Summary
Fans of manga and comics who want another take on the medium might want to try dabbling intowebtoons, or comics from Korean creators. Also known as manhwa, webtoons happen across various genres and feature unique stories that almost always feature themes and concepts that share a lot about Korean culture. However, with many options out there, it can be tricky to discover just which Korean webtoons are must-reads for newcomers.
While Korean webtoons tend to be as diverse as Japanese manga, some webtoons do share stories and tales that just set themselves apart from their contemporaries. Certain webtoons are a cut among the rest when it comes to representing the best elements of this artistic medium.
Updated July 29, 2025 by Rhenn Taguiam:With works such as Seasons Of Blossom, Doctor Elise: The Royal Lady With The Lamp, and Solo Leveling about to air much-awaited adaptations, fans of manhwa might be wondering what other stories are worth reading while waiting for these shows to air.
Thankfully for fans, the world of manhwa has quite a lot to offer across various genres, with must-reads including a one-person manhunt to avenge their brother, a traditional romantic comedy with surprising depth, a medical-themed reincarnation story, and a superhero manhwa.
June 14, 2025 to August 03, 2025
No. of Chapters/Volumes
63 Chapters
The story ofPlaza Warsbegins when Gijun discovers that his brother, Giseok, was murdered in cold blood just before the latter’s retirement as a gangster leader. Gijun, who himself stepped out of South Korea’s gang scene to avoid getting in the way of his brother’s rise to power, decides to re-enter this criminal underworld to find those responsible for his brother’s murder. Unfortunately for them, the merciless Gijun was once Seoul’s toughest gangster.
Despite its backdrop as a traditional revenge story,Plaza Warscan fascinate viewers with its vibrant but also visceral artwork. Gijun’s one-man manhunt shows him in an absolutely cold demeanor, like a raw version of a John Wick archetype. Each of its chapters is a step up in terms of story and action, leading to a satisfying but realistic ending.
July 11, 2025 to Jul 16, 2025
152 Chapters
One could say Jung Bareum ofRomance 101has a planned but arguably boring life as a university student. While all her days are planned and she gets decent grades, she can’t deny her life lacks romance. However, this changes when she meets Shin Jaehyun, a handsome classmate whose presence encourages her to join the programming club he’s a part of. In this circle, he crosses paths with Na Yuyeon, a gamer whose personality initially clashes with hers - at least, until she notices they may have more in common than she thinks.
Despite being framed as a typical slice-of-life romance manhwa,Romance 101hits the right spotfor readers who want casual reading while still glued to their screens. All cast members in the manhwa are well taken care of, with character arcs tackling surprisingly nuanced topics from both comedic and serious standpoints. Bareum’s growth as a protagonist can strike a chord with readers, especially by the time the manhwa starts to show how everyone can have their version of showcasing their affection.
2019 to 2022
150 Chapters
When Kim Jihyun dies as a financially struggling surgeon, he gets a second chance at life after being sent back to middle school atMedical Return. Aware of what’s happened to him in his past life, Kim Jihyun does his best to reach his dream: to become a rich dermatologist. However, despite his knowledge of the past and his medical prowess, life seems to throw constant challenges at the protagonist, be it in the form of his patients’ woes, antagonists who seem to have their agenda or just unexpected twists Jihyun didn’t expect to encounter in this new life.
Manhwa fans who want a riveting reincarnation tale will appreciatethe attention to detailMedical Returnuseswhen it elaborates on the medical drama side of its story. The manhwa doesn’t immediately give Jihyun everything he needs to make his new life successful, and it’s always exciting to see how he’ll use his smarts and his thirst for success not just to save the lives of his patients but also to make his dream come true.
June 25, 2025 to Present
Ongoing
The world ofEleceedis similar to the real world, except superhumans known as Awakeners hide in the shadows—be it as members of Awakened Organizations, the Awakened Union peacekeeping force, or criminal organizations. The story ofEleceedbegins when superhumanly fast Jiwoo encounters a cat named Kayden, who turns out to be a secret agent on the run. While heroic Jiwoo wants to use his new powers for good, he often clashes with the more aggressive Kayden. Either way, Jiwoo’s accidental introduction to the Awakened World will change his life - and no one knows if it’s for better or worse.
Eleceedtakes the traditional youngster-with-new-powersformula and makes them its own. Jiwoo’s super-speed extends to the manhwa’s pages, where the presentation seems free-flowing and dynamic, perfect for grabbing readers' attention. While its story isn’t too unique for its genre, the characterization of Jiwoo, Kayden, and the people around them make events all the more exciting - especially when taking into account both the progression of their powers and their role in the story.
98 Chapters
While technically released first as a novel by Jung Kyung-yoon,What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim?finally hitting KakaoPage’s webtoon “shelves” finally put proverbial faces to the name in the romantic comedy. The webtoon stars the titular Kim Mi-so, the only secretary capable of meeting the high demands of her narcissistic boss Lee Young-joon, as she suddenly announces her resignation. Young-joon is forced to do whatever it takes to make her stay, eventually falling for his former secretary as he chases after her.
