [2009], Live Up to Your Name [2017], and The Fiery Priest [2019]);
Set in the future, this drama follows the story of a delivery person—called a knight—who meets a boy that wants to become a knight. In a world like this, where citizens hardly go out and rely heavily on the delivery services, it’s no wonder that crazy things start to happen.
It’s been confirmed by Netflix that production is underway for the drama, so we should be able to expect it soon! Though there’s no actual date yet, many say it will be released in 2022. Keep an eye out for more information!
Cast Members
The cast members for Dark Knight include:
Kim Woo-bin (School 2013 [2012/2013], The Heirs [2013], and Uncontrollably Fond [2016]);
Dak Gang Jeong / Sweet and Sour Chicken (Release: 2022?)
The last horror/thriller on our Webtoon to k-drama adaptations of 2022 list is a bit different than what you might have expected.
Published originally in 2019 on Naver Webtoon, Dak Gang Jeong by Park Ji-dok is a thrilling sci-fi Webtoon dipped in the sweetest sauce. It may seem like an entertaining and funny Webtoon on the surface level, but it’s said to hold more thrilling elements as it goes on. You can find the Korean version on Naver Webtoon here. Sadly, there’s no official English version at this moment.
The Webtoon to K-drama adaptation really doesn’t have much information out at this moment. But since it’s following the Webtoon, we do have a pretty good idea what it will be about: the main character accidentally gets turned into a piece of fried chicken. Her father and an intern work to turn her human again, but stumble into a darker secret.
Other than that, there’s no saying when this drama will pop up or where to watch it. We’ll just need to be patient as the year goes on.
Cast Members
As of right now, the only cast member said to be confirmed is Cha Eun-woo (My ID is Gangnam Beauty [2018] and True Beauty [2020]). Though many sources have also said that it’s still up in the air. Who wouldn’t love another show with Cha Eun-woo, though?
Webtoon to K-drama Adaptations of 2022: Fantasy / Mystery
The last category on our Webtoon to K-drama adaptations of 2022 list is the fantasy and mystery genre. Though these can sometimes overlap with the horror and thriller category, these have a bit more fantastical elements to them.
Tomorrow (Release: March 2022)
Tomorrow is one of the more highly anticipated Webtoon to K-drama adaptations of 2022.
With hundreds of parts, the original Korean Webtoon 내일 (Tomorrow) by Ra-ma was published on Naver Webtoon starting in 2017. Over the years—and continuously, as the Webtoon itself isn’t over yet—it has gained a ton of followers all excited for the next step. You can read the Korean version on the Naver Webtoon website here. Like the past couple, this unfortunately does not have an official English version.
Set to start its release in March on Netflix, this Webtoon to K-drama adaptation will follow the struggling Choi Joon-woong who’s trying his best to get a job. Even though he seems like the perfect guy, he keeps getting rejected at his interviews. Eventually, he runs into a couple of angels of death. From there, things start to change for Joon-woong. It will be a total of sixteen episodes.
Our final Webtoon to K-drama adaptation on our list is Again My Life, a looping drama that will leave you wanting answers the further it goes on.
This Webtoon was first published on Kakao in 2016 by Lee Hae-nal. While the K-drama won’t cover the entirety of the Webtoon, this one is still ongoing (it currently has over 140 parts). There doesn’t seem to be an official English version of this Webtoon, so if you’d like to read it you can find the Korean version on Kakao here.
Scheduled to come out during the first half of 2022, Again My Life is an action-packed Webtoon to K-drama adaptation that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat. It follows Kim Hee-woo, a prosecutor who’s investigating the corruption of a politician when he gets killed. But, the next day, he wakes up as if he hadn’t died.
This drama will be released by SBS and available on ViuTV with a total of sixteen episodes. You can watch the trailer for it here:
Which Webtoon to K-drama adaptations of 2022 will you watch?
Though this list isn’t too terribly long, there’s a good number of K-dramas worth watching during this upcoming year. Did any of these pique your interest?
If you’ve read our blogs about comedy Webtoons or romantic Webtoons but are still looking for new ones to read, then you’ve come to the right place! For those who enjoy reading intense battles, chaotically amazing plots, and multi-layered characters, action Webtoons might be the genre for you. Though action Webtoons are often mixed with the fantasy genre, you’ll never be short of an exciting plot or intense scenes throughout.
