NaverWebtoonwas one of the first platforms that managed to captivate international readers thanks to its vast collection of stories, which only grew bigger over time with the constant release of new titles. But among the genres featured on the platform, romance is mostly the top search, partly due to the influence of many K-dramas based on popular webtoons. However, with so many options to choose from,it’s hard for users to know the current best romance webtoon titles when looking for what to read next.
Although each story is different, showing love from different perspectives and at different stages of life, these romance manhwas, featuring sweet first crushes to exciting love triangles, never fail to engage and are the best at giving readers moments of happiness, emotion, and occasional tears.
The following manhwas have been classify using Naver Webtoon platform' rank.
9.47
2018
Chapters:
223+33 extras
True Beautycould be considered one of the propulsors of romance webtoons' recent boom, being one of the most successful manhwa with a live-action version that became an international hit on Netflix,a recent animated adaptation on Crunchyroll, and is set to premiere a two-part live-action film in 2025.
The reason behindTrue Beauty’s recognition is that it’s more than just a story of a girl bullied for her appearance who learns to transform her looks with makeup, which might seem like the typical tale of the ugly duck, but it alsofeatures an honest look at how unrealistic beauty standards can affect peopleand the importance of self-acceptance in a superficial society. This way,True Beautydelivers a great message of self-esteem, overcoming trauma, and friendship and offers a fresh view into modern problems, all enveloped in a funny and endearing romance.
9.71
2010
300
Cheese in the Trapis the story of Seol Hong, a university student who took a gap year for various reasons, and his relationship with her senior Yu Jeong, which became one of the most acclaimed manhwas of all time thanks to its complex protagonists, its original and colorful graphic style, focus on the beginning of adult life and the way it develops its romance plot with elements of mystery.
Cheese in the Trapwas adapted into a K-drama in 2016.
The story not only stands out for Yu Jeong, who is a suspicious yet interesting character, with nuances and secrets, but also for Seol, who is analytical, perceptive, intelligent, and easy to relate to. The manhwa also conveys the conflicts of university students in their daily lives, from academics to friendships and love, in a realistic way that also easily hooks the readers.
9.76
2020
89
From the same creator of the popular seriesThe First Night With the Duke,Happily Ever Afterwardsis thebest webtoon for readers with the second lead syndromesince it covers what happened beyond the main story, showing the fate of the rejected protagonist who didn’t get his happy ending. This isekai manhwa follows a female protagonist, Peony, reincarnating in a novel after the end of its main plot, but as her new identity is unrelated to the main story, she decides to cure the broken heart of the second main lead, who was her favorite character, Richt.
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Despite being a lighthearted story, focusing onPeony’s attempt to wreck the walls of a grumpy duke full of regrets, the manhwa also features political intrigue and violence, but its biggest appeal is its complex characters who aren’t perfect but grow after reflecting on their actions.
9.77
2022
82+
Maybe Meant to Beis a romantic comedy where two quirky childhood friends who haven’t seen each other in years, Jia and Mincheol, agree to an arranged marriage due to pressure from their families to settle down. However, it doesn’t follow the typical fake marriage trope, as they completely skip the fake dating stage and go straight into cohabitation life.
Also, despite having the cliché of the protagonists beginning to slowly develop feelings and having a real relationship, their dynamic is hilarious, and the story isn’t focused on major drama or heavy topics but isfull of goofy moments and unexpected humor developing their life as a married couple. Despite being in their early thirties, they are inexperienced in many areas and have to learn to communicate and start to grow together, which creates many wholesome moments.
9.82
2019
192+
The Remarried Empressis one of the most popularand captivating romance webtoons, not only because of the unexpected twists throughout the story, but also because of its unique narrative, which starts in the middle of the main conflict. In the beginning, the queen, Navier, is asked for a divorce by the king, who wants to marry his pregnant concubine, but Navier also reveals she was about to request to marry another man, and it is after this revelation that the manhwa starts unveiling how the story reached that point.
