Key Takeaways
- Online platforms have made Korean manhwas more accessible, with translated romance stories gaining popularity with stunning illustrations.
- Completed manhwas have been adapted into K-drama series, making it easier to enjoy these unique and defying romance plots.
- From enemies-to-lovers to isekai fantasies, manhwas offer a wide range of romance genres with captivating storylines and beautiful visuals.
As manhwas have taken the internet full-storm over the last years, we have seen more and more previously exclusively Korean manhwas be translated into English, offering us some of the most beautiful, heartbreaking, and tear-inducing romance stories, many of which are completed, with stunning fully colorized illustrations. Furthermore, with the popular Webtoon and Tapas webcomic apps, manhwas have become more accessible online than ever.
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Many completed manhwas have become so famous they have also been turned into series, many of which are available on Viki Rakuten, the standard K-drama streaming app. While there is no shortage of worthwhile romance manhwas, sometimes it can be hard to navigate the options, especially with some unofficial sites with amateur translators, displaying titles in broken English, making the search even more difficult.
10 Your Smile Is A Trap
A Highschool Romance Defying Judgement And Expectations
- Type: High School Romance
- Status: In progress
- K-Drama adaptation: No
- Where to read: Webtoon
Sometimes one comes across those romance manhwas that completely defy the usual plot or gender roles, and this is one of them. Kiyu is a gorgeous young man, an ex-idol in Korea who has grown up without any lack of attention from his peers. On the other hand, Lily is known as the girl with a “permanent scowl on her face”. Shy, unaffectionate, and reserved, no one talks to her at school, deeming her aggressive and dangerous. So how is it that she and Kiyu become friends, and perhaps something more?
As both face the truth behind the idealization of one another’s lack of problems and personalities, Kiyu and Lily develop a love story that is one of a kind, much to the readers’ and their peers’ surprise.
9 So I Married The Anti-Fan
A Twist On Korea’s Idol Fan Culture Turned Romance
- Type: Enemies To Lovers, Idol Romance
- Status: Completed
- Number of Episodes: 88
- K-Drama Adaptation: Yes
- Where to read: Webtoon
This is one of those manhwas (and now K-Drama adaptation) that hits the nail on the head on a cultural Korean phenomenon, turning it into an unusual romance story. Who Joon is a nationally adored idol, used to devoted fans, going to extremes to get his attention. So, when someone like Geunyeong Lee risks everything she has left (which is, nothing) after a major life crisis, intent to ruin his perfect image, he is taken aback and tries desperately to save face by showing he can offer the other cheek.
As their lives become intertwined, there is no going back for both, and they discover that they may, after all, not really hate each other. This is a classic and fun ‘enemies-to-lovers’ story with a great exposition of Korean fan and idol culture.
8 Charming The Duke Of The North
A Fun Isekai Packed With Socialite Drama And Gossip
- Type: Fantasy, Isekai, Royalty, Socialite, Drama
- Status: In progress
- K-Drama adaptation: No
- Where to read: Webtoon
This cute and funny royalty isekai manhwa kicks off with Korea’s most loved movie actress, Rinha, being transported into a snowy, fantasy realm, and rescued from a demonic beast by an equally cold Duke, Calcion. While their relationship starts off as one of convenience, since Rinha is set on going back to her world all while helping him, the story unfolds as she becomes involved with Calcion’s past and his rumors, throwing her into the ruthless socialite world of royalty.
With many hilarious scenes as the two, especially with Calcion’s awkward behavior, struggle to find the fine line between being fake and real lovers, this manhwa provides a healthy dose of romance, fantasy royalty drama, and beautiful visuals, along with page-turning (or phone-scrolling) gossip and conspiracy theories of the socialite world.
7 Secretary Out Of Order
A Hilarious Enemies-To-Lovers Story With Lots Of Fluff
- Type: Secretary/Boss Romance, Office
- Status: Completed
- Number of Episodes: 55 (including spin-off episodes)
- K-Drama adaptation: No
- Where to read: Webtoon
This feel-good romance manhwa is one readers will enjoy, especially if they are familiar with the famous What Is Wrong With Secretary Kim, which also has a manhwa to K-Drama adaptation. Yu-eun Gam, a highly skilled secretary, decides to quit after winning a lottery ticket. Her boss, the CEO Dohyeok, is highly demanding, and she is thrilled to finally have some piece of mind.
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But, as she discovers, the CEO is not willing to let go of her so easily, realizing that he not only needs her as a secretary – but that he might harbor much more for her than just professional feelings. In his desperate attempt to keep her around, this manhwa provides some truly hilarious moments and a bubbly, cute, and soft enemies-to-lovers romance.
6 My Gently Raised Beast
A Feel-Good, Stunning, Slow Burn Fantasy Romance
- Type: Fantasy, Fluff, Animal/Human Characters
- Status: Completed
- Number of Episodes: 106 (including spin-off episodes)
- K-Drama adaptation: No
- Where to read: Webtoon
To all the readers who are looking for a beautiful romance manhwa with a good plot but little to no heavy drama, perhaps as a break from some intense K-Dramas, this magical and adorable story is a perfect suit. Blondina, a humble and gorgeous child growing up in poverty, discovers she is the lost child of the Ates empire’s royalty. Much like Cinderella’s fairytale, her life turns around, but not like she expects: her arrival is not the most welcoming.
