Although manhwas have recently conquered the anime medium with incredible adaptations, likeSolo Leveling, many of the bestwebtoonshave been adapted from the pages into iconic TV shows. Many popular series and K-Dramas that became global hits reaching the top on streaming services like Netflix and Prime Videoowe their existence to webtoons, but it can be easy to overlook for viewers that they are live-action adaptations instead of original stories.
While some TV shows are direct adaptations, the majority are only inspired by their source material, introducing many changes and giving different interpretations to these manhwas to appeal to a broader audience while still keeping the sense of familiarity and overarching plot of these stories. But even though these changes may disappoint some readers, some of these creative liberties also result in some live-action adaptations that have long outshone their manhwas in popularity. However, that doesn’t mean the originalmanhwas are any less worthy of reading. If anything, it gives viewers more of a reason to read them next.
The 8 Showis a Netflix adaptation that shares a similar concept with series likeSquid GameandAlice in Borderlandwith social criticism of capitalism, but that gives its own twist to the genre. However, what many viewers may not know is that it is based on two webtoons titledMoney GameandPie Game, which started before theSquid Gamepremiere in 2019.
If Squid Game Season 2 Left You Wanting More, There Is One Show You Need to Watch ASAP
Squid Game’s fans waiting for its third season should check out this unique death game series that promises to fill the void in the meantime.
InThe 8 Show, eight contestants take part in a contest inside an eight-story building where they will have to endure several challenges to accumulate money, and although it lacks the intensity of other death game series, it has a psychological and dark comedy component that makes it a really enjoyable watch. Even so, the series is only loosely based on its source material, taking more aspects from Pie Game and featuring many changes to the characters and setting. This way, as both webtoons are relatively short and have better characterization, it would be a great read for viewers who crave more of the story.
Business Proposalis a K-Dramaperfect for workplace romance loversbased on a webtoon adapted from the web novel titled “The Office Blind Date” written by HaeHwa. Upon its release on Netflix, it gained international recognition thanks to its funny characters and charming story about a girl who takes the place of her friend to go on a blind date and ends up being with an important CEO. However, this appreciation isn’t exclusive to the live-action adaptation, asBusiness Proposalhas become one of the most successful titles in KakaoPage’s webtoon platform Tapas.
Even though it shares several common romance tropes, like secret identity and different social classes, Business Proposal has captivated viewers with the incredible chemistry between the couples and the lighthearted atmosphere, perfect for binge-watching. However, as one of its criticisms points out, its finale felt rushed; viewers could find the webtoon’s ending more enjoyable, which develops the characters more.
Marry My Husbandis a regression story where Kang Jiwon, who is terminally ill and has been living being mistreated, returns 10 years to the past after being betrayed by her husband and her best friend. She then sets out to transmit to them her fate and seize her second chance in life. AlthoughMarry My Husbandis primarily about revenge, it is also about regret, self-love, and acceptance of others.
Marry My Husband’s live-action adaptation was quite faithful to its source material, except for a major moment that was significantly more touching and heartbreaking in the manhwa. Also,the manhwa will be an interesting read for viewers who were left wanting to see more of the charactersas it explores more the relationship between the protagonists and their future, as well as the side characters' romances.
Cheese in the TrapLive-Action was highly popular, butnot everyone might know that it’s based on one of thebest romance manhwasof all time,following the story of Seol Hong, a university student, and her relationship with her senior, Yu Jung, who isn’t at all how he seems. Despite having passed more than 15 years after its release,Cheese in the Traphas stood the test of time with a universal and realistic story about university love and entrance to adult life with complex and interesting characters, all enhanced with a unique and colorful art style.
However,whileCheese in the Traplive-action was a great adaptation, the webtoon has better characterizationand character development for Jung. Moreover, it features an original open ending since the webtoon hadn’t finished at the time. This way, viewers who want to know what happens to the characters can refer to the manhwa.
From the same director ofTrain to Busan,Yeon Sangho,Hellboundfollows the events of its original manhwa remarkably well, and that’s because both share the same creators. Because of this,Hellboundis one of the most intense and harrowing thriller adaptations with a great narrative about people who struggle with fanaticism, featuring supernatural events and criticism of society.
InHellbound, the characters struggle easily to empathize with viewers, and even though the story has a touch of fantasy, it feels disturbingly real, becauseit explores universal themes such as religion, violence for spectacle, and the meaning of humanity. Furthermore,althoughHellbound’smanhwa ended in 2022, a sequel titledHellbound 2: The Resurrectedwas released on the Webtoon platform this year, which is great news for fans of the story who want to see what happens next.