Action Webtoons to Binge Read:
1. Tower of God (2010 – Present)
The first action Webtoon on our list is Tower of God. Mixed with the fantasy genre, Tower of God is one of the most popular action Webtoons on our entire list.
In the Webtoon, it follows the story of a boy named Twenty-fifth Bam and his close friend Rachel. Both of them lived beneath a tower for many years together. One day, Rachel enters the tower, leaving Bam devastated. When he himself enters the tower, he fights through whatever comes his way as he tries to find Rachel again. Of course, he not only battles enemies but finds allies along the way to help him through the tower.
Out of the other five actions Webtoons we mention on the list, this is by far the most popular one. On the Korean version, there’s 99,999+ hearts for this Webtoon and each episode has over an 8.0 rating (some even range over 9.0). On the English version, this action Webtoon has a 9.86 rating and 2.9 million followers.
Because of the explosive response to Tower of God, the Webtoon was actually made into an anime series. First aired in 2020, this anime has thirteen episodes. It’s available to watch on Crunchyroll here.
The next Webtoon on our action Webtoons list is also another popular one. In particular, the author and artist of this Webtoon have a couple fantastic Webtoons each which has basically set this Webtoon up for success, too.
This action Webtoon follows the story of Jiwoo—a kind-hearted young man—who holds the powers of lighting fast reflexes of a cat and secretly makes the world a better place. Kayden—a secret agent on the run—is a character who found himself stuck in the body of a cat. Together, the two fight forces that allow evil to run the world and perhaps each other.
Like Tower of God, Eleceed is still ongoing. The series first began coming out in October 2018; there’s a total of 164 chapters as of November 23rd. The Korean version has all 165 chapters released, whereas the English version only has 137 chapters out.
Reader Response and Popularity
Though this action Webtoon is widely popular, it seems to have more popularity in Korean. It also has 99,999+ hearts on Naver Webtoon and maintains above a 9.7 rating for each chapter. For the English version, it has 9.95 rating and 1 million followers.
Many have loved this Webtoon because of the captivating plot, the fantastic artistry, and the impeccable action scenes. This is one action Webtoon you’ll want to keep tabs on to see the end of.
3. Girls of the Wild’s (2011)
As one of the older Webtoon’s on this list, Girls of the Wild’s has held its own quite well for the past ten years.
This short, action Webtoon details the challenge character Song Jaegu experiences when he’s accepted into the previously all-girls high school known as Wild’s High School. He’s the first and only male student in the school and he must learn how to survive. Wild’s High is a notoriously famous school for training girls in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). So, not only will Jaegu be learning how to survive the physicality of the school, but he’ll also be fighting against his own hardships that come with women.
Girls of the Wild’s is only one season, containing ten chapters in the Korean version and fourteen in the English version. The Korean version was released from August 2011 until October of that same year, whereas the English version wasn’t released until 2014.
Reader Response and Popularity
Despite the fact that this Webtoon came out ten years ago, it’s still one of the highly loved action Webtoons on this list. With the fascinating plot, the impactful action scenes, and the short length, people often drifted to reading this Webtoon.
Today, this Webtoon is still highly loved. On Naver Webtoon, the Korean version has the usual 99,999+ hearts and holds above a 9.85 star rating for each chapter. For the English version, it has a 9.57 rating and over 800,000 followers.
In 2018, Girls of the Wild’s was adapted into a Chinese TV show called Sweet Combat. This series was also highly enjoyed by fans of the Webtoon.
Gosu is the story of a young man—Gang Yong—who takes on the challenge to avenge those who wronged his late mentor. He uses the martial art techniques taught to him from his master to battle his way against those who betrayed them. Along the way, things get a bit complicated.
This Webtoon was first released in early September 2015 on Naver Webtoon. Unfortunately, it appears that most of the Korean version has been removed from the website. The English version, though, is available on the Webtoon website and app. There’s 145 episodes thus far. Some sources say that this story is still incomplete (possibly for the Korean version) and will not be finished. However, the English version is labeled complete on the Webtoon site.
