Many popular k-dramas are adapted from original manhwa series published or available on the famous Korean web comic platform, WEBTOON. Given its popularity both in South Korea and internationally, fans everywhere are excited to see their favorite manhwas played out in live-action versions. These famous TV adaptations are most commonly derived from the romance or thriller genres that garner widespread appeal among fans.
In recent years, Netflix alone has allocated a significant portion of money and resources to turning these webtoons into highly successful k-dramas that fans can stream globally. With many options to choose from, here are the best k-dramas adapted from series that either originated or can be currently read on the WEBTOON platform.
True Beauty, A High School Romance That Tackles Bullying
First airing in December 2020, True Beauty is a 16-episode romance k-drama starring Moon Ga-young as Jugyeong and Cha Eun-woo as Suho. The series' female protagonist, Jugyeong, was bullied in school for her looks until she learns to master makeup and completely transform her appearance before entering high school.
She soon meets a handsome tsundere named Suho at the comic book store in her natural appearance and later discovers he's her new classmate. A blossoming romance forms as she juggles her two separate identities, but things get complicated when Suho's former best friend now turned rival, Seojun, also grows closer to Jugyeong.
All Of Us Are Dead, A High School Zombie Apocalypse Horror
Recently premiering on Netlfix, All of Us Are Dead is the hit zombie apocalypse and horror k-drama that was adapted from its webtoon series by the same name. The story takes place in Hyosan High School, where a deadly virus breaks out. This virus turns people into flesh-eating monsters as a group of friends witness their classmates and teachers succumb to its effects. In this thrilling and terrifying webtoon adaptation, high schoolers must fight to escape and save their own lives.
Nevertheless, A College Romance and Coming-of-Age Story
Nevertheless is a 10-episode romance k-drama released on Netflix during summer 2021. This live-action webtoon adaptation stars Han So-hee as Yoo Nabi and Song Kang as Park Jae-eon. Nabi is an art major who doesn't believe in love but still wants to date during her college years.
She soon meets the handsome and flirtatious Jae-eon who is popular with girls and doesn't want to settle down. As two art majors attending the same college, Nabi discovers Jae-eon's love for butterflies while her name means "butterfly." Nevertheless provides a raw and honest portrayal of the messy ups and downs of young relationships and self-discovery.
Love Alarm, A Futuristic Romance Starring a Love Triangle
One of Netflix's most popular k-drama adaptations, Love Alarm is set in a fictitious world where an app exists that reveals when someone who loves you is in your vicinity. The series features a love triangle starring Kim So-hyun as Jojo, Song Kang as Hwang Sun-oh and Jung Ga-ram as Lee Hye-yeong.
The Love Alarm app warns the user when a person who loves them is within a 10-meter radius, which obscures the values of true love when people become obsessed with the app. Jojo wonders if she should find true love on her own or let the app dictate her life and who she dates, creating a complex and unpredictable storyline that often surprises its viewers.
My ID is Gangnam Beauty, A College Romance Centered Around Beauty
Gangnam Beauty is a 2018 TV adaptation of WEBTOON's My ID is Gangnam Beauty hit drama and romance series. The k-drama stars Im Soo-hyang as Mirae Kang and Cha Eun-woo as Do Kyung-seok. When Mirae, who was always bullied for her looks, undergoes major plastic surgery before going to university, she gains a reputation on campus as a pretty yet unnatural "Gangnam beauty." While some find her pretty, others discover her plastic surgery and make fun of her for it, which makes it difficult for Mirae to lead the normal and quiet school life she wanted -- until she meets the cold yet caring Do Kyung-seok.
Sweet Home, An Apocalyptic Horror
Sweet Home is a popular apocalyptic horror TV series released on Netflix in December 2020 and is based on the hit webtoon by the same name. This k-drama stars Song Kang as Cha Hyun-soo, a high schooler who tragically loses his entire family to a car accident. When monsters suddenly appear to wipe out all of humanity, Hyun-soo discovers he has superpowers and teams up with a couple of other reluctant heroes who are trying to save the world.
Yumi's Cells, A Whimsical Slice-of-Life Romance
Yumi's Cells is a 14-episode k-drama that aired in 2021 based on the hit slice-of-life webtoon by the same name. The TV series stars Kim Go-eun as Kim Yumi and Ahn Bo-hyun as Goo Woong and features animated elements that blend into the live action. The story is told by Yumi's braincells that drive all of her thoughts and emotions as an ordinary office worker. After suffering a harsh breakup, Yumi's love cells fall into a deep coma and only threaten to reawaken when she meets an honest and easygoing game developer named Goo Woong.
Hellbound, A Thriller and Dark Fantasy
Hellbound is a thriller and dark fantasy webtoon that was adapted into a k-drama by Netflix in 2021. Yeon Sang-ho is both the creator of the original webtoon and the director of the live TV adaptation, starring Yoo Ah-in as Jeong Jin-soo. The story is set in South Korea in the near future, where apparitions are appearing in Seoul to notify wrongdoers of when they'll die and be condemned to hell. Detective Jin decides to investigate this supernatural phenomena as his wife's murderer is being released from prison.