Directly from South Korea, manhwa has become a big hit for those who are fans of manga in recent years. This genre has spread to all of Asia and overseas as well. Since manhwa is reaching the ranks of popularity that Japan has dominated for years, there are a lot of upcoming manhwa that readers won’t want to miss.
Whether it is for its unique premise, its lovable characters, or its beautiful art — often in color, contrary to manga’s black and white style – these series stand out among the rest. Both new and seasoned manhwa lovers should take note and check this incredible series out.
Updated by Mayra Garcia on June 27th, 2023: Slowly and steadily manhwa has become one of the most popular graphic genres out there, which means every month there’s new series that readers won’t want to miss. This list has been updated with more must-read manhwa.
20 7FATES: CHAKHO, By HYBE (2022)
Prologue & 52 Chapters (Complete)
BTS has done Webtoons in the past, and one of them even tied into a few of their mobile games built off of the lore in their albums. However, 7FATES: CHAKHO is brand-new territory, and it’s certainly worth reading even for those who aren’t a diehard ARMY.
- Great for BTS ARMY
- References real Korean history
- Full-color, impressive artwork
The manhwa includes several references to Korean history and culture. The title, “chakho,” is short for the word “chakhogapsa,” which refers to professional tiger hunters created by King Sejong, the fourth ruler of the Joseon dynasty and creator of the Korean alphabet. Additionally, the “beom” that the characters hunt in the story is another word for “tiger.”
19 What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim?, By JEONG GYEONG YUN & Kim MYEONGMI (2016)
98 Episodes (Complete)
What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim? is a timeless classic manhwa that can be read multiple times and still feel the same. The story follows the perfect secretary, Kim Mi-so, as she performs her job under her perfectionist, ungrateful and narcissistic boss, Lee Young-Joon.
- Great to read more than once
- Focuses on romance
- Competent female lead
However, when Kim Mi-So decides she wants to take a break and focus on her life, she chooses to quit her job. At this point, Lee Young-joon begins to realize how truly precious she was as an employee, and perhaps something more. Slowly, they both fall in love, changing what they knew about each other.
18 Her Tale of Shim Chong, Written By Seri With Art By Biwan
7 Volumes, 90 Chapters (Complete)
By Seri and Biwan, Her Tale of Shim Chong follows the complicated but wholesome romance between two women: Shim Chong, a beggar who has to take care of her blind father, and the fiancé of Chancellor Jang, a girl who wants nothing to do with her future husband, but has very few choices.
- Starcrossed lovers
- LGBTQ+ representation
- Beautiful art
Anyone looking for a beautiful LGBTQ+ romance should check out Her Tale of Shim Chong and lose themselves in this beautiful story. This manhwa, which was inspired by an old Korean folktale, is full of relatable characters and incredibly romantic moments.
17 The Star Seekers, By HYBE (2022)
54 Episodes (Ongoing)
As part of HYBE’s new endeavor with Webtoon, a few of their artists received their very own manhwa. Tomorrow X Together’s webtoon is called The Star Seekers. It takes place in a fantastical world, and a five-member idol group called Star One is meant to represent the five members of TXT.
- Ideal for Tomorrow X Together stans
- Supernatural powers allow for exciting battles
- Underdogs saving the world
In this world, magical idols are considered the best of the best, while those who don’t have powers are the dregs. Magicless idols are doomed to fail. Star One starts as a magicless group, but one member suddenly gains supernatural powers when a fellow member is attacked on stage.
16 Misaeng: An Incomplete Life, By Yoon Tae-Ho (2012)
293 Chapters & 5 Specials (Ongoing)
Misaeng: An Incomplete Life is an absolute gem and more than worth checking out for those looking for a great starting point for manhwa. This series follows a group of employees at a trading company called One International, with the spotlight on Jang Geu-Rae.
- Good for beginners to get into manhwa
- Relatable setting & themes
- Focuses on a traditional Chinese board game
Misaeng: An Incomplete Life deals with the hardships they experience, with Jang Geu-rae using baduk — a Chinese board game which is usually called “Go,” — as his guide to figuring out his problems.
15 Dark Moon: The Blood Altar, By HYBE (2022)
55 Episodes (Ongoing)
As the third installment of HYBE’s manhwa endeavor, Enhypen stars in Dark Moon: The Blood Altar. Fans of vampire anime or dark shojo are sure to enjoy this one. Even though it plays on clichéd and often overused tropes, it does so in a way that doesn’t feel tired. It’s heartwarming, and fans are drawn into Sooha’s story.
- Great for Enhypen stans
- Supernatural elements, including vampires
- Easy for shojo fans to enjoy
The webtoon follows Sooha after she enrolls in Decelis Academy. The school has a strict policy against vampires — something important to her since a vampire slaughtered her childhood friend. However, Sooha finds herself entangled between the affections of seven vampires, each trying to steal her heart.