Reader Response and Popularity
Being such a powerhouse action Webtoon, Gosu had a similar response to the other action Webtoons we’ve already mentioned. With the fifteen available chapters on the Korea version, each chapter has above a 9.97 rating. For the English version, it holds a 9.85 rating with over 700,000 followers.
The last episode for the Webtoon was uploaded June 2021, so if it truly is completed it was completed relatively recently. Fans of the Webtoon continue to sing praises for Gosu, praising the overall plot and intricate action scenes.
5. Peerless Dad (2017 – Present)
Continuing the martial art-dedicated action Webtoons, the next one we have on our list is Peerless Dad (also known as Father, Unrivaled).
This ongoing Webtoon trails the story of Noh Gajang, a father who’s just trying to raise his three children. He’s got a respect for the martial arts, but works as a guard against amateur fighters to return home safely for his children. However, a cult starts stealing children from the city one day. Gajang takes it upon himself to step up and protect his children.
This Webtoon is relatively popular within the action genre. However, it’s still relatively new to the English-speaking crowd, so the numbers aren’t as large as the others. On Kakao, this Webtoon has 2.7 billion views and over 150 million likes. On Tapas, the English version has 750.3 thousand views, 19.3 thousand subscribers, and 88.1 thousand likes.
The popularity of this Webtoon comes from the well-thought-out plot and the character stories throughout. Many people have fallen in love with the love the father has for his children and the way he does anything for them.
6. The Boxer (2019 – Present)
The last on our list of action Webtoons is The Boxer. This is definitely the most recently started Webtoons on this list, but one that’s already gained quite a bit of attention.
The Boxer is a popular action Webtoon that follows the life of several different professional boxers. The main character of the story is Yu, someone who has an extreme talent for boxing. As he’s scouted, trained, and slowly raising his way up the ladder, we get to see how the boxing world reacts to his superb talents.
The Korean version of this Webtoon was first released in December of 2019 on Naver Webtoon. It currently has 94 episodes. The English version wasn’t released until a half a year after the original, starting it’s release in May of 2020 on the Webtoon website and app. It’s only two episodes behind, though, with 92 total episodes out currently.
Reader Response and Popularity
On the scale of popularity, The Boxer is pretty high. The Korean version has the usual 99,999+ likes on it, but it also holds a 9.8+ rating for each chapter. Similarly, the English version has a 9.85 rating with 1.2 million followers.
Truly, The Boxer is one of the highly praised action Webtoons on our list; it’s definitely worth checking out!
Which Action Webtoons will You be Reading?
Did any of the action Webtoons on this list spark your interest? If they haven’t, check out more action webtoons in the video below!
It’s midterm season, people. The time of sleepless nights and panic attacks. Yeesh. But no worries! The carefully selected hilarious webtoons we are sharing here can get you through those all-nighters! Whenever we’re feeling stressy, depressy, lemon zesty, we are subconsciously drawn to light-hearted things. Not exactly scientifically proven but don’t you agree? We want to find an escape. Having a good laugh by reading these hilarious webtoons might just be what the doctor ordered.
*all the hilarious webtoons mentioned here are completed and their English version is available to read on LINE webtoon, which is a website that provides most published webtoons, for free.
First up on our “hilarious webtoons” list is The Sound of Your Heart written by Cho Seok, who is also the illustrator of this webtoon series. On September 8, 2016, the webcomic was published on Naver WEBTOON, a South Korean online webtoon platform/portal. The Sound of Your Heart has become the longest running webtoon ever as it ran for 14 years. It was concluded in July 2020, with a total of 1229 episodes.
The many characters in the webcomic is based off of Cho’s friends and family, including Cho’s girlfriend, his parents, his brother and his dogs. And of course, the main lead is a portrayal of Cho himself. So, the series is essentially Cho’s autobiography – about his tumultuous and chaotic life of being a comic book writer.
Brimming with clever lines and funny sarcasm, TheSound of Your Heart is based on Cho’s everyday life- making the stories pretty realistic and relatable to us as well.
Unlike most webtoons that are usually romantic comedy, The Sound of You Heart told slice-of-life stories in an odd way, putting idiosyncratic scenarios in the writer’s seemingly ordinary life. The characters are put into these funny, ridiculous situations we all have heard of or even experienced ourselves at some points of our lives. Reading it almost feels like are peeking through a window into the writer’s life, and somehow, it kind of looks like ours too.
