Highlights
- Manhwa and manga are visually similar but have different origins. Manhwa is from South Korea, while manga is from Japan.
- Both manhwa and manga are popular among comic readers and fans.
- Psychological manhwa delve into deep topics like friendship, disability, and existential questions, keeping readers on edge.
Though they are often visually similar, manhwa is quite different from manga in terms of origin; manhwa are South Korean in origin instead of Japanese. But while they are different in these ways, manga and manhwa are similar in that they are prevalent among readers and fans of comics in general.
With different kinds of manhwa come a slew of different genres, with one of those genres being the psychological genre. From complex mysteries to the exploration of the human mind, these psychological manhwa are sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats while pondering the most existential questions they may find.
7 Into the Depths
Rating Unavailable on MyAnimeList
- Written by: Bbyong
- Illustrated by: Bbyong
- Genre(s): Drama, School Life, Slice of Life
Compared to other popular manhwa, the artwork for Into the Depths can most likely be described as simple or plain. However, this manhwa more than makes up for it with its story, which delves into some deep topics such as friendship and disability, all of which Youngwoo, one of the manhwa’s main protagonists, experiences first-hand.
After being hospitalized in a motorcycling accident and losing sight in his left eye, Youngwoo decides to give up his delinquent lifestyle and start re-attending school. Here, he befriends Shihyeon, a deaf high school student whom Youngwoo meets after a misunderstanding the two have during one of their classes.
6 Pigpen
Rated 7.81/10 on MyAnime List
- Written by: Carnby Kim
- Illustrated by: Beosmik Cheon
- Genre(s): Drama, Horror, Mystery
While many popular manhwa are known for having a comedic or cheery tone, many others have a dreary setting or a dark, apprehensive tone. Pigpen is one such manhwa with a psychologically uneasy setting and tone, both of which stem from the unsettling situation in which the main protagonist finds himself.
The story revolves around an amnesiac young man waking up on an uninhabited island, save for a mysterious family running their bed and breakfast. As he stays in the family’s bed and breakfast, the young man struggles to figure out who he is as he notices the family’s behavior growing more unsettling by the day.
5 Ghost Teller
Rated 7.84/10 on MyAnimeList
- Written by: QTT
- Illustrated by: QTT
- Genre(s): Horror, Mystery, Supernatural
Unlike Pigpen, Ghost Teller does not immediately throw its main protagonist into an apprehensive situation. Instead, the main protagonist endures a slew of rejection from both her family and her dates, wearing down her psyche to the point of seeking help to improve her life via supernatural means, with devastating results.
Ghost Teller follows the life of a young woman who is struggling to get married to appease her emotionally neglectful family. Ultimately, she seeks a supernatural being to improve her fortune, resulting in her marrying and having a son. Still, her fragile psyche begins to take its toll on her despite her new happiness.
4 Roxana
Ranked 7.94/10 on MyAnimeList
- Written by: Jiyeon Baek
- Illustrated by: Yoerumbit
- Genre(s): Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Even in a fantasy setting, there is no shortage of complex issues, such as betrayal and destiny, that can take place, as shown by the scheming and manipulations that take place in the manhwa Roxana. The main characters in this manhwa struggle to change their fate, seemingly written in stone, resulting in a riveting, crime-ridden story featuring the age-old conflict between fate and willpower.
The completely unflappable Roxana Agreece, the titular protagonist, is surprised to find that her house is doomed to fall after reading a reverse-harem novel called The Abysmal Flower. Things eventually escalate when Roxana’s father kidnaps Cassis Pedlian, heir to the Blue Pedelian household, forcing Roxana to take the necessary steps to ensure Cassis’s survival.
3 SSS-Class Revival Hunter
Ranked 8.03/10 on MyAnimeList
- Written by: Neida, Noah Shin
- Illustrated by: Bill K.
- Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy
Compared to the other entries on this list, SSS-Class Revival Hunter has less of a horror tone, replacing it with an action-packed, high-stakes atmosphere. In conjunction with a cast of ambitious star hunters, this manhwa is an excellent blend of great action and compelling psychological themes.
In SSS-Class Revival Hunter, the main character, Confucius Kim, is intrigued by a mysterious monster-hunting tower that can make one’s dreams come true should one choose to enter it. Seeing his chance to enter the tower after receiving an S+ Rank skill, Confucius’s dreams are seemingly cut short when he is killed by the Flame Emperor, his idol and the strongest hunter alive.
2 Winter Woods
Rated 8.05/10 on MyAnimeList
- Written by: Cosmos
- Illustrated by: Banji
- Genre(s): Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Keeping with the previous trend of serious topics in manhwa such as Into the Depths, one of the most sorrowful topics ever covered in any media is loss. In particular, it has been shown repeatedly that the loss of a character’s loved ones, as depicted in Winter Woods, for example, can drive them to do questionable things, but also appreciate the life they have.
The story of Winter Woods begins with an alchemist who, after losing his wife and child, creates a being called Winter out of corpse parts. After the alchemist’s death, however, Winter begins to live among humans, where he learns about the beauty of human life, especially through his bond with his writer friend Jane.
1 Omniscient Reader
Ranked 8.43/10 on MyAnimeList
- Written by: UMI
- Illustrated by: Sleepy-C
- Genre(s): Action, Survival, Fantasy
Similarly to Roxana, Omniscient Reader also has its main character, the black-haired contractor Dokja Kim, using what he knows to escape a terrible fate. However, very much unlike Roxana, Dokja is also tasked with saving the rest of mankind, who have absolutely no idea how to cope with the sudden change in their environment and circumstances.
After finishing a web novel called Three Ways to Survive the Apocalypse, Dokja suddenly finds the web novel becoming a reality as the world suddenly turns into an apocalyptic hellscape. As the only person in the world who knows how events will unfold, Dokja must ensure the survival of those around him even as they are pitted against each other in a kill-or-be-killed situation.
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