14 The Horizon, By Ji-Hoon Jeong (2016)
3 Volumes, 21 Chapters (Complete)
A beautiful tale about human connection, The Horizon documents the journey of a boy and a girl who have found each other in a world ravaged by war. As they travel together, aiming to find the end of the road they transit, they heal each other, remembering how hope feels like.
- Incredibly emotional
- Unique art
- Short story
The Horizon is such a simple story that its characters don’t even have names. This simplicity allows it to tell an incredibly moving story in only 21 episodes. It may not be the best option for a fun, lighthearted reading session, but those who enjoy stories with true emotional depth will love it.
13 Cheese In The Trap, By Soonkki (2010)
34 Volumes, 297 Chapters (Complete)
Cheese in the Trap was written and illustrated by Soonkki. If one hasn’t read this iconic manhwa, then this year is the time to get started. With the story broken up into three seasons, there is plenty to read.
- An iconic manhwa, good for beginners
- Plenty of romantic tension
- Enemies-to-lovers dynamic
When hardworking and beautiful college student Seol Hong discovers the dark side of her senior Jung Yoo, her life becomes complicated. While she wanted to expose his two-faced ways and get her life back at first, they become attracted to one another and begin to date.
12 Leveling Up My Husband To The Max, Written By Uginon & Nuova With Art By Curlin (2021)
90 Episodes (Ongoing)
The idea of an arranged marriage is one of the most popular romance tropes around. Two people who hate each other’s guts are forced to marry but eventually develop feelings for each other.
- Arranged marriage
- Time travel allows the protagonist to redo her past
- Ideal for shojo fans
Leveling Up My Husband To The Max is a Webtoon original that follows Amber as she’s sentenced to execution. She recalled the past ten years of her life and feels remorseful for how she lived up until being framed by the emperor. Instead of being executed, however, Amber is teleported back to her 20-year-old self on the day of her wedding.
11 The Gamer, Written By Sangyoung Seong With Art By Sang-A (2013)
458 Episodes (Ongoing)
Jee-Han loves video games, but, when he suddenly discovers he has the power to play through the real world like a role-playing game, he is shocked. This opens the door for many new different adventures, but also raises the stakes even higher. 10 years after it was released, fans are still hoping to get an anime adaptation.
- Video game aesthetic to draw in gamers
- Likable protagonist who’s easy to root for
- Plenty of enemies for exciting battles
Jee-Han can see the levels of people and the status of items, acquire abilities, and even level up. However, this power isn’t that peaceful. Some monsters must be defeated like a real role-playing game, and there are others who have the same — and even more powerful — abilities as Jee-Han.
10 Noblesse, Written By Jeho Son With Art By Kwangsu Lee (2007)
50 Episodes (Complete)
Noblesse is a manhwa that received an anime adaptation via Crunchyroll, so this is a must-read for sure. It received an OVA before it was completed and in 2020 it got a full-blown anime adaptation. Written by Jeho Son and illustrated by Kwangsu Lee, the story reinvents the rehashed story of vampires and Frankenstein.
- Received an anime adaptation on Crunchyroll
- Rehashes & reinvents classic monster stories
- Plenty of exciting action
Rai awakens from an 820-year sleep to realize the world had changed drastically. He decides to begin his life anew and get accustomed to modern society along with his loyal servant, Frankenstein. However, things aren’t peaceful, as there are people who call themselves “The Unions” on the attack.
9 Second Life Ranker, Written By Nong Nong With Art By Sa Doyeon (2011)
161 Chapters (Ongoing)
Second Life Ranker follows Yeon-woo, a mysterious man trying to find his twin brother, Cha Jeong. During his journey, he finds his brother’s diary and learns that he was murdered while trying to climb the Tower of the Sun God to become a god. In order to avenge him, he takes it upon himself to climb it too, using Jeong-woo’s diary as a guide.
- Epic lore
- Great for shonen fans
- Action-packed fights
Second Life Ranker stands out because it’s basically shonen. Yeon-woo’s epic journey is full of threats and mysteries that readers won’t be able to let go and the lore behind the Obelisk only grows more complex by the chapter. Any manga readers looking for a thrilling story should check it out.
8 Girls of The Wild’s, Written By Hun With Art By Zhena (2011)
260 Chapters (Complete)
Girls of the Wild’s was written by Hun and illustrated by Zhena. For those who enjoy harem anime and manga, then this series is sure to get them interested. While Wild’s High has a 42-year history as a private fighting school for girls only, it recently became a mixed-gender school.
When the only male student, Song Jae Gu, is offered a three-year scholarship that doesn’t depend on his grades, he accepts. But, after accidentally gaining the ire of Queen — the champion of Wild’s League — his school life becomes more complicated than he bargained for. Fans of My Dress-Up Darling or Rent-A-Girlfriend are sure to enjoy this manhwa.
