10 Most Gripping K-Dramas Based on Manga, Manhwa, and Webtoons

If European cinema borrows a significant portion of its plots from books, Asian cinema often draws inspiration from manga, manhwa, and webtoons.

Manga is traditionally considered a Japanese title, manhwa is a Korean one, and webtoon was originally a Korean platform for artists to publish their work, but has come to refer to any work published online.

1. Sweet Home, 2020-...

Teenager Cha Hyun-soo lost his family and was forced to move into a small apartment in the Green Home housing complex on the outskirts of the city. But then another tragedy awaits him – he witnesses a true apocalypse: people on the street start to turn into monsters, and the residents of his building find themselves trapped.

Hyun-soo and his neighbors must survive in a confined space while fighting monsters that enter the building from the outside. The series is based on the popular webtoon of the same name by Kim Carnby and Hwang Young-chan.

2. Boys Over Flowers, 2009

Geum Jan-di is an ordinary girl whose family runs a dry cleaning business. One day, she was delivering clothes to an elite school and accidentally saved a student, which earned her a scholarship to that very school. There she meets rich, spoiled boys – these guys are known as F4 and they love to cause trouble for anyone they don't like.

This is a remake of the Japanese series, based on the manga of the same name. The Korean version proved to be more popular than the original source and started a new trend in local TV – stories about the difficult but fascinating everyday life of students.

3. What's Wrong with Secretary Kim, 2018

Secretary Kim Mi-so has been working for the selfish president of a large corporation for nine years. When the boss learns of his partner's intention to quit, he suddenly realizes that his feelings for his colleague go beyond business ethics.

An exemplary office romance about a self-centered rich man and his subordinate. Unlike most similar series and movies, the emphasis here is on the gradual development of their relationship, rather than the difficult trials the characters face on their way to a happy ending.

The drama is based on the novel of the same name by Jung Kyung-yoon, which was later adapted into a webtoon.

4. Navillera, 2021

70-year-old Shim Deok-chul was forced to give up his dream of becoming a ballet dancer, but now he decides to follow his heart and enroll in a ballet troupe. Of course, his relatives are not happy with this decision.

This is a very important drama about how you should always follow your heart – and not be afraid of aging. Navillera proves that age gaps do not prevent different generations from finding a common language.

The series is based on the webtoon of the same name, written by Hun and illustrated by Ji Min.

5. Tomorrow, 2022

Even though Choi Jun-woong graduated from a prestigious university, he still can't find a job. One day he meets two Angels of Death who save suicidal people and suddenly joins their team.

Based on the webtoon of the same name, this is the most uplifting drama on the list. Each episode introduces a new main character with serious life problems. Each of them wants to commit suicide, but the angels convince them that death is not an option.

6. Business Proposal, 2022

Shin Ha-ri is friend-zoned by a guy she's been in love with for a long time, and when she found out that he has a girlfriend, she decided to go on a blind date instead of her friend. Ha-ri was already prepared for failure when her date turned out to be the young and handsome CEO of the company she works for.

The drama will captivate you with unexpected plot twists, absurd situations, and sparkling chemistry between the characters. The series is based on a webtoon and a novel of the same name.

7. Hellbound, 2021

In broad daylight, a Korean citizen is attacked by strange creatures. After brutally beating him, the three demons emit heat from their palms, leaving the victim a charred skeleton within seconds.

Similar cases began to occur all over the country. The New Truth cult, led by the prophet Jeong Jin-soo, formed around this phenomenon.

The drama is based on the Korean webtoon of the same name and is stylistically very close to it.

8. The Bride of Habaek, 2017

When the narcissistic water god Ha-baek comes to Earth in search of mystical artifacts that will help him regain his throne, he seeks the help of psychiatrist Yoon So-ah, whose family is destined to serve the water god from generation to generation.

The only problem is that So-ah refuses to believe this nonsense and thinks that Ha-baek is in dire need of psychological help.

Although the drama is only partially based on the manhwa of the same name, the plot perfectly conveys the magical atmosphere of the original.

9. Love in the Moonlight, 2016

In this gripping historical drama, Hong Ra-on disguises herself as a man and earns her living by giving love advice to her clients. While writing a love letter for one of them, she meets Crown Prince Lee Yeong.

After a series of events, Ra-on ends up in the palace in the guise of a future eunuch, and a story of forbidden love begins between her and the prince.

The series is based on the webtoon Moonlight Drawn by Clouds.

10. Nevertheless, 2021

The drama is based on a webtoon of the same name. The main character of the series, Yoo Na-bi, is an art student.

Due to a painful breakup in the past, she no longer believes in love, but still desperately wants someone to take care of her, which is taken advantage of by her friendly classmate Park Jae-eon, who is not ready for a relationship at all, preferring short-term flings.