Webtoonhas produced some of the most popular webcomics to date, solidifying the service as the go-to source for online comics - which have become a go-to source for TV and movie producers. Whether fans are looking for romance, comedy, drama, or thrillers, Webtoon has something for every type of reader, and in these cases, there is content for every television/movie fan.
Most current Webtoon-inspired shows and movies areavailable for streaming on U.S. based platforms, such as Netflix, Apple TV, or Prime Video.A majority of the series have been adapted from webcomics into Korean Dramas (or K-Dramas for short). With the rising popularity of Korean shows on streaming platforms, such asSquid Game, and Korean shows having American adaptations on network television, such asThe Good Doctor, the future for live adaptations of Webtoons in different formats like feature films, television series, or streaming services is unlimited.
Sweet Home- written by Carnby Kim with art by Youngchan Hwang - is a thriller thatpremiered on Webtoon in 2018and is now a Netflix series.Sweet Homefollows a recently orphaned high school student, Cha Hyun-soo, who moves to an apartment building of strangers after the loss of his parents. Almost immediately, Cha Hyun-soo finds himself in the midst of the apocalypse, with monsters taking over human bodies in an attempt to destroy the world.
The theme of keeping one’s inner demon at bay is common in webcomics and anime.
As Cha Hyun-soo becomes half monster, he fights both external and internal demons. The theme of keeping one’s inner demon at bay is common in webcomics and anime.Fans of the animeKaiju No. 8would especially enjoySweet Home, considering the similarities between Cha Hyun-soo unwillingly hosting a monster and Kafka Hibino ofKaiji No. 8unintentionally becoming part kaiju.
If entertainment trends tell us anything, it’s that zombies are always popular.All of Us Are Deadby Joo Dong-geun gives readersa zombie virus, high stakes, and a bunch of teenagers defending their high schoolfrom zombie-fied versions of their classmates.All of Us are Deadpremiered on Webtoonin 2021 and has a whopping 20.3 million readers on the platform.
Now adapted as a Netflix series,All of Us Are Deadadds an element of intrigue by revealing that some students are immune to the virus, giving them partial enhanced abilities while maintaining their humanity. A mystery that runs throughout the webcomic and the Netflix adaptation is the origin of the virus. The Webtoon and the Netflix series give two different, but very compelling answers, so be sure to check out both!
While world-ending-monsters or zombies may not factor intoOrange Marmalade, vampires certainly do.Orange Marmaladeby Seokwoo takesa romantic approach to supernatural creatures instead of an apocalyptic one.Orange Marmaladepremiered on Webtoon in 2014 and follows a female vampire named Mari Baek who falls in love with a human. The only problem is that humans discriminate against vampires. Mari Baek has to hide her true nature while navigating a whirlwind romance.
10 Best Romance Manhwa on Webtoon, Ranked
The best romance manhwas on Webtoon spark many feelings and occasional tears in the readers and are perfect when looking for the next binge-read.
Orange Marmaladewas adapted into a South Korean television series that is available to U.S. viewers on Prime Video. The series,much like the Webtoon, was met with an overwhelming positive response, earning the two main actors KBS Drama Awards in 2015. Both the South Korean series and the Webtoon are complete, so you can bingeOrange Marmaladewithout interruptionand find out what happens when a vampire and a popular high school boy fall in love.
In a twist to the Ugly Duckling fairy-tale, Ju-kyung Lim does not suddenly accept her own looks or magically become beautiful. Instead, she becomes an expert at makeup and changes her exterior, which in turn changes the way people treat her. As she becomes popular in high school and on to college,Ju-kyung Lim struggles with hiding her true face from those closest to her.True Beautywas adapted into a K-Drama and an anime, which is available to stream on Crunchyroll. A second season was announced earlier this year.
Neverthelessby Jeongseo debuted on Webtoon in 2021 and has been adapted into a Netflix series of the same name.This romance webcomic follows two college-age art students, Nabi and Jae-eon, who both have some extremely hard stances on love.Nabi does not believe in love, especially after her past experiences. Jae-eon, on the other hand, is a top-tier flirt who enjoys evoking romantic feelings in girls, but doesn’t believe in relationships themselves.
But emotions as strong as theirs are impossible to hide from.