In addition to an exciting love square and a beautiful art style,The Remarried Empressshows how Navier refuses to accept her destiny, seeking revenge on those who want to destroy her life through many intriguing schemes, drama, politics, and a sweet romance born out of a friendship.
9.86
114+13
See You in My 19th Lifeis a manhwa set in a modern time that, more than just including reincarnation as a plot device to take a character to a historical setting or new fantasy world—which has become a norm in the genre—gives its own twist to the trope by using it to prove if love can transcend through lifetimes.
The manhwa tells the story of Jieum Ban, who has been reincarnated many times, and miraculously, she can remember the details of her previous life, until after a fateful event she reaches the resolution of living the same life again and reconnecting with the same people. This way, the story delves into the tragedy of death and the grief and trauma that goes along with it while alsohighlighting the beauty of love that overcomes hardships.
9.87
2021
152
While manhwas with toxic relationships have risen in popularity,Romance 101shows one of the healthiest character dynamics in the medium.Romance 101perfectly conveys the process of adapting to university, the struggles of wanting to find true love and the uncertainty of experiencing the first crush.
Those who enjoyedRomance 101should also read the currently ongoing webtoon No Office Romance! By the same creator.
The manhwa follows Bareum, who joins a university programming club to meet Jaehyeon while instead forming a funny and curious bond with his best friend Yuyeon. With many hilarious moments, video games, entering working life, and the difficulty of balancing friendships and relationships,Romance 101doesn’t offer a complex story, but it is its simplicity in showing the cotidianity of love that makes it a hidden gem and one of the most wholesome romances the webtoon platform has to offer.
9.89
81 million+
130 + 1 Spin-off sequel
Season of Blossomis one of the most appraised romance manhwa for its compelling approach to many deep themes like mental health, bullying, and grief, with many tear-jerking scenes that touch the sensitive fiber of readers. Despite this, the manhwa doesn’t lose its essence of being a heartwarming romance with a masterful display of first love and the importance of friendship, which makes it a perfect coming-of-age story.
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What makesSeason of Blossomso unique is the way the story is presented, as it’s an anthology divided into four parts, with each part having a different main couple and taking place during one season of the year, creating a large cast of likable protagonists. The success of the manhwa gained itSeason of Blossoman upcoming animated adaptation, and a sequel calledSeason of Lovesome, which is currently releasing chapters weekly that follow the characters’ lives after the original story and already has a rank of 9.86 on the Naver Webtoon platform.
9.91
2015
163+3 extras
The manhwa follows Amy Song, who is uncertain about her future and ends up joining an art club with particular members of different ages called Spirit Fingers, which will change her perspective on life and reflect on herself. This way,Spirit Fingersis not only a romance story with an artistic theme, but is also a journey about friendship, overcoming fears, and finding self-love and confidence to accept herself, showing how Amy experiences great character development while she experiences a sweet romance.
Because of this unique approach,Spirit Fingersfeatures excellent, charming, and well-constructed supporting characters, where each one has their particular personality, preferences, frustrations, and majestically interwoven backstories. The story also has a great level of expressiveness thanks to the unique artistic style of the manhwa, which brilliantly conveys the emotions of the characters.
9.93
152+
After School Lessons for Unripe ApplesorASLUA, is a slice-of-life manhwa from the same creator as Cheese in the Trap, perfect for those who love the dynamic between a cheerful girl and a mellow boy. ASLUA focuses on Mi-ae, an average middle school girl whose routine is altered when Cheol, a boy she already knew from her childhood and someone everyone fears because of her height and attitude, transfers to her school.
The manhwa shares the same essence of coming-of-age stories likeSkip to Loafer, as Mi-ae and Cheol are a great representation of dorky teenagers who are slowly learning to navigate life while naturally forming an endearing and amusing friendship. However, as they begin to know each other better, Mi-ae and Cheol develop a slow-burn romance that is not only well-portrayed but also realistic and refreshing, making readers nostalgic about the awkwardness and sweetness of first love, making it a difficult task not to binge-read all the available chapters.
