WEBTOONS is a platform launched by the renowned search engine Naver in South Korea. The popularity of online comic strips has spawned numerous K-dramas.
While some K-dramas stay true to their webtoon origins, others take creative detours to spice up your viewing adventure. It’s a dynamic dance of storytelling, showcasing the boundless creativity of the digital age.
Each of these dramas promises a unique blend of drama, comedy, romance, action, and just a dash of thrilling horror for good measure. Tell us your favorite K-drama listed here in the comments below.
1. Cheese in the Trap (2016)
Released on Webtoon since 2010, Soonkki’s webtoon-inspired Cheese in the Trap thrives on a captivating love triangle. This K-drama navigates university life and manipulative relationships between model student Hong Seol and Mr. Perfect college senior Yoo Jung.
Despite the completion of the drama, the Webtoon series, and even the film, Cheese in the Trap remains a compelling watch with 13 nominations and four wins for numerous awards.
2. My ID Is Gangnam Beauty (2018)
Exploring beauty standards, My ID is Gangnam Beauty, derived from Gi Meng-Gi’s webtoon, features Im Soo-hyang and K-pop idol Cha Eun-woo. This drama delves into Kang Mi-rae’s journey through plastic surgery’s impact on identity.
According to Wikiwand, the drama won six awards including the 26th Korean Culture and Entertainment Awards, 11th Korea Drama Awards in 2018, and more.
3. What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim? (2018)
Serialized into a Webtoon in 2015, What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim explores Lee Young-joon (Park Seo-joon) and Kim Mi-so (Park Min-young)’s journey to healing each other’s past traumas.
The drama navigates love’s complexities in this acclaimed series, recognized with six awards. Beyond passionate encounters, What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim explores the intertwined history of its lead characters through 16 episodes.
4. Extraordinary You (2019)
July Found by Chance, transformed into Extraordinary You, stands out as a teen-love drama winning seven various awards. Following Eun Dan-oh’s quest in a fantasy world of comics, the drama showcases her journey to changing her own destiny to find true love.
Published on Webtoon in 2018, it was aired as a television series in 2019 with a whopping 32 episodes in one singular season. Notably, it also marks Rowoon, a K-pop idol’s significant entry into the K-drama scene.
5. Touch Your Heart (2019)
Previously published on KaokaoPage in 2016, Touch Your Heart features a total of 16 episodes that you can view on Viki for free. Lee Dong Wook and Yoo In Na headline Touch Your Heart, a breezy love story set in a law firm.
Yoon Seo’s journey from a vain actress to a genuine soul captivates, revealing societal judgments and industry dynamics. The duo’s onscreen chemistry, coupled with a simple yet impactful narrative, makes it a delightful watch.
6. Love Alarm (2019)
Chun Gye-Young’s Love Alarm, a pioneer Netflix original, explores societal reliance on love apps. It explores the life of a high school girl with an app that notifies them whenever someone around them has romantic feelings for them.
Nominated for four awards, this gripping drama unfolds a love triangle triggered by a revolutionary app. Its hidden social commentary adds depth to the engaging narrative.
7. True Beauty (2020)
True Beauty, based on Yaongyi’s webtoon, enraptured audiences in 2020. Moon Ga-young’s transformation resonates in a captivating love triangle, earning acclaim and an Indonesian Hallyu Fans Choice Award.
Always topping the Webtoon popularity charts, True Beauty brings to life social media creator’s dream, bridging the gap between webtoon and screen through 16 episodes.
8. Memorist (2020)
Jae Hoo’s webtoon Memorist unfolds as a top 2020 crime/mystery drama. Yoo Seung-Ho’s Dong Baek, with memory-reading abilities, investigates complex murders with experienced criminal profiler Han Sun-mi.
As their individual pasts unfold with the murders, the series captivates with thrilling elements and intriguing storylines, maintaining steady viewership for the full season on tvN.
9. Itaewon Class (2020)
Adapted from the webtoon, Itaewon Class is a 2020 series starring Park Seo-joon’s journey to finding revenge against Jangga Group, Korea’s largest food corporation.
Intertwining relationships and ambition, Itaewon Class spans across 16 episodes as Park Sae-ro-yi (Park Seo-joon) as Jo Yi-seo (Kim Da-mi) execute their plans for revenge. Loyalty to the webtoon’s narrative earned the series acclaim as it also won Best Drama Series at the 25th Asian Television Awards.
10. Sweet Home (2020)
Sweeping onto Netflix in 2020, Sweet Home emerged as a gripping K-drama based on the Naver webtoon by Kim Kan-Bi and Hwang Young-Chan. This apocalyptic horror series follows building tenants trapped amid a monstrous transformation of humanity.