A humorous plot of course is vital in making a successful comic, but the drawings of a comic are equally important if not more. Cho has done an incredible job in the illustration of this webcomic. Even though it’s very weird and outlandish – definitely not mainstream – it is incredibly refreshing:
The way the characters look makes the story even funnier. Just looking at their exaggerated facial expressions and behaviors already make me burst out laughing – I’m sure it would do the same for you too.
Reception:
The readers could not get enough of Cho’s original comedy series. By 2015, the talented writer was already earning ₩78,000,000 (~62400 USD) per month because of the popularity of this webtoon. During the entire run, the webtoon has a total of over 7 billion views and 15 million comments.
The Sound of Your Heart is one of Naver’s most well-rated webtoon series. Because of its insane fame, the comedy was made into a TV series adaptation in November, 2016. The show has won 2 KBS Entertainment awards.
The Sound of Your Heart: Reboot was also produced and streamed on Netflix in 2018 – flying the fame of this webcomic overseas.
Created by Christopher Grady in 2012, Lunarbaboon was initially written as a way for the writer to deal with his depression and anxiety (that’s why some of the episodes touch on topics about mental health problems). The webcomic is mainly based on Chris’s own life as a dad and a husband. He has a 7 years old son and a 2 years old daughter, like any ordinary middle-aged father, he tries his best to be a good parent and takes care of his family while dealing with his own personal issues. What’s unordinary about him is that he is actually half man/ half moon monkey….
The jokes in this webcomic are silly but cute. Chris depicts and characterizes the struggles of being a parent humorously. Many parents could perhaps relate to his stories, and I guess this actually serves as great outlet for the parental stress as the moms and dads may find comfort in these stories.
The stories are not only funny, but also very wholesome and heartwarming. Quoted from an interview Chris did with HuffPost, he shared how his webcomic has actually helped his readers.
“After posting the comics on social media for a few months, I began getting messages from many people about how they connected to the comics and it gave them hope and strength as they went through their own dark times.”
Christopher Grady
Started out as a kind of escape for Chris, Lunarbaboon has become an escape to the readers as well. It has turned into a form of therapy.
As his fanbase grew bigger and as he gained more recognition, Chris uses this chance to raise awareness on social issues such as gender inequality, xenophobia…etc. by talking about them in his comics:
His work is filled with positive messages and laughter, you should definitely check it out especially when you’re feeling down! It can turn your day around!
Created by Reza Farazmand, Poorly Drawn Lines shows how weird and absurd our lives actually are. The webcomic launched in 2008 and features comic strips that range from a single frame to four/five frames. The comic strips are independent to each other, so you don’t have to read it chronologically in order to understand what’s going on. But the webtoon does have some ongoing story arcs and recurring characters.
The jokes are a little silly, a bit ridiculous, and don’t make sense at all sometimes, yet, they make us laugh uncontrollably. Most of the characters in Poorly Drawn Lines are animals, but they face human problems. Comical scenes – two turtles talking about their regrets, worms looking for vodka, a bird having an existential crisis – are often found in this series.
For the car owners out there, I am sure you have seen animals and birds walking across the road when you’re driving. Most of them will run away or fly away (you know, as normal living being would do in order to not get ran over). But pigeons, pigeons are somthing special. They would just stare at you, without a single fear in their empty eyes, while you’re driving towards them – daring you to run over them. Well maybe they just like the thrill? Reze has probably dealt with that scary staring contest before, and this short story perfectly depicted the situation which is just laughable. The illustration also perfectly portrayed the pigeons’ hollow eyes and soulessness.
These vivid and interesting characters Reze has created, behave like human beings – making the stories very entertaining.
The drawings of this webcomic are simple as well – the kind that resemble a children’s book (i.e. the name). Even though these paintings are child-like, it still accurately and strikingly captures these lovable cartoon characters.
Written by Youngpaka, the webcomic premiered on Naver on November 4, 2013. With 341 episodes, 5 seasons in total, the series just ended recently on March 6, this year. The story is about the students in Class 8. These students, they don’t look like your regular high school students, in fact, they all have unique appearances. For example, one of them has a gigantic head, another one of them has abnormally long arms…And class 8 is a home for these special kids.