See You in My 19th Life (2020)
See You in My 19th Lifehas become one of the most popular K-Dramas on Netflix and is based on one of the best-rated romances manhwas from Naver Webtoon.The story is a fresh take on the reincarnation trope, following Jieum Ban, who has reincarnated many times until she decides to reconnect with her true love from her previous life.
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.
Although the live-action adaptation shares the same overarching storyline as the manhwa—and it is natural that it cut some content to fit 105 chapters in only 12 episodes—both versions have many differences, the most noticeable ones being the changes in Jieum’s first life and the drama’s ending. Also, while the drama is quite enjoyable on its own with stunning visuals, cinematography, and performances, the manhwa has deeper characters, comedy, and better closure. This way,those who are unsatisfied with the live-action adaptation should give the webtoon a try.
Strangers From Hell
Cast
Strangers From Hell is a South Korean psychological thriller series directed by Lee Chang-hee. The show follows Yoon Jong-woo, a young man who moves to Seoul for a job and ends up in a sinister, rundown apartment complex. As he encounters strange and unsettling neighbors, he becomes entangled in horrifying events, questioning the reality around him.
Strangers from Hellis a live-action adaptation of the psychological thriller Manhwa from Webtoon, Hell is Other People, following a young man moving to the worst residence possible, which has becomeone of the best horror series in recent years. The series first attracted viewers due to the casting of the popular actor Lee Dong-Wook, best known for his roles inGoblinandTale of the Nine Tailed, but captivated the audience thanks to its eerie atmosphere and dark and gripping story with an excellent representation of how the environment is capable of molding and messing an individual.
AlthoughStrangers from Helllive-action introduces new characters that don’t appear in the webtoon, it becamea perfect example of how to adapt to perfection a story, with characters that look creepier than in the source material, spectacular acting, a frenetic pace, and an even more disconcerting final plot twist that will leave viewers wondering who each character really is.
Weak Hero Class 1premiered in 2022 on Netflix and quickly gained viewers across the world, praising its realistic and gut-wrenching story about school bullying. The series is a brutal coming-of-age story about a physically weak student learning to defend himself as well as the consequences of the cycle of violence and was elevated by the excellent direction and performances of its protagonist trio. Althoughthis live-action adaptation is based on the webtoonWeak Hero, it serves as a prequel, covering the past of Gray Yeonbut with many creative liberties and more character depth.
Weak Hero Class 2is set to release this year and will adapt the actual timeline of the manhwa, starting with Gray entering Eunjang High School with the benefit of the viewers already knowing Gray’s background and reasoning for its calculating and cunning personality.
In the manhwa, Gray’s past was presented in a flashback, which was significantly shorter—around 10 chapters—and some characters’ personalities and actions were different. This way, the live action gives viewers a new perspective on the story sinceit’s more emotional and heartbreaking than its webtoon counterpart, which is more focused on action, with more characters and higher stakes.
All of Us Are Deadtook the world by storm thanks to its original mix of young drama with zombies. This way, the zombie apocalypse and impossible environment to survive become a vehicle to explore real-life issues like bullying, discrimination, and classism, as well as political negligence, all enhanced with great doses of violence and gore.
AlthoughAll of Us Are Dead Season 1left an open ending, it adapted the entire webtoon, which means that its upcoming sequel will be an original creation.
Unfortunately, as is the case with many live-action adaptations,Netflix’sAll of Us Are Deadchanged several characters and the order of events from the source material, like the virus outbreak, while also downplaying some of the more realistic aspects of the original webtoon, like the focus on obtaining supplies to survive. Nevertheless, the high-quality production and phenomenal performances make the live-action series a great watch for any zombie fan.
Created by the master of horror manhwa, Kim Carnby,Sweet Homeis a story full of adrenaline and tension about a group of tenants of an apartment block who seek to resist a species of monsterization epidemic. The protagonist, Cha Hyun-soo, who had originally lost his will to live, will try to survive this nightmarish scenario as he meets important people and faces his fears and his own humanity. It isthis unique premise that has madeSweet Homeone of thebest manhwa on Webtoon.
Netflix’sSweet Homestrays completely from the webtoon on one point, which allows the story to extend for two seasons, with a new one scheduled to release in 2025.
However, even though Netflix’s adaptation has incredible quality and knows how to conveySweet Home’s suspense and brutal story, there are some major differences with its source material. With changes in the series' tone, introducing original characters, and changing backgrounds and relationships, both versions have their own identities and strengths, allowing viewers to experience both.
