If you love webtoons as much as you love K-dramas, you might be surprised to learn how often the two overlap. Many of South Korea’s most popular series started life as colourful, vertical-scrolling digital comics before being brought to the small screen. These adaptations often keep the heart of the original story while adding depth, stunning visuals, and performances that make characters leap off the page. Here are six you won’t want to miss.
Weak Hero Class 1 and 2
Adapted from the 2018 webtoon Weak Hero by Seopass and Kim Jin-seok (Razen), this high school drama is a raw and gripping take on bullying, loyalty, and survival. Park Ji-hoon delivers a standout performance as Yeon Si-eun, a reserved but brilliant student forced to defend himself in a violent school environment. The fight scenes are choreographed with brutal realism, but it’s the emotional weight – the bonds, betrayals, and courage under pressure – that makes it unforgettable.
Crushology 101
From Ni Eun’s webtoon Barney and Oppas, this lively campus romcom is as charming as it is colourful. Roh Jeong-eui plays a spirited university student surrounded by four very different potential love interests, each bringing their own brand of drama. It’s got all the familiar tropes – the aloof guy with a soft centre, the loyal friends, the blossoming romance – wrapped in the lighthearted humour and warm energy that webtoon fans adore.
The Defects
One of the boldest new releases, The Defects is based on Eum Se-yun’s webtoon Child Shopping and plunges into a dark, dystopian world. It follows genetically modified children, illegally adopted to be turned into living weapons. With its tense atmosphere, moral complexity, and themes of control and resistance, the series offers a strikingly different tone from traditional K-drama fare. A must-watch for fans of thrillers with teeth.
The Law Café
Blending law, romance, and everyday life, The Law Café comes from Noh Seung-ah’s online novel Love According to the Law. Lee Seung-gi and Lee Se-young star as an ex-prosecutor and an eccentric lawyer who open a café that doubles as a legal advice hub. Each episode brings a fresh case – and a fresh coffee – balancing humour, heartfelt moments, and social commentary.
Extraordinary You
This inventive school drama is adapted from Moo Ryu-yee’s webtoon July Found by Chance. It follows a high school girl who realises she’s just a side character in a comic and decides to rewrite her fate. Kim Hye-yoon shines as the determined heroine, while Rowoon plays the enigmatic Haru, whose arrival changes everything. With romance, wit, fantasy elements, and a philosophical edge, it’s both entertaining and thought-provoking.
My ID Is Gangnam Beauty
Before True Beauty, Cha Eun-woo starred in this adaptation of the webtoon by the same name. Tackling beauty standards, self-esteem, and the social pressures around appearance, it tells the story of a young woman who undergoes cosmetic surgery to avoid bullying – only to face new challenges. Alongside a patient and supportive male lead, she learns to see her worth beyond her looks. More than just a love story, it’s a meaningful exploration of identity and acceptance.
From lighthearted romances to hard-hitting thrillers, these webtoon adaptations show just how rich and varied K-drama storytelling can be. Whether you’re in the mood for laughs, tears, or something to keep you up all night, there’s a story here ready to scroll straight into your watchlist.