Like I mentioned earlier, the illustration works hand in hand with the story. In this webcomic, the drawings of these characters are very whimsical. Their looks definitely attract us to keep reading because they are so interesting, and honestly, very adorable.
At the beginning, we follow the story of this kid, Dongwon, who gets pick on in the “normal” class because he has an enourmous head. That’s why he gets into class 8….
We later would get to know every one of the characters and their own backstory. It really helps explain why they look like the way they do and the way they behave. Eventually, these kids with big hearts will win your heart, they certainly won mine!
An original webcomic created by Jinsoo Bae, this webtoon series was published on Naver on December 31, 2014 and concluded on August 24, 2018 – with a total of 1336 episodes.
Like the name has suggested, every chapter literally only costs you 3 seconds to read through. They are short, yet to-the-point and humorous. The scribbles and how the characters in the series look are also very funny.
Some episodes, like the one above, criticizes social trends in a humorous way. They are funny, yet, thought-provoking as well. It amazing what 3 seconds of reading this webtoon series can acheive.
I don’t know about you but every time I’m stressed out about something, a dose of comedy always helps. The best thing about these hilarious webtoons is that they’re not only funny, but also very short. You can read one episode in less than 5 seconds. So even if you have an extremely busy schedule, you can slide one to a few episodes in during your train ride home or something! Hopefully these hilarious webtoons would help you too during these trying times!
If you want to know more about webtoons, feel free to check out our page about webtoons!
As Webtoons become even more well-known across the world, romantic Webtoons are definitely contributing to its fame. With soaring ratings and millions of hearts and subscribers, these Webtoons will certainly captivate you with its compelling storylines and stunning artwork. From True Beauty’s charming trio to Imitation’s glamorous K-pop idols, these must-read romantic Webtoons will easily become some of your favorites. Since the romantic genre covers many story tropes, it’s interesting to see how they are incorporated into romantic Webtoons.
Within the realm of romantic Webtoons, there are several common tropes that are displayed. But first, what exactly is a trope? They are often used in creative pieces of work, which are to demonstrate clichés, or recurring ideas. Tropes are very popular among Korean dramas, films, novels, and of course, Webtoons. Main romantic tropes seen in many romantic Webtoons include love triangles, friends to lovers, and enemies to lovers.
Not only are there romantic tropes, but there are also archetypes, which are examples of specific types of people. A favorite archetype when it comes to Webtoons is the tsunderecharacter. This Japanese term is used to describe a character who’s cold, intimidating, and unapproachable at first. However, they begin showing their kind, caring, and affectionate side after some time. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the top 3 must-read romantic Webtoons you’ll love!
In the spring of 2018, Yaongyi’s True Beauty debuted on Naver Webtoon in Korean. Because of its dramatic success in Korea, it was translated into English only four months later. After about three years, the English version has over 38.6 million hearts, 6.4 million subscribers, and a 9.6 star rating. On the other hand, the Korean version has over 1.4 million subscribers and a 9.57 star rating. Based on the stats, it looks like True Beauty is well-loved among its English readers!
At school, Lim Jugyeong is well-known to be Saebom High’s goddess— all thanks to her impressive makeup skills. She has it all: plenty of friends, a pretty face, and even thousands of followers on Instagram. However, once she takes off her makeup, it appears as if she’s an entirely different person. With a secret to hide, she tries her best to improve her levels of confidence at her new school. When intimidating Suho and bad-boy Seojun suddenly walk into her life, the trio become best of friends… Until it comes down to the love triangle between them— a loved trope within the romance genre!
Read True Beauty (on-going) in Korean and English! And check out Webtoon’s Q&A with Yaongyi below~
Lim Jugyeong: After years of being bullied for the way she looks, Jugyeong tries her best to learn the magic of makeup. When she moves to Saebom High, she enters as a gorgeous goddess, someone everyone wants to be friends with. From then on, Jugyeong vows to herself that she will never show her bare face at school. But behind closed doors, she isn’t what other expect her to be. Instead, she’s a huge fan of rock-and-roll music and thriller comic books— something she’d rather keep a secret! Nevertheless, when someone figures out who she truly is, she begs them to keep everything a secret.
