Morninghas won the hearts of fans who love Japanese entertainment such as anime and manga, with romance being the dominant genre saturating the field. Since most manhwa feature more skilled female protagonists than manga, some have made a habit of switching to South Korean comics.
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No matter what kind of love stories the readers like, everyone can enjoy the stories found in the manhwa. Whether it's a princess from a foreign land who awakens from the kiss of her true love, or a sharp-tongued woman who is reborn to exact revenge on her killer, there's romance for everyone.
Updated by Lauren Turner on March 11, 2023:Japanese manga has many genres, with romance being one of the most popular. However, Korean manhwa is just as popular. Romance fans will always want to read more, so we've revised this list to make finding great romance manhwa recommendations even easier.
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20 Mi ID is Gangnam Beauty, but Maenggi Ki (2016)
92 episodes (completed)
If fans are looking for a good romantic manhwa pick with great social commentary, look no furtherMy identity is Gangnam Beautyby Maenggi Ki. The manhwa follows a college student named Mirae who has undergone multiple cosmetic surgeries to escape her bullies but is still taunted by her peers for having such a plastic face.
- Lots of social commentary on conventional ideals of beauty.
- Received a K-Drama adaptation
- Emphasize personality over looks.
Mirae meets Kyungseok, a former classmate who goes through smoke and mirrors to understand Mirae as a person. It's a romantic manhwa, but it criticizes Korea's strict standards of beauty and makes a statement against judging others based on their looks.
19 LOVE ALERT, CHON Kye-Young (2014)
211 chapters (completed)
love alarmby Kye-young Chon is about a high school girl named Jojo who remembers how a new app took the world by storm. The Love Alarm halter lets users know when someone within 10 meters has romantic feelings for them.
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- Unique premise and plot device
- Unexpected plot twists
- Received a K-Drama adaptation
While poignant at first glance, the idea of an app that can read people's hearts is a pretty dystopian concept in hindsight. The Manhwa does not play it either, showing the devastating consequences of such an application. The Manhwa is still ongoing, andNetflix gave him a K-Drama adaptation.
18 Winter Before Spring, von Moonbun00 (2021)
52 episodes (ongoing)
LGBTQ+ romantic anime fansyou will definitely like itwinter before spring. The manhwa is about Hana, a shy girl who is often bullied at school. She falls in love with her best friend Yura.
- A girl's romantic love story
- school environment
- lots of drama
Hana accidentally spills her guts during a confrontation, but to her surprise, Yura reciprocates her feelings. Unfortunately, it doesn't have a happy ending, and Hana becomes an outcast once again after discovering the true intentions of her other friend, Min-ji. Min-ji was jealous of Yura and would do anything to sabotage their relationship.
17 Heesu in Class 2, by Lily (2019)
93 chapters (completed)
BL Healthy Hits FãsifgivenjSasaki und Miyanoyou will definitely like itHeesu in class 2. It's a classic BL story in which the shy boy falls in love with his more outgoing friend and quietly encourages him.Heesu in class 2is a lighthearted BL romance manhwa with a good sense of humor.
- A boy's love romance story
- Great for fans ofgiven
- Introverted and extroverted dynamics between leads
Heesu and Chanyoung are best friends, but the latter is unaware of the former's romantic feelings. Heesu listens to all of Chanyoung's girl problems and is happy to be recognized as his friend. Everything changes when one day Heesu becomes the de facto person everyone turns to for romantic advice. Little do these people know that he barely knows how to deal with having a passion of his own.
sixteen See you in my life #19 by Lee Hay (2020)
105 episodes (ongoing)
See you in my life number 19It's about Jieum Ban, a girl who was reborn after a tragic accident. However, he has the ability to recall all memories from his past life. The manhwa follows her as she attempts to reconnect with loved ones in real time, even if they are from the past.
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- reincarnation plot device
- The female lead has a chance to change her destiny
- Attractive premise and good pace
Jieum's romantic life takes a hit as she is so determined to make things right in her 18 year life. The question in this romance is will their love stand the test of time or will it be lost to Jieum's memories.
15 I Love You by Quimchee (2017)
197 episodes (ongoing)
I love youwas written and illustrated by Quimchee. Shin-Ae decided to be on her own after growing up in a less than ideal environment. He lives his life without speaking or approaching anyone.
- Perfect for love triangle fans.
- The female protagonist intends to keep her freedom
- Romance is slow
That changes when an accident occurs and Shin-Ae becomes involved in the lives of two children. The story follows Shin-Ae as she faces the decision of whether to change her behavior by interacting with the two new boys in her life, or remain a total introvert.I love youis a great choice for manga fans looking for manhwa romance recommendations.
