Why Korean comics are a MUST-READ comic
By Maria Mena on February 5, 2024
The most widely known comics in the world are Japanese and American. But they’re not the only ones that should get that recognition. Korean comics can also be a good source of entertainment and can offer better features.
Korean comic is also known as manhwa. Unlike American comics that stand on their own, most of these comics are adaptations of Korean novels. Instead of physically flipping pages and reading from top to bottom, it has a digital and vertical layout, and readers can read it by scrolling through their phones. A very convenient feature, I should say!
Its digital aspect makes it easily accessible. It’s one of the things I love about it. I can always put out my phone whenever I feel bored, stressed or overwhelmed and open the apps that publish my favourite Korean comics in English.
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Compared to the black and white colour choice of Japanese comics, Korean comics are fully coloured like American comics. The only difference is that most Korean comics have a more intricate colour-blending style, making the art pleasing to the eye.
It also has different kinds of genres, which is why it’s such a fun read when you have a specific genre you prefer. As a busy student who started reading the comics three years ago, I can guarantee that it helped me take a breather and keep going!
If you want an idea of what to read as your first Korean comic, let me tell you my top three Korean comic picks:
Genre: | Fantasy, Adventure, Drama, Comedy |
Author/s: | sdcknight & Lim Hyeong |
Artist: | Lee Ha Kyung |
First on the list is “The Top Dungeon Farmer.” This comic is a fun and relaxing read! The protagonist, Sejun, gets unceremoniously dragged to a monster-filled dungeon tower and meets all sorts of animals while stuck in a cave. In hopes of getting out, he cultivates a farm with his newfound friends and completes different quests to receive rewards. If you’re someone like me who loves seeing wholesome connections and melts at the sight of a cute cat and rabbits, you might enjoy this!
Genre: | Action, Fantasy, Adventure |
Author/s: | Chugong |
Artist: | Jang-Sung-Rak |
Next up is “Solo Leveling.” Let me tell you, this is what got me into reading Korean comics. Why? I love how it’s a straightforward comic where the story doesn’t drag! Full of monster-filled dungeons and fights, as well as a focus on family. In a world with stronger hunters and monsters, the protagonist, Sung Jinwoo, is a hunter of the lowest rank and is branded as “The Weakest Hunter in the World.” His life changes one day after a near-death experience in a dungeon. It’s full of satisfying moments as the protagonist turns from a complete zero to a powerful hero.
Genre: | Drama, Fantasy, Romance |
Author/s: | Kim Ro Ah & Seomal |
Artist: | Mon |
Last is “I Shall Master this Family.” I absolutely adore the protagonist in this comic. Tia is a young girl who has experienced going back in time. She cherishes her family’s rich history and is set on becoming the head of the family after seeing its downfall in the near future. Armed with the knowledge of the future and her quick wit and talent, she helped people and made talented individuals her allies. We see her start moving toward her dreams as a young kid and grow into a confident woman. I love a girl with ambitions! If you’re someone like me who enjoys seeing someone take steps toward their goals, you’ll love this.
I can assure you that these three Korean comics are worth your time. You can read it for free or buy the coins needed to unlock the chapters on apps like Webtoon, Tapas and Tappytoon. Enjoy reading!