If you are tired of reading webtoons but still want to know the different stories, then there are lots of K-dramas that are being adapted from WEBTOONS these days. These dramas are well-adapted and do justice to the original stories.
15 Korean Dramas Adapted From Webtoon
1. What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim(2018)
Starring- Park Seo Joon, Park Min Young, Lee Tae Hwan
Episodes- 16
Adapted from the webtoon of the same name, this drama is a hit among kdrama lovers. Lee Young Joon, played by Park Seo Joon, is the vice-chairman of the company, and Kim Mi-so played by Park Min Young is his secretary. She has been his secretary for a long time and has seen him grow professionally. But trouble comes when she decides to leave the job and focus on herself. A series of events take place and they find out they have met in their childhood and share a connection. The drama has many heart-fluttering moments, comedic scenes, and characters and also shows family love and bond.
The chemistry of the lead couple has fans asking them to date in real life as well!
2. Itaewon Class(2020)
Starring- Park Seo Joon, Kim Da Mi, Kang Na Ra, Ahn Bo Hyun, Jo Byung Gyu
Episodes- 16
Adapted from the webtoon of the same name, Itaewon Class portrays the struggles of an individual who is struggling hard to make a mark in life, but constantly gets crushed by large conglomerates. Park Seo Joon’s hairstyle became the talk of the town and the actor also gushed about how difficult it was to maintain the hairstyle. This drama is extremely motivational and inspiring and is surely going to stay with you for a long time.
3. Extraordinary You(2019)
Starring- Kim Hye Yoon, Rowoon, Lee Jae Wook
Episodes- 16
You must have watched the movie Inception and felt super confused. This drama is a comic book inception. The characters in the drama are a part of a comic book, and this drama itself is adapted from a webtoon. Dan Oh, played by Kim Hye Yoon, realizes that she is a character in the comic book ‘Secret’. She thinks she is the lead character, because of the cliched plot that her character has- she is dying because of a terminal disease, and is in love with a guy who does not love her back.
Only to her surprise, she finds out she is a mere extra. From here on, she takes it on herself to change her fate and meets Haru, played by Rowoon. An unexpected twist that takes place is the key highlight of the drama. The lead couple has aced their parts and the drama is a cute high-school romance.
4. Sweet Home(2021)
Starring- Song Kang, Lee Si Young, Lee Do Hyun, Lee Jin Wook
Episodes- 10
We have had enough zombie movies and dramas, it’s now time for monsters. Based on the webtoon of the same name, the residents of the apartment ‘Sweet Home’ find themselves in an apocalyptic world with humans turning to monsters one fine morning. A fight for survival ensues, along with the people among themselves turning to monsters. No one trusts anyone and is always highly suspicious.
The biggest irony lies in the paradoxical name of the apartment. Is living there really sweet?
Who survives, and who turns into a monster?
With the show being renewed for more seasons, the many unanswered questions are expected to be answered in the following seasons.
So, will you want to live in ‘Sweet Home’?
5. Her Private Life(2019)
Starring- Park Min Young, Kim Jae Wook, Jung Jae Won, Ahn Bo Hyun
Episodes- 16
If you have heard kpop songs, then you must know how there are certain fans who literally go to each event of their idol and click pictures of them. The female lead of the drama Sung Deok Mi played by Park Min Young is a fan like that. But the twist is, she is not a teenager but a woman with a stable job. She keeps her fansite a secret until she meets Ryan Gold played by Kim Jae Wook. The drama is a cute drama with the lead couple’s chemistry being the talk of the town. The drama is an adaptation of the webtoon named Nunafandotcom, which translates to a fan who is an older woman.
6. Love Alarm(2019 & 2021)
Starring- Kim Soo Hyun, Song Kang, Jung Ga Ram
Episodes- 14
Letting someone know that you love them through an app sounds interesting right? That is the premise of this drama. Adapted from the webtoon of the same name, the drama is a love triangle between high school students Kim Jo Jo played by Kim Soo Hyun, Hwang Sun Oh played by Song Kang, and Lee Hye Young played by Jung Ga Ram. Hye Young and Sun Oh have been friends from childhood and both of them fall for Jo Jo.
Jo Jo who is struggling to make a living for herself gets a confession from Sun Oh, who rings her Love Alarm. Not all was smooth thereafter, the couple had to face several hurdles and the 1st season ends on a cliffhanger. The show has recently come up with the 2nd season, so now is the ideal time to watch the series!
7. Mystic Pop Up Bar(2020)
Starring- Hwang Jung Eum, Choi Won Young, Yook Sung Jae, Jung Da Eun
Episodes- 12
If you love supernatural dramas, then this one is for you. The story begins 500 ago, where Weol Ju played by Hwang Jung Eum, was a young girl who had the ability to heal people through their dreams. She was called upon by the royal family to heal the crown prince who was ill. People started accusing her of having seduced the crown prince, which led to the shunning of her and her mother. Her mother was killed and she committed suicide by hanging herself on the Sacred Tree.
As a result, she was punished for destroying the powers of the tree and has to live in the living realm to save 100,000 souls and ease their problems. Here, in the living realm, she runs a pop-up bar that is visible only to distressed souls. The drama, adapted from the webtoon Twin Tops Bar, beautifully shows the various emotions that make a human being suffer and their guilts for not doing enough for their loved ones who passed away. This drama should definitely be on your watch list.