14 Why Raeliana Ended Up at Duke's Mansion written by Milcha with Art By Whale (2017)
158 episodes (completed)
Why did Raeliana end up in the Duke's mansion?it was written by Milcha and illustrated by Whale. Raelianna is a supporting character who meets the terrible fate of being poisoned by her fiancé.
- Get an anime adaptation
- Some political intrigue and controversy
- Great for Isekai fans.
When a woman wakes up and realizes she is said character, she pretends to be Duke Noah's fiancée to save her life. She turns out to fall into her charms in order to stay alive, but the question always remains whether or not she can escape her fate.
13 The Forsaken Empress written by Yuna Jeong with art by Ina (2018)
145 episodes (completed)
the deserted empresswas written by Yuna Jeong and illustrated by iNA. Aristia is unlucky, despite being the proud daughter of the House of Monique and next in line to become Empress.
- Dynamics of time travel
- The female lead gets a second chance to change her destiny
- great work of art
When Aristia's entire life is changed by the appearance of a mysterious girl, she is sent back seven years in time. Aristia must now figure out how to solve the problems that will plague her in the future. fans of Beso Kamisama j your nameYou will like this manhwa.
12 Orange Marmalade by Seokwoo (2011)
119 chapters (completed)
Orange jamWritten and illustrated by Seokwoo, it has a unique premise. In a world where vampires are no longer feared as bloodthirsty monsters and instead discriminated against, Mari Baek hides her true identity to live as a normal high school girl.
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- The female protagonist is a vampire
- Much focus on the development of the female protagonist.
- Single version of vampires
However, the most popular boy in school, who also hates vampires, is her crush. Mari Baek now faces the choice of telling the truth or continuing to watch him from afar. fans of othersVampire themed animeif Vampire KnightjDancing on the Vampire LeagueI will definitely enjoy this romantic manhwa.
11 Empress of Another World written by Lee Young Yuu with art by Lim Seo-rim (2016)
129 episodes (completed)
Empress of another worldIt was written by Lim Seo-rim and illustrated by Lee Young Yuu.this is a jokeshows a Korean high school studentnamed Sabina, who died in a car accident, only to wake up in the middle of a power struggle for the throne.
- Great for Isekai fans
- courtly-romantic atmosphere
- Female leadership must overcome adversaries
Sabina begins to live as the Emperor's concubine, but it is not long before she is murdered by an assassin. Now that all power is in Sabina's hands, she must earn the trust of her subjects and the court.
10 The Maid & The Vampire created by Dolce Yi and adapted by Yujeong Ju with art by Seon Lee (2019)
76 episodes (completed)
The maid and the vampireIt was written by Seon Lee, Yujeong Ju and illustrated by Dolce Yi. This romantic manhwa is about a vampire and his maid, but it's anything but cliche. After Areum is sent to Soltera due to a car accident, she is mistaken for a vampire.
- Master-servant dynamics between prospects
- Lots of cuteness and sweet moments.
- The male protagonist is a vampire.
However, Areum was sold to Maiden's only vampire, Duke Millard Travis, and she vows to serve him as her master. Despite the plot of master and servant, this is one of the most complete and somber manhwa.
9 The Bad Lady Held, de Lee Haron (2019)
101 episodes (completed)
the evil heroinewas written by Lee Horan and illustrated by R. For fans who are looking for a new Isekai Manhwa, this series is an absolutely crazy recommendation. The protagonist sees herself reincarnated as the villain of a romantic novel.
- Perfect for Isekai fans.
- Lots of adult content
- "Reborn as a villain" trope
The original villain, Yunifer Magnolia, had a crush on the male lead, Ishid, and was jealous of his best friend, Rael Cania. The Crown Prince Cassian eventually killed her. To avoid her cruel fate, Yunifer decides to avoid the main characters. When she has a one night stand with Ishid, the threads of fate begin to twist and tangle.
8 Something About Us by Lee Yunji (2008)
98 episodes (completed)
something about usIt was written and illustrated by Lee Yunji. This romantic manhwa has loads of fluff as well as a romance from friends to lovers. The story is about two childhood friends who are now in college, Da Gayoung and Han Woojin, who are often mistaken for a married couple.
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- Romance dynamics from friends to lovers
- childhood friends trope
- Lots of cuteness and sweet moments.
Although others see them as a perfect match, they consider each other best friends. As their relationship blurs the line between friends and lovers, they don't know how to describe it to themselves or others. In the end, their relationship takes many turns.