With intense fights and cinematic brilliance, Sweet Home ran for three seasons, earning 18 award nominations and securing six wins. Starring Song Kang, Lee Jin-Wook, Lee Si-young, Lee Do-Hyun, and Park Gyuyoung, the drama offers suspense that lingers, as survival hinges on both external threats and internal strife.
11. The Uncanny Counter (2020)
Adapted from Jang Yi’s webtoon, The Uncanny Counter on Netflix captivates with its supernatural plot. So Mun, portrayed by Jo Byeong-kyu, leads a team combating evil spirits, blending action, heartfelt stories, and unexpected connections.
Ever since first airing in 2020 and ending the second season in July of 2023, the Uncanny Counter is currently the highest-rated OCN (Orion Cinema Network) series to date, according to Wikipedia.
12. Backstreet Rookie (2020)
Hwalhwasan’s webtoon, Convenience Store Saet-byul, inspired the rom-com Backstreet Rookie in 2020. Ji Chang-Wook’s Dae-Hyun encounters unexpected twists when hiring a part-time worker, leading to a series filled with charm and lovable characters.
Backstreet Rookie features Ji Chang-wook, one of South Korea’s most popular male actors, and Kim Yoo-jung, actor of the most popular Korean drama in 2024 My Demon. The drama is also recognized with SBS Drama Awards and APAN Star Awards nominations.
13. My Roommate Is A Gumiho (2021)
My Roommate Is A Gumiho, derived from the webtoon, explores the fantasy of a 999-year-old Gumiho named Shin Woo-yeo striving for humanity. Though female college student Lee Dam who accidentally swallows Shin Woo-Yeo’s bead disturbed his plans, the drama has a perfect blend of myth and modernity.
The 16-episode series mirrors the webtoon’s 163-episode journey, offering a unique take on the traditional Gumiho, nine-tailed fox, myth.
14. Nevertheless (2021)
Adapted from Naver Webtoon, Nevertheless revolves around Park Jae-eon and Yoo Na-bi, students navigating the complexities of love as a flirtatious man who does not want to commit to a relationship and a heartbroken woman who no longer believes in love.
Balancing skepticism and charm, the drama explores modern dating’s nuances, offering insights into love, heartbreak, and the blurred lines between friendship and romance. The drama is available on Netflix with 10 episodes.
15. Yumi’s Cells (2021)
Yumi’s Cells, born from a popular webtoon, intertwines live action and 3D animation. The drama has a total of 28 episodes in two seasons. Unraveling the daily life of an ordinary office worker Yumi, the drama brings authenticity to this exploration of love, career, and self-discovery.
Kim Go Eun’s portrayal of Yumi, along with Ahn Bo Hyun and Jinyoung makes it easy for viewers to connect with Yumi’s journey, making it a must-watch.
16. Business Proposal (2022)
Initially released as a web novel on KakaoPage, Business Proposal is a lighthearted fan-favorite drama that took over social media by storm. Especially with infamous Samantha & Rachel line from Kim Sejeong.
Business Proposal is a tale of Shin Ha-ri’s mistaken identity leading to a marriage proposal from CEO Kang Tae Moo. Released in 2022, this drama navigates humorous chaos, merging love and business intricacies with writer Hae Hwa’s signature storytelling.
17. All of Us Are Dead (2022)
Filmed in Sunghee Girl’s high school in Andong, South Korea, NAVER webtoon All of Us Are Dead unfolds into a gripping Netflix zombie series. The drama centers on a group of high school students’ struggle to survive in a zombie outbreak after a science teacher’s experiment went wrong.
Nominated for nine awards, it combines horror and drama, exploring a school’s transformation into a zombie-infested battleground. The series delves into the virus’s origins, distinguishing itself in the zombie genre.
There you have it—17 K-dramas that took the leap from webtoon pages to our screens, delivering a rollercoaster of emotions and storytelling brilliance. From heartwarming romances to spine-tingling horrors, these dramas have captivated audiences worldwide, proving that the magic of webtoons extends far beyond the digital pages.
So, the next time you’re scrolling through your favorite streaming platform, keep an eye out for those dramas born from the pixels of webtoon artists’ imaginations. You might just discover your next obsession, a story that transcends digital boundaries to capture your heart.
Each of these K-dramas, rooted in captivating webtoons, weaves diverse narratives, from apocalyptic horrors to romantic comedies, offering a visual feast for audiences. The transition from webtoon to screen enhances the storytelling, making these adaptations a must-watch for K-drama enthusiasts.
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