8. The Uncanny Counter (2020-21)
Starring- Jo Byung Gyu, Kim Se Jong, Yeom Hye Ran, Yoo Jun Sang
Episodes- 16
This webtoon was very popular and it was no surprise for the people that it was chosen to be adapted into a drama series. The story follows the lives of 4 counters, whose job is to catch evil spirits. The powers possessed by the counters are given to them by the Heavenly authorities in exchange for saving their lives when being in a state of coma. They have a special sense which can detect evil spirits near them.
All 4 of them possess special abilities that work together to catch and send these evil spirits away to get their deserved punishment.
The drama is an interesting watch because it shows the different kinds of working to catch evil spirits.
Watch it for the chemistry between the 4 counters which fills you up with warmth and makes you feel at home.
9. My Id is Gangnam Beauty(2018)
Starring- Im Soo Hyang, Cha Eun Woo, Kwak Dong Yeon, Jo Woo Ri
Episodes- 16
The drama adapted from the webtoon of the same name, revolves around the pressures of the society of how a person should look. It shows how society defines who is good-looking and who is not. Kang Mi Rae played by Im Soo Hyang, ever since she was a child, has had people telling her that she is not good-looking and tormented her. So, when she had passed high school and was about to join college, her mother suggested she get plastic surgery.
It is rather a common practice in South Korea for parents to often ‘gift’ their children plastic surgery. But for her, getting the surgery meant getting a new identity. She joins a prestigious university and aspires to be a perfumer. The title of the drama alludes to the infamous term ‘Gangnam beauty’ which is a rather derogatory term because Gangnam is the hotspot for plastic surgeries.
10. She Would Never Know(2021)
Starring- Rowoon, Won Jin Ah, Lee Joo Bin, Lee Hyun Wook
Episodes- 16
Adapted from the webtoon called “Sunbae, Don’t Put on That Lipstick” the drama follows the journey of Chae Hyun Seung played by Rowoon, an intern at a cosmetic brand. He takes a liking in Yoon Song Ah played by Won Jin Ah, his senior in the company. Culture in South Korea needs you to call anyone who joined or started working before you ‘Sunbae’ which means ‘senior’.
Hyung Seung has liked her from the time she came for recruitment in his college, and she is the reason why he chose to intern for that company. It is a beautiful heart-warming drama and Rowoon very beautifully portrays the loveable junior who always supports and loves his sunbae.
11. Backstreet Rookie(2020)
Starring- Ji Chang Wook, Kim Yoo Jung
Episodes- 16
Saet Byul played by Kim Yoo Jung, is a high school student who had to quit her schooling due to an unfortunate event. She has been working part-time to support her sister’s education. She meets Choi Dae Hyun played by Ji Chang Wook, who is a convenience store owner. She gets hired as the part-timer in his store, and the rest of the drama follows their journey together. It is adapted from the webtoon named ‘Convenience Store Saet Byul’.
12. True Beauty(2020)
Starring- Moon Ga Young, Cha Eun Woo, Hwang In Yeop
Episodes- 16
This drama runs on similar lines of My Id is Gangnam Beauty, follows the journey of Im Ju Kyeong, a high school student who has been called ugly since her childhood. When she transfers to another school, she learns about the power of makeup and uses it to transform her appearance. She is instantly praised by everyone at school and people now approach her more.
With her newly found confidence, comes the risk of people finding out about her true face. The drama focuses on her struggles and shows the path of her accepting her true face, hence the name “True Beauty”. The webtoon from which it is adapted has the same name and is an ongoing one.
13. Hell is Other People(2019)
Starring- Im Si Wan, Lee Dong Wook
Episodes- 10
The story takes place in Eden Dormitory, however, the place is not as peaceful as its name suggests. Yoon Jung played by Im Si Wan, moves into room number 303 in Eden Dormitory after finding it a cheap price, only to realize that he had to pay a heavy price for it. This drama is adapted from the webtoon called Strangers from Hell and you have to watch it to know the rest of the thrilling story.
14. Cheese In The Trap(2016)
Starring- Kim Go Eun, Park Hae Jin, Seo Kang Joon, Lee Seung Kyung
Episodes- 16
The drama has been adapted from the webtoon of the same name, follows the journey of Hong Seol played by Kim Go Eun, who is a hardworking student who enters university through a scholarship. She gets tangled in various affairs by Yoo Jung played by Park Hae Jin, who is manipulative and uses his looks and intelligence to destroy people he does not like. This drama has an ensemble cast and is considered a classic among K-drama fans.
Starring- Song Kang, Park In Hwan
Episodes- 12
Navillera is a drama that will warm your heart. Adapted from the webtoon ‘Navillera’ this drama shows Shim Deok Chul played by Park In Hwan, a 70-year-old man who decides to pursue his dream of learning ballet. His instructor, Lee Chae Rok played by Song Kang, is a 23-year-old man who has also been facing struggles in life. The drama is really heartwarming, as it shows the dynamics between the two and how they uplift each other despite such a huge age difference and generation gap.
I hope that by now you must have chosen the dramas you want to watch, so what are you waiting for? Happy watching! xoxo
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