7 A Business Proposal, Written By Haehwa With Art By NARAK (2018)
Prologue & 124 Episodes (Complete)
Business Proposal follows Hari after she agrees to go on a blind date on her best friend’s behalf. Plus, Hari wanted to put an end to undesired arranged marriages. While she went into it thinking it would be easy money, Hari quickly realized it wouldn’t be an easy task. Then she meets Taemu, the new CEO of her company. He’s in a similar situation, so the two decide to pretend to date.
- Received a K-drama adaptation
- Romantic comedy
- Office-themed romance setting
Anybody who belongs to the K-drama fandoms has surely heard about Business Proposal. This story was adapted into a K-Drama in 2022 and it was a total success. The manhwa is just as great, so viewers should delve into it if they want more of Hari and Taemu’s story.
6 Solo Leveling, Written By Chugong With Art By Dubu & Redice Studio (2018)
180 Episodes (Complete)
Solo Leveling was written by Chugong and illustrated by Gee So-Lyung and Redice Studio. Some have probably seen this manhwa around, as many fans have been absorbed in its story. It’s based on a novel of the same name, as are many other manhwa, and it’s been praised for its fantastical setting and great action.
- Received praise for its setting & action
- Video game aesthetics that draw in gamers
- Driven protagonist eager to become the best
Solo Leveling centers around E-rank Hunter Sung Jin-Woo. He discovers a dungeon that only he can see and level up inside. His goal is to become an S-rank Hunter, the strongest rank in the world.
5 Orange Marmalade, By Seokwoo (2011)
119 Episodes (Complete)
In a world where vampires are common, humans still discriminate against them. However, this doesn’t stop Mari Baek, a shy vampire girl, from falling for Jae-min Jung, one of the most popular guys in her school. After she bites him, they develop a complicated but wholesome relationship, in which they both re-learn everything they know about vampires and humans.
- Friendly vampires
- Lighthearted romance
- Perfect for first-time manhwa readers
Orange Marmalade has a unique but simple premise. It doesn’t create a complex new world like other manhwa do, but it still puts a twist on a regular high-school romance. Manga readers who haven’t delved into manhwa and want to get familiar with its tropes could start with this beautiful, domestic story.
4 The Druid Of Seoul Station, Written By Jin Seol Woo & Adapted By Mun Sung Ho With Art By Livebear (2021)
96 Episodes (Ongoing)
The Druid Of Seoul Station is a perfect choice for fans of isekai and science fiction. It follows Suho, an average guy from Seoul. At first, he’s just going about his day-to-day activities. Then, he gets isekai’d to a hellish reality. The sky has two moons, and monsters roam freely.
- Great for fans of isekai & sci-fi
- Dynamic storytelling that keeps readers engaged
- Plenty of action & gore
The Druid Of Seoul Station is unique from its contemporaries. After Suho comes back home, he’s horrified to discover that those very monsters have taken over his home planet. It’s action-packed, gory, and uses dynamic storytelling. Fans won’t be able to look away from this story once they start reading it.
3 Tomb Raider King, Written By Yoonz With Art By 3B2S and Redice Studio (2019)
396 Chapters (Complete) & 14 Side Stories (Ongoing)
When God’s Tombs – ancient divine artifacts that grant superpowers – start appearing everywhere on Earth, collectors from all over the world race against each other to find them first. Tomb Raider King follows Seo Joo-Heon, an arrogant but goal-oriented young man who wants to get all of God’s Tombs for himself and won’t stop until he gets them.
- Complex lore
- Superpowered characters
- Arrogant but charming lead
Tomb Raider King is a long, but worthy read. Yoonz committed to creating a world as complex as possible. Even after almost 400 chapters in the main story, now the creators have focused on side stories. Readers will find it easy to dive into this universe just like they would do with any fantasy franchise.
2 66,666 Years: Advent Of The Dark Mage, Written By Hwabong & Adapted By TARU With Art By PASA (2021)
77 Episodes (Ongoing)
66,666 Years: Advent Of The Dark Mage is based on a web novel with the same title by Hwabong. The story follows a dark mage named Diablo after being sealed into a state of limbo by twelve unknown gods for 66,666 years straight. Then, he was reincarnated into a loving family.
- Protagonist challenges the gods
- Revenge plot
- Magic & fantasy focused storytelling
Taking on the name Jamie Welton, he still has all of his memories from his past life and still maintains his classic personality. Now, he seeks to get revenge on the twelve gods who cast him away for tens of thousands of years.
1 Tower of God, By SIU (2010)
565 Episodes (Ongoing)
Tower of God tells the story of Twenty-Fifth Bam, a boy trapped beneath a strange Tower who is trying to find his best friend, Rachel. Since she’s inside the tower, Bam enters too. Inside he encounters many threats and challenges, but also incredible allies. In 2020, Crunchyroll turned Tower of God into an anime.
- Received an anime adaptation
- Suspenseful storytelling
- Great plot twists
This gem of a manhwa is one of the longest-running manhwa out there. Anyone who has watched the anime and wants to know more about Bam’s story should read it. Unfortunately, it’s still an ongoing series (and it has gone through a couple of hiatus periods), but it’s still worth a read.