However, once the two artistic souls meet, they form an instant connection. Feelings that neither are accustomed to arise, with Nabi trying her best to dismiss them, as love doesn’t exist anymore in her world.But emotions as strong as theirs are impossible to hide from. Both the Webtoon and the Netflix series hone in on the differences between ideologies and emotions to create a compelling story.
Cheese in the Trapby Soonkki isa whopping 300 episode seriesthat was published throughout 2014 on Webtoon. The series grew so popular that a South Korean television series and feature film were made in 2016 and 2018, respectively. The series follows two college students: the hardworking Seol and the untrustworthy (yet charming) Jung. Seol was a model student before a series of unexplained events caused her so much stress and misery that she left school for a year.
Upon returning to college with a full scholarship, Seol starts to become close to the senior, Jung, who is known as “Mr. Perfect” throughout the student body. But Seol realizes that Jung may not be as perfect as his reputation claims, as his manipulative ways become apparent,making Seol question whether he was the reason she dropped out of school.Both the television series and movie are available to watch on Prime Video.
Yumi’s Cellsby Donggeon Lee was published on Webtoon in 2015 and has a short and sweet official description:“A story of Yumi and her brain cells.“TheInside Out-like webcomicYumi’s Cellsis a slice of life romancethat follows Kim Yumi as she tries to move past an emotionally traumatizing breakup that caused the love cells in her brain to fall into a coma. Many of Yumi’s different brain cells play major parts, including Emotion, Rationale, Hungry, and Anxiety, to name a few. When Yumi meets Goo Woong, both her brain cells and Woong attempt to jump start the sleeping love cell.
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The Webtoon gained a massive following,leading to multiple adaptations beyond comic form.Yumi’s Cellswas adapted into two seasons of a K-Drama (2021-2022), a South Korean feature film calledYumi’s Cells: The Movie(2024), an animated series (2022), and three games:Yumi’s Block Pain,Yumi’s Cells: My Dream House, andYumi’s Cells: The Game. Season 1 of theYumi’s Cellstelevision series is available on Prime Video.
3Tomorrow
A Young Man Working With Grim Reapers
Tomorrowby Llamais an ongoing Webtoon seriesthat premiered on the platform in 2022. The series follows Junwung, a young man who slipped into a coma after an unfortunate accident. While in the coma, Junwung is contacted by an organization called Flashback and asked to join their team as a first responder to humans in crisis. Junwung takes Flashback up on their deal, hoping to erase the bad karma of his past with each life he saves.
2Dr. Frost
An Apathetic Doctor Solves Mysteries
Starring an apathetic genius who has top-tier deduction skills,Dr. Frostis a perfect match for fans of BBC’sSherlockand many other detective series.Written and illustrated by JongBeom Lee,Dr. Frostpremiered on Webtoon in 2014 and was adapted into a ten-episode television series in South Korea.Dr. Frostfollows Baek Nam-bong, a psychology professor who earned his nickname due to his striking white hair. A traumatic brain injury in his youth left Dr. Frost unable to feel any emotions, essentially classifying him as a sociopath.
Dr. Frost aids detectives in solving crimes that no one else can piece together.
Besides working as a psychology professor,Dr. Frost moonlights as a bartender, where he encounters all different types of people.However, to Dr. Frost, all humans are the same and uninteresting. Given his extremely high intelligence, expertise in psychology and objectivity when it comes to emotional attachments, Dr. Frost aids detectives in solving crimes that no one else can piece together. TheDr. Frosttelevision series is available to stream on Apple TV.
Written and illustrated by NA,My Roommate Is a Gumihois a romance/drama series that debuted on Webtoon in 2021. The series, which is now completed, focuses on a man and woman brought together by very strange and unusual circumstances. Lee Dam is just a regular college student untilshe accidentally swallows a bead belonging to the 999-year-old mythical Nine Tailed Fox(gumiho), Shin Woo-Yeo. The two must become roommates to solve their serious predicament.
My Roommate Is a Gumihowas adapted into a Netflix series in 2021 and lasted for one season. Fans followed along with Woo-Yeo and Dam’s struggles, as Dam is destined to die within a year of consuming the bead if they cannot retrieve it from her body, and Woo-Yeo will remain a Nine Tailed Fox instead of becoming human like he wished. TheMy Roommate is a GumihoWebtoonended in 2024 after 183 episodes.
