Best Manhwa For Beginners

With manhwa such as All Of Us Are Dead, Solo Leveling, The God of High School, and Tower of God having been adapted into either their own anime or K-Drama series, it’s no surprise how manhwa has offered its fair share of new takes on stories and genres not everyone could encounter in a usual manga. After all, the aforementioned manhwa has vastly different stories – a zombie apocalypse, high schoolers with superpowers, and exploring a mysterious tower.

However, for newcomers to manhwa reading, traversing sites such as Webtoon can be rather overwhelming to find one’s very first reading. Thankfully, there are certain manhwa that beginners should consider checking out if they want a quick look into what the industry could offer.

Updated on February 15, 2025 by Mark Sammut: Manhwa’s popularity is constantly rising, especially following the success of adaptations like Solo Leveling, Viral Hit, and (to a lesser extent) Tower of God. Still, South Korean web novels still have a ways to go before they become extremely mainstream, and newcomers might not be sure where to start. Let’s go through some of the best manhwa for beginners.

11

Familyman

An Everyday Superhero

• Author: Pillwon Jung
• Start Date: August 7, 2009
• Status: Complete
• Genre: Drama, Comedy, Superhero, Slice of Life
• Number of Chapters: 41

Newcomers to manhwa who want a short but delightful starter to their manhwa-exploration journey should consider giving Familyman a shot. Compared to a long-spanning series that set a mark in the hearts of readers, Familyman proves even a short story is enough to tug heartstrings while being hilarious at the same time.

Familyman tells the story of Gang-ho who, after suffering burns at a factory, has ended up not just unemployed but also scaring his daughter due to his burns. To regain his daughter’s favor, Gang-ho dons a costume and becomes the superhero Gugu-Man. Possessing no superpowers, Gugu-Man tries to do good around town in the most hilarious ways, all the while sharing a heart-warming tale of family with readers.

10

Cheese In The Trap

A Romance Manhwa Staple With A Lot Of Content That Gets Progressively Better

• Author: Soonki
• Start Date: July 7, 2010
• Status: Complete
• Genre: Comedy, Romance, Slice of Life
• Number of Chapters: 131

Considered one of the “legends” that popularized manhwa-reading as a whole, Cheese In The Trap is a romance story with quite a simple premise that proves how deep a drama manhwa can get. The story highlights the struggles of the meek Hong Seol who receives a scholarship at school meant for Yoo Jung, the supposed “Mr. Perfect” of the university. With all eyes on her as the one who harmed Mr. Perfect’s “perfect streak,” Seol’s ordinary life will be replaced with that of the limelight.

It doesn’t help that Jung suddenly starts getting close to her, with Seol unaware of Jung’s seemingly perfect persona as a facade for a cunning and manipulative inner self. With Seol’s inner kindness challenging Jung’s more reserved self, Cheese In The Trap definitely offers a twist to the “warm girl, cold boy” dynamic in love stories.

9

HIVE

A Well-Done Take On The Invasion Genre

• Author: Kim Gyu-Sam
• Start Date: January 20, 22014
• Status: Complete
• Genre: Action, Suspense, Horror
• Number of Chapters: 243

When oxygen-beefed giant killer bees start terrorizing the world and threaten the human race, all hope seems lost for the unprepared and overwhelmed survivors of HIVE. Things get all the more desperate for Lee Eun Sung, a middle-level manager who ends up smack in the middle of the bug apocalypse. Dead set on ensuring the safety of his family, Lee will do whatever it takes to eliminate whatever bug threat gets in his way.

In this bug-filled twist to post-apocalyptic stories such as The Last of Us and the thrill of The Walking Dead, Lee’s determined but grounded optimism is a bright light in a seemingly hopeless situation. Readers looking for a manhwa that tackles post-apocalyptic scenarios should check out HIVE for a more personal take on these scenarios.

8

What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim?