7 A Tender Heart: The Story of How I Became a Duke's Maid written by Jooahri with art by Aloha (2019)
111 episodes (completed)
A Tender Heart: The Story of Becoming a Duke's Maidit was written by Jooahri and illustrated by Aloha. It's another romantic manhwa that places the female lead in the world of a romance novel, but this time with a twist.
- Great for Isekai fans.
- kind-hearted female protagonist
- Challenging social status in the name of love
In the original story, Liandro is a supporting character destined for loneliness due to a curse that caused his family to reject him. But Evelina, a kind reader, enters the soap opera to play the role of her maid and decides to change her role. She could be the onesave Liandro from his curse of loneliness.
6 The Baby Is Not Yours written by Arongdri with art by Passerby and SIN (2020)
33 episodes (completed)
The baby is not yoursit was written by Arongdri and illustrated by SIN. It is a promotional one-shot to promote the novel of the same name. The story revolves around Kalia, a commander and celebrated heroine who brought an end to a past war.
- Best friends become lovers
- The female lead is an acknowledged heroine
- The male lead takes the lead
After spending a night with her best friend Simon Terroan, she finds out she is pregnant with his child. She decides to retire and leaves while he's gone to hide the truth, afraid he doesn't want a child. However, Simon is very much in love with her and desperately searches for Kalia.
5 You at First Sight, by Iccae (2016)
98 episodes (completed)
you at first sightwas written and illustrated by Icchae. it's a slice of lifeslow romance with a pinch of mystery. There are two seasons of this manhwa so there is a lot to read after completing the first one. Yechan can see a person's inner thoughts instead of their face, which makes them appear distant to other people.
- Perfect for slow romance fans.
- Supernatural element arouses interest
- Clean and attractive art style.
But when Yechan can see a child's face without hearing their thoughts, his interest is piqued by the comfort of white noise. During the story, Yechan approaches this mysterious boy and finds out why he can see his face.
4 Star Whale: The Mermaid of Gyeongseong by Na Yoonhee (2022)
25 episodes (completed)
Star Whale: The Gyeongseong Mermaidwas written and illustrated by Na Yoonhee. It's a historical romance for fans looking for a recommendation for a more mature love story. The story takes place in 1926 when Korea, then called Joseon, is ruled by Japan. Su-a, 17, works as a maid for a Japanese collaborator who encounters an injured activist named Uihyeon Kang.
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- Based on a historical novel.
- Great for anyone who wants tragedy.
- Authentic Korean cultural history
After nursing him back to health, Su-a falls in love with him and he tells her the story ofThe little mermaid. Coincidentally, their love story for both of them is similar to the dark and twisted story.
3 This Girl Is Kinda Wild written by 303 Planet with art by Coyo (2018)
50 chapters (discontinued)
This girl is a little wildwas written by 303 Planet and illustrated by Coyo. Fans looking for a short and sweet romance with a strong female lead are sure to be delighted with this romantic manhwa. After Sir Roel, captain of the Holy Knights, defeats the Demon King, the demon uses his last strength to transform Roel into a fragile woman.
- strong female leadership
- fantasy landscape
- Body-Swap-Plan
What the demon king didn't know was that she was already a woman. However, when Sir Roel swaps souls with Sila Epheria, she must prove her identity by enlisting herself to a special forces captain and acting as his bride.
2 What's Wrong With Secretary Kim? written by JEONG GYEONG YUN with art by Kim MYEONGMI (2016)
98 episodes (completed)
What's wrong with Secretary Kim?It was written by Jeong Gyeong Yun and illustrated by Kim Myeongmi. It is based on the 2013 novel of the same name. This series was so popular that it spawned a 16-episode K-drama and manhwa that aired between June 6 and July 26, 2018.
- Office-based setup
- competent female leadership
- Growth for male leadership
When Miso, the legendary secretary to narcissistic Vice President Lee Young-joon, decides to retire after nine years with the company, problems arise between them as he begins to develop feelings for Miso and tries to stop her from leaving the company . This manhwa is perfect for fans of workplace rom-coms likeWotakoi: Love is hard for otakus.
1 Light & Shadow written by Ryu Hyang with art by Heewon (2016)
103 episodes (completed)
light and shadowIt was written by Ryu Hyang and illustrated by Hee Won. This men's novel is based on a novel of the same name. Things get complicated when the strong but humble maiden Edna is to marry Duke Eli instead of the expected noble daughter.
- "Opposites Attract" trope
- Lots of tension between the protagonists.
- strong female leadership
It turns out that each one is hiding secrets from the other that would turn the kingdom upside down if revealed. The two can fall in love without killing each other, but their differences might be too big for both of them.
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