Despite the rather cliche premise,What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim?has all the trappings of a memorable romantic story, especially when Young-joon’s narcissistic exterior and Mi-so’s high attention to detail are both results of traumatic incidents that their journey eventually resolves. Mi-so’s “taming” of Young-joon slowly removes his unnecessary narcissistic side through comedic moments that eventually evolve into much deeper correspondences. Fans looking for a romantic story with surprising depth may findSecretary Kima worthwhile read, especially with the webtoon’s attention to character development and interaction.
131 Chapters
If games likeResident Evilare any indication, zombies remain quite the compelling plot device to showcase the best and worst in humanity. Compared to the bleakness ofThe Walking Dead, however,All of Us Are Deadtakes place in one of the worst sites of a zombie outbreak: a high school. The story ofAll of Us Are Deadofficially begins when a deranged science teacher accidentally creates a zombie virus in Hyosan, South Korea, eventually overrunning the school and the surrounding city with the living dead.
With students caught unaware of the situation that befell them, a ragtag group of high-schoolers must combine their wits to survive the impending apocalypse. Unfortunately for them, their efforts to survive are not just challenged by the living dead but also by their very nature, with the group often encountering betrayals and setbacks that force their hand. Compared to other zombie stories andbeginner-friendly manhwa,All of Us Are Deadstarring students makes for a more horrific experience, especially when the backdrop of zombies forces themes of revenge, hidden love, and the will to do anything to survive to complicate existing circumstances.
8 Volumes
Despite starting with a traditional revenge plot,Itaewon Classturns into a surprisingly compelling drama story. Protagonist Park Sae-ro-yi’s life is upended when the son of the powerful Jangga Group kills his father in a driving accident. After staying in jail for attempting to murder that same son, Sae-ro-yi vows revenge against Jangga Group by being a successful businessman. While Sae-ro-yi doesn’t necessarily have the business acumen to run his DanBam restaurant, this is something the rather emotionless but talented businesswoman Jo Yi-seo helps him accomplish.
This rather complicated personal web combines the appeal of a business drama and a pseudo-romantic comedy into a webtoon. The parallels between running a large conglomerate like Jangga Group and struggling to manage the busy kitchens of DanBam are neatly juxtaposed into the personal lives of the people running them, giving readers a refreshing drama experience away from traditional love stories or friendship woes.
187+ Chapters
The world ofwebtoons has met its fair share of paranormal stories, but none as artistically wild asHellper. Set in the afterlife,Hellperbegins when Jang Gwangnam, leader of the Killberos gang, dies in a traffic accident. When he meets fellow ghost Sese, she says his possession of a Black Ticket means he goes straight to Hell. That is unless he fights other ghosts and collects up to 1,000 Black Tickets that he can exchange for a White Ticket to either go to Heaven or get reincarnated.
This straightforward premise is more than enough for Jang to send readers ofHellperdown the path to crazy shenanigans. The bombastic art is enough indication thatHellperhas had moments that border the surreal, but these circumstances demonstrate just how crazy their depiction of the afterlife could get. Readers looking for an entertaining take on the afterlife with a more comedic philosophical take on the subject may appreciateHellper.
120+ Chapters
Modern fiction isn’t complete withoutthe occasional isekai story, with some remarkable “otherworld” tales showcasing unique worlds with equally compelling protagonists. Such is the case ofOmniscient Reader’s Viewpoint, where this time around the realm of the web novel “Three Ways To Survive A Ruined World” is transported into the real world. Unfortunately for reader Kim Dokja, being the sole reader of the story means he’s the only one equipped to help save the Earth from sudden destruction.
In the webtoon’s meta, “Ruined World” was a hit web novel that lost its steam throughout its 13-year run, set in a universe governed by the Star Stream that forces protagonist Yoo Joonghyuk and other individuals to live countless timelines for their amusement. While Dokja knows how the original story ends, “Ruined World” combining with the real Earth isn’t part of the web novel, leaving him with the opportunity to change the destiny of the web novel’s ruined worlds. This race against time combined with the webtoon’s action segments makeOmniscient Reader’s Viewpointquite a compelling read.
133 Chapters
Action manhwa has explored several different approaches to providejaw-dropping fight scenes, withThe Boxerproviding quite a grounded take on the subject. This boxing-themed sports manhwa explores the life of Yu, a teenager turned numb out of the bullying and beating he’s experienced in his life. However, when legendary coach K sees Yu dodge punches effortlessly, a gut feeling tells him Yu should be his last student before he retires.
Having already raised five World Champions under his belt, K pushes Yu to pursue professional boxing. Although reluctant at first, Yu’s journey into boxing will let him meet various individuals who will not only temper his character but also help him get in touch with his emotions again. The webtoon is worth the read not just for its intense action scenes but the way the story sets up dramatic sequences and crucial moments.