Good Blend Of Comedy, Romance, And Drama

• Author: Jeong Gyeong Yun, Kim Myeongmi
• Start Date: June 28, 2016
• Status: Complete
• Genre: Comedy, Workplace, Romance
• Number of Chapters: 98

Readers of romance manga who appreciate more nuanced character development in their love stories should give What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim a shot with its deeper take on a traditional setup. When highly efficient secretary Kim Mi-so suddenly announces her resignation as the assistant of the egotistic Lee Yong-joon, the latter decides to pursue Mi-so to become his secretary once more.

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Despite this rather comedic premise, Yong-joon and Mi-so eventually develop feelings toward each other, especially when they seemingly suffered from traumatic experiences as children. The character-focused drama can serve as a great introduction to the complexity of stories a lot of manhwa can offer, especially in the drama genre.

7

Wind Breaker

A Great Option For Sports Anime/Manga Fans, Particularly If They Are Craving A Lengthy Story That Will Keep Them Engaged For A Long Time

• Author: Yongseok Jo
• Start Date: December 8, 2013
• Status: Ongoing
• Genre: Sports, Action
• Number of Chapters: 530+

Sports fans looking for a manhwa that can generate the same inspirational impact as the likes of Hajime no Ippo and Haikyu!! should give Wind Breaker a shot as one of their first manhwa. When Straight-As student Jay Jo is coerced to join a local biking gang, he’s exposed to life outside of mere studying. As a result, much of Windbreaker revolves around Jay enjoying life’s many perspectives while dealing with the technicals of real word street cycling.

Given Jay’s studious nature and experience as a casual bike rider, he’s soon able to gain a reputation as the Hummingbird’s ace rider. Unlike sports anime where the protagonist is often an average student, Jay’s position as the resident genius can finally give readers a story from the perspective of the prodigy – a position usually relegated to the rival of standard sports anime.

6

Heesu In Class 2

Boys Love Is Extremely Popular In Manhwa, And This Story Is A Solid Entry Point

• Author: Lily
• Start Date: November 15, 2017
• Status: Complete
• Genre: Romance, Boys Love
• Number of Chapters: 81

Readers looking for a delightful LGBTQ+ story may appreciate the coming-of-age with a dash of romance of Heesu In Class 2. The story revolves around the eponymous Heesu who, despite having a secret crush on his best friend Chanyeong, seems perfectly content on being the supportive friend on the sidelines. Although Heesu has come to terms with his life practically being just a part of Changyeong’s, rumors that “Heesu in Class 2” can “solve anyone’s love problems” has suddenly put him in the limelight.

This odd predicament has transformed Heesu’s life, introducing him not just to Changeyong’s friends but to other faces all around the school. While Heesu In Class 2 is majorly Heesu’s journey into young adulthood, the manhwa has quite a lot of heartwarming slice-of-life stories as well as an endearing cast of characters that would make one wish they had a friend like Heesu in real life.

5

Catharsis

A Dip Into Horror Manhwa Territory

• Author: Ahniki
• Start Date: March 3, 2015
• Status: Complete
• Genre: Fantasy, Psychological, Horror
• Number of Chapters: 182

Readers curious about how manhwa may tackle a horror concept should give Catharsis a shot, offering newcomers a more grounded take on facing one’s fears. The story centers around Leon Mori who has synesthesia and can see sounds in colors. Unfortunately, he is also plagued by nightmares whenever he sleeps, something that he soon realizes isn’t just simple dreams.

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With the horrors of his dreams venturing into reality, he is approached by an organization named Catharsis who aims to help people like Leon fight their inner demons. What perhaps makes Catharsis separate from typical stories would be Leon’s realistic responses to horror situations, where he doesn’t allow curiosity to overcome him and resorts to more practical solutions such as calling the police. Moreover, Catharsis’s rather slow but methodical approach to world-building can leave readers feeling bored at first before realizing they’ve been dragged deep into Leon’s rather relatable story.

4

True Beauty

One Of The Most Famous Manhwa Stories, Which Has Produced A Live-Action Series And Anime Adaptation

• Author: Yaongyi
• Start Date: April 3, 2018
• Status: Complete
• Genre: Romance, Comedy, Drama
• Number of Chapters: 257

Bullying has become a common theme of a lot of manhwa, with True Beauty tackling the concept head-on from the perspective of protagonist Jugyeong Lim who has been treated unfairly by people due to their perception that she is ugly. Thanks to tutorial videos, Jugyeong was able to use makeup to transform herself into a beautiful goddess, to the point that people gravitate towards her presence.