Lee Suho: Although Lee Suho is known to be a tsunderecharacter, he also has a soft and kind side. When he first meets Lim Jugyeong, he isn’t very fond of her, since she’s only popular for her appearance. But after getting to know her better, he regrets judging her without truly knowing anything. Even though Suho’s attractive appearance tends to charm many girls at school, his heart isn’t open for just anyone… All because he’s developing a crush on Lim Jugyeong!
Han Seojun: Despite being handsome and popular, Han Seojun is also quite intimidating and unapproachable at times. Because of a past incident, he had to take time off from school. However when he returns, he notices the new girl, Lim Jugyeong, and decides to befriend her. At first, Jugyeong acted awkwardly around Seojun, but quickly warms up when she becomes friends with his sister, Han Gowoon. Spending more time with Jugyeong is not something Seojun had originally anticipated, but he soon begins developing feelings for her.
In December, 2020, the romantic Webtoon was adapted into a K-drama and was highly successful until the end. The drama stars Moon Ka Young (Lim Jugyeong), Cha Eun Woo (Lee Suho), and Hwang In Youp (Han Seojun). Bringing their characters to life, the actors do an amazing job at performing the lives of students at Saebom High. The trio also delivers an exciting “friends to lovers” trope that many fans have been anticipating! Although the Webtoon is still on-going, the drama’s writer worked with Yaongyi to properly depict the storyline. With some similarities and differences between the Webtoon and its K-drama adaptation, True Beauty is well-worth reading and watching!
Check out True Beauty’s trailer (with English subtitles) below and stream it on Viki with a standard subscription!
Jungyoon and Taegeon’s romantic Webtoon, To Love Your Enemy, debuted on September 17, 2019 in South Korea. On Naver Webtoon, it has over 565,000 subscribers and a 9.93 star rating. About a year later in August, 2020, To Love Your Enemy was translated into English. It currently has over 10.5 million likes, 1.8 million subscribers, and a 9.8 star rating. Just like True Beauty, it looks like this romantic Webtoon is just as popular with its English fans!
Read To Love Your Enemy (on-going) in Korean and English!
After a rough experience with a shady office job, Bae Yeonhee decides to turn a new page— attending university. However, when mysterious Yoon Yikyung keeps glaring at her, Yeonhee tries her best to rack her brain to remember him. Through a series of dramatic flashbacks, Yeonhee finally remembers what happened between them. Just as the title suggests, this “enemies to lovers” romantic Webtoon is well-worth the read. Also, let’s appreciate the stunning artwork here from Taegeon!
Bae Yonggeum/ Bae Yeonhee: Ever since she was young, her parents taught her one skill: how to successfully lie. When she ignorantly gets involved in a pyramid scheme at 21 years old, she does whatever she can to leave the company. Three years later, she tries erasing her past and changes her name to Bae Yeonhee. She also decides to enroll into university, where she crosses paths with Yoon Yikyung… Again! Bae Yeonhee is a witty, confident, and independent woman who is well-liked among her peers at university.
Yoon Yikyung: During his college entrance interview, he recognizes the person he will never forget: Bae Yonggeum. Unfortunately for Yoon Yikyung, he ends up in the same major with the same classes as Yeonhee. As a tsunderecharacter, Yikyung doesn’t get along well with many people. But when he reveals his true self, he’s actually a cutie pie who genuinely cares for Yeonhee after unraveling their misunderstanding. Although Yikyung’s only 20 years old, he wants to prove to Yeonhee that he’s capable of taking care of her.
Nam Doyun: As Bae Yeonhee’s past team manager at their old company, Nam Doyun tries to recruit her to come back. Though she refuses countless times, he’s still determined to convince her. He knows she used to have a crush on him while they worked together, so he uses that to his advantage… Even though it doesn’t quite work in his favor— not while Yoon Yikyung is in the picture!
From Jungyoon’s captivating storyline to Taegeon’s amazing artwork, their teamwork truly creates a masterpiece. Each character has their own unique story that will surely encourage you to cheer them on. Not only are Yeonhee’s friends hilarious, but her dynamic with Yoon Yikyung is definitely swoon-worthy. Sadly, there isn’t a Korean drama for To Love Your Enemy yet, but fans are patiently waiting until it does! I, for one, cannot wait for the day this romantic Webtoon becomes a K-drama.
