10 K-Dramas adapted from webtoons

By: Alexa Lopez

In recent years, K-Dramas have surged in popularity, transforming from a niche genre into one of the most beloved categories of global entertainment. Viewers around the world have fallen for their vibrant visuals, unique storytelling, and standout performances from talented actors and actresses. While many K-dramas are original scripts written for television, some of the most popular series actually began as something else: webtoons.

In South Korea, webtoons are hugely popular, especially among millennials and Gen Z. Titles like Solo Leveling and The Beginning After the End have even made the leap from webtoon to anime. But did you know some of your favorite dramas may have started as webtoons, too? You might be surprised to learn that the show you’ve been binge-watching was first a digital comic.

True Beauty

True Beauty aired in 2020 and stars Moon Ga Young, ASTRO’s Cha Eunwoo, Hwang In Yeop, and Park Yoo Na. Based on the popular webtoon by Yaongyi, which ran from 2018 to 2023, the series quickly gained a devoted following.

The story follows Lim Ju Kyung (Moon), a high school student who has long struggled with insecurity about her appearance after years of bullying. Determined to leave the ridicule behind, she transfers to a new school and masters the art of makeup, transforming herself into what others see as a “goddess.” At her new school, she crosses paths with Lee Su Ho (Cha), a mysterious classmate with a connection to her past, and his rebellious friend Han Seo Jun (Hwang). As a love triangle forms, Ju Kyung must decide whether she’s ready to show her true self—and whether they’ll still accept her when she does.

Extraordinary You

Extraordinary You is a 2019 fantasy rom-com K-Drama starring Kim Hye Yoon and Rowoon. The drama is based on the webtoon July Found by Chance by Muryu, which debuted in 2018.

The story follows Eun Dan Oh (Kim), a high school student who makes a shocking discovery—she’s actually a side character in a fantasy comic, destined for a tragic fate. Refusing to accept her prewritten story, Dan Oh decides to take control of her destiny and rewrite the plot. When she meets the mysterious Student 13 (Rowoon), whom she later names Haru, she believes he may be the key to changing everything. But as she pushes against the boundaries of her fictional world, Dan Oh begins to realize that altering fate might come at a cost.

Itaewon Class

Aired in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Itaewon Class stars Park Seo Joon and Kim Da Mi. The drama is based on the webtoon of the same name by Gwang Jin, which ran from 2016 to 2020.

The story follows Park Sae Ro Yi (Park), a high school student whose life is turned upside down after he attacks Jang Geun Won—the son of powerful Jannga Group CEO Jang Dae Hee—in retaliation for an incident that led to his father’s death. Sae Ro Yi is sentenced to prison. Upon his release, he opens a bar-restaurant in Itaewon called DanBam, determined to build a successful business and seek revenge against Jannga Group. Despite lacking business experience, he perseveres—especially after meeting the smart, fiery Jo Yi Seo (Kim Da Mi), who helps turn DanBam into a thriving hotspot.

All Of Us Are Dead

All of Us Are Dead is a coming-of-age zombie apocalypse K-Drama that premiered in 2022, with a second season slated for release in 2026. Based on the webtoon by Joo Dong Geun, which ran from 2009 to 2011, the series blends horror, suspense, and emotional depth.

Set in the fictional city of Hyosan, the story begins when a science teacher’s gruesome experiment unintentionally sparks a zombie outbreak. As chaos spreads, a group of high school students must band together to survive, navigating friendship, fear, and betrayal. With the authorities overwhelmed, the question remains—can they make it out alive?

What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim?

Considered one of the most beloved rom-com K-Dramas of all time, What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim? aired in 2018 and stars Park Seo Joon and Park Min Young. The drama is based on a novel by Jung Kyung Yoon, which was later adapted into a webtoon in 2015 by Kim Myung Mi.

Lee Young Joon (Park Seo Joon) is the ultra-confident vice-chairman of a major South Korean corporation, and he relies heavily on his talented secretary, Kim Mi So (Park Min Young). So when Mi So suddenly announces her resignation after nine years of working together, Young Joon’s perfectly ordered world begins to unravel. Determined to keep her by his side, he embarks on a mission to win her back, only to uncover surprising secrets about their shared past along the way.