Things become shaky when two of the most good-looking boys in school also catch her attention: Lee Suho who was the first to figure out Jugyeong’s secret, and Han Seojun who’s on bad terms with Suho. The manhwa itself spans Jugyeong’s journey with her transformations from high school to her early adulthood, while at the same time navigating issues such as those related to self-esteem, career, and love. Readers in need of a satisfying journey towards self-acceptance with a bit of love in between may appreciate True Beauty and its blend of romance and slice of life.

3

The Breaker

An Accessible And Highly Popular Manhwa That Is Perfect For Shonen Fans

• Author: Jeon Geuk-jin
• Start Date: June 1, 2007
• Status: Complete (Original Series, As There Is A Still Ongoing Sequel)
• Genre: Action, Drama
• Number of Chapters: 72 (Original Series)

Fans of action-packed shonen manga such as Naruto may find a close approximation by being thrust into the center of ninja conflict with The Breaker. When protagonist Shiwoon Yi witnesses his teacher Chunwoo Han take care of some street thugs, he begs him to teach him martial arts to solve his bullying problem. Unfortunately for Shiwoon, this training puts him at the center of controversy in the Murim, a secret society of martial artists. With his mentor Chunwoo being the legendary Nine Arts Dragon, many threats come between Shiwoon and Chunwoo’s desires for a normal life.

Since the original The Breaker had quite a cliffhanger of a first run, the manhwa spawned into an entire franchise. Its sequel The Breaker: New Waves had Shiwoon fully immerse himself in the life of the Murim, with ongoing (and rather contentious) The Breaker: Eternal Force introducing newcomer Ha-jae who was also a victim of bullying. Aside from a traditional look in a shonen-esque story, The Breaker shines in its fight scenes, where elaborate art and martial arts resemble a more immersive Naruto.

2

Noblesse

An OP MC Manhwa That Does The Concept Well

• Author: Son Je-ho
• Start Date: December 30, 2007
• Status: Complete
• Genre: Vampire, Action, Supernatural, Comedy
• Number of Chapters: 544

Although the idea of an overpowered protagonist has become commonplace in most media, Noblesse does a well-executed version of this concept from the perspective of older manhwa. Taking place in modern day South Korea, Noblesse tells the story of Cadis Etrama Di Raizel who, after being woken from his slumber by Frankenstein, begins acquainting himself with humanity’s recent developments. As a new student in Frankenstein’s school, Rai becomes friends with a group of friends led by athletic Shinwoo before eventually being involved in their many hijinks.

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However, things become rocky for Rai’s new life in South Korea when a mysterious organization wants to capture him at all costs. As it turns out, Rai is the eponymous “Noblesse,” an extremely powerful being that is often an arbiter between all supernatural races. While most of the manhwa’s conflict can be “Superman’d” by Rai demonstrating his excessive power, Noblesse shows its spirit in how Rai’s friends deal with the presence of such nobility – especially when a time comes that Rai can’t defend them anymore.

1

Solo Leveling

The Best Manhwa For Beginners

• Author: Chugong
• Start Date: March 4, 2018
• Status: Complete (Original Series, Solo Leveling: Ragnarok Is Ongoing)
• Genre: Action, Fantasy, Adventure
• Number of Chapters: 201 (Original Series)

With a successful game and anime adaptation under its belt, Solo Leveling arguably transcends manhwa in general. There is a very good chance that Chugong’s story will be most people’s introduction to South Korean web novels in some form or another, and it sets a high bar that other series might struggle to reach. As great as the anime is, the source material is still the definitive version of this tale, chronicling an action-packed zero-to-hero journey starring Sung Jin-woo.

While the story and characters are mostly fine, Solo Leveling excels in its fight sequences, which are consistently kinetic, engaging, and visually stunning. Overpowered manhwa protagonists are fairly abundant, to the point of being essentially a subgenre; Chugong’s masterpiece represents this concept at its most popular and, arguably, accessible.

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