Imitation
Nearly seven years ago, Park Kyung Ran’s romantic Webtoon, Imitation, made its debut in Korea on September 30, 2014. With over 41 million Korean readers on Kakopage, there’s no doubt this romantic webtoon was— and still is— insanely popular. On Tappytoon, the English version has over a million fans, as they follow Lee Maha and Kwon Ryeok’s romantic journey.
After Lee Maha’s debut with her rookie girl group, Tea Party, she is often found in the spotlight… But not because of her own fame. Instead, she is referred to as an imitation of a famous solo idol, La Rima. Meanwhile, K-pop idol Kwon Ryeok unintentionally crosses paths with Lee Maha more than he’d like to. However, Lee Maha gets into an intense love triangle between intimidating Ryeok and her K-pop idol friend, Lee Yujin.
Lee Maha: As a 20 year-old, Lee Maha is considered one of the youngsters in the K-pop industry. Ever since Tea Party’s debut, they haven’t become as popular as they had hoped. But when people begin comparing Maha to La Rima, she gains fame for their similar appearance. Even when Maha isn’t trying to imitate La Rima, she’s constantly compared to her by the media and other idols. Lee Maha is known to be expressive, yet timid, which Kwon Ryeok slowly becomes fond of.
Kwon Ryeok: With an intimidating demeanor, Kwon Ryeok is rather popular for his aloofness. As a member of the outstanding boy band, Shax, Ryeok is one of the most talented. Not only does he sing and dance, but he also acts in K-dramas. At first, he dislikes Lee Maha for being La Rima’s imitation and for being pretentious. But when he’s at fault for an incident with Maha, he genuinely feels bad and tries to make up for his actions. From there, Ryeok falls head-over-heels for Maha and ignores any and all of La Rima’s advancements.
Lee Yujin: Although he and Maha can’t be in the same K-pop group, he does everything he can to be around her. Ever since they were trainees, they have spent a lot of time together and became great friends. But Lee Maha has no idea that Lee Yujin has a massive crush on her, even though everyone else knows. When he realizes Kwon Ryeok is his competition, he tries to convince Maha that Ryeok is full of trouble.
La Rima: Despite being in the industry for years, she thinks she’s the most famous celebrity of all time. Though she pretends to hate Lee Maha for being her imitation, she loves it for the rise in popularity. La Rima genuinely likes Kwon Ryeok and enjoys teasing him about girls… Only because she strongly believes she and Ryeok will become a couple. Nevertheless, he doesn’t see her as anything other than an acquaintance.
In May, 2021, this romantic Webtoon entered the world of Korean dramas on Viki. The drama stars Jung Ji So (Lee Maha), Lee Jun Young (Kwon Ryeok), Yun Ho (Lee Yujin), and Park Ji Yeon (La Rima). Through the ups and downs K-pop idols face every day, Imitation shares an incredible perspective of Lee Maha and Kwon Ryeok’s lives. Be sure to check out the Korean drama on Viki here and watch the trailer below with English subtitles!
I know— deciding which one to read first is always a struggle! So, let’s review these top 3 must-read romantic Webtoons.
True Beauty
If you enjoy reading about high school life, then True Beauty is a great place to start. Not only does the story follow the life of Lim Jugyeong until university, but it also ~highlights~ her love for makeup. If you’re also a fan of heart-throbbing love triangles, this one is a perfect Webtoon to start with. Not to mention how Yaongyi is the author AND illustrator for her beautiful piece of work!
To Love Your Enemy
If reading about university life— both the good and bad sides— interests you, then To Love Your Enemy is a cute and relatable Webtoon to read. With its occasional humor and witty characters, you’ll definitely be binge reading all night long! If you’re a fan of the “enemies to lovers” trope, this one is an enticing romantic Webtoon you’ll love.
Imitation
K-pop idols are definitely always a hot topic. But have you ever read about them in a Webtoon? If you’re a fan of the K-pop industry, Imitation is a great romantic Webtoon to start with. It also includes an intense love triangle and even includes the “enemies to lovers” trope, all in one! Will you be team Kwon Ryeok, or team Lee Yujin?
To learn more about Korean webtoons, watch the video below!
Nearly seven years ago, Park Kyung Ran’s romantic Webtoon, 