Sweet Home

Sweet Home is a chilling apocalyptic horror K-Drama based on the massively popular webtoon of the same name by Kim Carnby and Hwang Young Chan, which has amassed over 2.1 billion views. The drama’s first season premiered in 2020, followed by season two in 2023, and concluded with its final season in 2024.

Cha Hyun Su (Song Kang) has lived a life marked by tragedy, losing his entire family and relocating to the crumbling Green Home apartment complex. But his world is turned upside down when monstrous creatures begin to overrun the city. As chaos spreads, Hyun Su and the other residents must fight to survive. In a terrifying twist, people begin transforming into monsters driven by their innermost desires and flaws. Hyun Su discovers he has the rare ability to shift into a winged monster at will—powers he chooses to use to protect the remaining survivors. As he searches for the source of the outbreak, he must confront the terrifying possibility that he may never return to being fully human.

Nevertheless

Nevertheless is an (anti)-romance K-Drama that aired in 2021, starring Han So Hee and Song Kang. The series is based on the webtoon of the same name by Jang Seo, which ran from 2018 to 2019.

The story centers on two emotionally guarded individuals drawn to each other despite their shared disillusionment with love. Yoo Na Bi (Han) is a talented art student who, after a painful breakup, vows never to fall in love again. Meanwhile, Park Jae Eon (Song Kang) is a charming flirt who thrives on attention but avoids commitment. As the two become entangled in a complicated relationship, their emotional baggage and fear of vulnerability keep them from taking the next step, leaving their connection in a constant state of hesitation and uncertainty.

Cheese In The Trap

Cheese in the Trap is arguably one of the most iconic romance K-Dramas of the 2010s. It aired in 2016 and starred Kim Go Eun and Park Hae Jin. The series is based on the webtoon of the same name by Soonkki, which ran from 2010 to 2016. However, the drama features a different ending, as the webtoon had not yet concluded during filming. If you’ve only seen the show, the webtoon offers a more complete and nuanced take on the story and its characters, straight from the creator herself.

Set on a university campus, the story follows the complex relationship between diligent student Hong Seol (Kim) and seemingly perfect Yoo Jung (Park), the heir to the powerful Taerang Group. While Jung appears kind and charming on the surface, Seol begins to suspect a darker, more manipulative side to him. The stress from their interactions leads her to take a break from school. Upon her return, thanks to a scholarship Jung was originally supposed to receive, she’s shocked when he begins treating her with warmth and affection. An uneasy romance begins to blossom, but the more they grow closer, the more their emotional scars and entangled pasts surface. With complicated figures from both their lives entering the picture, their relationship is pushed to the brink.

My Roommate Is A Gumiho

My Roommate Is a Gumiho is a fantasy rom-com K-Drama that aired in 2021, starring Jang Ki Yong and Lee Hye Ri. The drama is based on the webtoon of the same name, written by NA, which was first published in 2017 and concluded in 2021.

The story follows 24-year-old college student Dam Lee (Lee), who finds herself in a bizarre situation after accidentally swallowing a fox bead—an essential item for a gumiho to become human. The bead belongs to Shin Woo Yeo (Jang), a 999-year-old nine-tailed fox who has been patiently working toward his transformation. With Dam’s life on the line and only one year to safely extract the bead, the two are forced to live together under highly unusual circumstances. As they navigate their magical dilemma, a slow-burn romance begins to blossom… but time is running out. Can they save Dam and help Woo Yeo finally become human?

The Uncanny Counter

The Uncanny Counter is a fantasy-supernatural thriller K-Drama that first aired in 2020, with a second season premiering in 2023. The series is based on the webtoon Amazing Rumor by Jang Yi, which debuted in 2018.

The story centers on So Mun (Jo Byeong Kyu), a disabled high school student who is unexpectedly recruited to join the Counters—a secret group of ordinary citizens tasked with hunting down evil spirits that escape from the afterlife. By day, the Counters run a noodle shop. By night, they track and battle malevolent entities that possess humans. Each Counter is bonded with a spirit called a “Yung,” granting them enhanced abilities and spiritual guidance. The series blends intense action with emotional depth as it follows the Counters’ thrilling battles and the growing camaraderie among them.

Which K-Drama based on a webtoon is your favorite? Share it with us!