However, this will change once she meets Amon, a cat-like human who is equally mysterious but irresistibly attracted to Blondina. As their childhood friendship turns into something more, we follow her story growing from a simple love story to a struggle of co-habitation between Amon’s and Blondina’s race. Don’t be fooled by the sweet illustrations: this story reserves some tear-inducing scenes, and the path to a happy ever after will be an earned one.
5 Serena
The Dark Path Of Attraction, Inheritance, And Keeping Up Appearances
- Type: Enemies-To-Lovers, Drama, Thriller, Dark Romance, Power Dynamic
- Status: In progress
- K-Drama adaptation: No
- Where to read: Webtoon
This is perhaps a less-known romance drama manhwa, but has visually stunning artwork and, in some ways, very different from any other more common ones. The story follows a young and beautiful heiress trapped in a loveless marriage, where nothing is off the table in love (and war), including homicide.
In a twisting turn of events, business interests, lovers, need for self-determination, and Serena’s illness, the readers will struggle to decide whether to root for her, her frigid husband Eiser, or the servant she seems morbidly attached to, Frederick. Set in a beautiful and opulent old-style luxury hotel, this manhwa will haunt the readers with what is more than just a romance story, but a path into the dark sides of love and attraction.
4 Sixth Sense Kiss
An Unexpected Romance About Fate And Shaping Your Own Future
- Type: Office Romance, Thriller, Fated Romance
- Status: Completed
- Number of Episodes: 97 (including spin-off episodes)
- K-Drama adaptation: Yes
- Where to read: Webtoon
Yesul is just a normal young woman working at the office with a boss she despises, but here’s the catch: when she kisses someone, she can see flashes of their future. By mistake, she ends up kissing her boss, Minhua, which, again, she hates – but in the flashes, she sees a happy future together. To top it all off, her first love is hired at the office the very next day.
This is one of those surprising romance manhwas, where thriller, crime, and drama come into the story unexpectedly and are mixed with a healthy dose of fluff, giving readers enough suspense even if, after all, the readers know who the final Male Lead is. The TV series adaptation is available on Hulu.
3 The Remarried Empress
A Must For Love, Fantasy, Royalty, And Revenge
- Type: Fantasy, Royalty, Drama
- Status: In progress
- K-Drama adaptation: No
- Where to read: Webtoon
A fan-favorite, this romance fantasy follows a determined and selfless empress, Navier Elle Trovi, who is in an amicable marriage of convenience. She is everything one could want: kind, smart, altruist, resourceful, and devoted to her role, her childhood dream. Apparently, this is not enough for her husband and childhood friend, Sovieshu, who decides to bring home a mistress.
Their divorce leaves Navier with the short end of the stick, that is, until she decides to remarry – much to Sovieshu’s surprise – shortly after, breaking a royal custom. In a way, this manhwa mixes historical customs with fiction, echoing Napoleon’s marriage scandal. With her wish granted, Navier works hard to rebuild her life and her new empire, while we see Sovieshu’s decision dawn on him as he lives his life with his new mistress, Rashta, and the bitter conflict that ensues between them.
2 Marry My Husband
A Classic About Living Happily And Standing Up For One’s Self
- Type: Drama, Revenge, Reincarnation, Office Romance
- Status: Completed
- Number of Episodes: 70 (including spin-off episodes)
- K-Drama adaptation: Yes
- Where to read: Webtoon
A classic in the world of K-Dramas, which recently got an excellent adaptation on Viki with the popular Korean actress Park Min-Young as the Female Lead. This drama-packed manhwa presents a heart-wrenching reincarnation story where Kang Ji-Won, the main character, is terminally ill and betrayed by her husband and best friend sleeping together. Her devastating death follows her awakening ten years prior, and she is given a second chance at the life her father would have always wanted for her: happy and full of love.
This K-Drama displays beautifully what it means to truly live by one’s own wishes, and the readers won’t help but root for the sweet Ji-Won, following her along a sentimental path of self-discovery and standing up for one’s self, with some delicious revenge scenes.
1 The Makeup Remover
A Soft-Spoken Romance With Positive Societal Messages About Self-Image
- Type: Workplace, Slow Burn, Character Development
- Status: Completed
- Number of Episodes: 129 (including spin-off episodes)
- Where to read: Webtoon
An unexpected romance story full of empowering life lessons, that gracefully touches many societal issues around body image, perception of self, and beauty standards. The apparently meek Yeseul feels the societal pressure to look a certain way as a woman, never having really been interested in make-up. Everything suddenly changes when she is asked to model for a famous make-up artist, Yuseong, for a national make-up contest series.
With her creative and critical skills, Yeseul goes through deep personal growth and has the chance to make an impact on these pressing societal issues, all while softly finding romance, understanding, and comfort in her unexpected partner. A beautiful slow-burn romance manhwa mixed with strong character development and an unusual plot choice, this is one manhwa perfect to surprise readers.
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8 Best Revenge Manhwa
Readers who are seeking a satisfying revenge story can delve into the following Manhwas.
