True Beauty (여신강림)

by Yaongyi

As soon as True Beauty was first serialized in 2018, I started reading it because the drawings just look gorgeous. Everyone can tell that the Webtoonist, “Yaongyi”, spends a lot of time on her illustrations. Some Koreans even said, “she grinds her soul into drawings”. Yaongyi is known as a beautiful artist who resembles Jugyeong, the protagonist, as she sometimes draws her while looking in a mirror.

In the beginning, the subject itself was interesting as it depicts Koreans’ stance on outer beauty. However, this Webtoon recently started receiving not-so-favorable reviews since the story became repetitive and nothing progressed.

Synopsis

Jugyeong is a girl who loves comics and doesn’t stand out. But once she masters makeup, she becomes the prettiest girl at her school. People started calling her a goddess. She’s afraid of revealing her true self without makeup, except in front of Suho.

Score

Read it on Naver

To Love Your Enemy (원수를 사랑하라)

by Jungyoon/Taegeon

To Love Your Enemy is literally about what you’d expect, falling in love with the enemy. At first, it felt a bit dark and not like a lovey-dovey romance story, but later it pays off with extra sweet scenes. You can also take a peek at Korean college life and learn how to avoid/use gossip.

Synopsis

Yeonhee used to work at a pyramid scheme company and wants a fresh start. She quits her job, changes her name, and goes to college at 24. She runs into a guy, named Yikyung, who is the son of a pyramid scheme victim and knows her past that she wants to hide.

Score

Read it on Naver

Spirit Fingers (스피릿 핑거스)

by han kyoung chal

Spirit Fingers is a completed series in Korea, but ongoing in English. The drawings of Webtoonist, “han kyoung chal”, feel warm and soft like watercolor paintings. This Webtoon is known as a “Healing Webtoon (힐링웹툰)” since it warms your heart.

I love the soothing illustrations as well as the story where young people can grow to be more confident and find their true colors, personality and dreams.

Synopsis

Amy (Wooyeon Song | 송우연) is an ordinary, shy high school girl who used to enjoy drawing. One day, she meets a group of people with distinct personalities. They’re members of a croquis (sketch) art group called, “Spirit Fingers”. They’re so strange, cool, confident, yet hip that she ends up joining them.

The members choose their favorite color and call each other by “color + Finger” like “Blue Finger” or “Black Finger”. They meet up wearing unique concepts of cosplay every weekend and sketch each other.

Score

Read it on Naver

A Falling Cohabitation (간 떨어지는 동거)

by Na

A Falling Cohabitation (or My Roommate is a Gumiho) is a romance Webtoon that will be adapted into a K-drama in 2021. I’m not sure why there’s no official Webtoon in English yet, but it’s worth a look.

The story revolves around Wooyeo Shin (신우여) who’s super good looking, and Dam Lee (이담) who’s very cool. She’s known to have “Cider (사이다 or gratifying)” personality.

Synopsis

A handsome male Gumiho (nine-tailed fox, usually female in the past) has lived for hundreds of years to become human. He’s been gathering vital force in his fox bead for so long until a female college student accidentally swallows it. Since a human body can’t hold a fox bead, he suggests that she moves in with him until the situation is resolved.

Score

Read it on Naver

The Girl Downstairs (이두나! | Duna Lee!)

by Songah Min

The Girl Downstairs is by Songah Min after her previous Webtoon, Nano List. Its tagline is “Fluttering Nuna List”. Songah Min is known to enjoy walking on a tightrope (the content rating system of Naver that determines if a Webtoon is rated R or PG 13, etc.). Some Korean fans are rooting for the Webtoonist to fight Naver and win to show more erotic scenes. I may or may not be in that group.

The Girl Downstairs is for all ages, but some scenes may be erotic or inappropriate. Still, its degree is much less than Nano List (나노리스트), which has lots of violence.

Synopsis

Joon (이원준 | Wonjoon Lee) is a freshman at university and moves into a shared house near the campus. There, he finds Duna (이두나 | Duna Lee), a retired K-pop idol, who turns out to be living downstairs. Joon becomes curious about Duna with her mysterious life.

Score

Read it on Naver

The Makeup Remover (화장 지워주는 남자 | A Man who Removes Makeup)

by Lee Yeon

The Makeup Remover is a completed series in Korea, but ongoing in English.

It discusses the meaning of makeup, how Korean society views women, and social corsets women have to or choose to wear. It may look appearance-oriented, but it’s not (as the title suggests, it’s more about “removing” makeup).

This Webtoon made me think a lot about beauty and has romance as well as beautiful friendships.

Synopsis

Yeseul Kim (김예슬) studies so hard and goes to a prestigious university. Although she’s smart, Yeseul gets nagged by everyone around her for not dressing up or grooming.

She decides to go to a salon for professional makeup, and accidentally meets the genius artist, Yuseong Cheon (천유성). They somehow team up to participate in a makeup competition TV show, “Face Off Cinderella”.

Score

Read it on Naver

See you in My 19^th Life (이번 생도 잘 부탁해)

by Lee Hey

Lee Hey is a trustworthy Webtoonist so I unconditionally read all her Webtoons. She debuted with Divine Bells (신령) on Naver in 2012, and successfully completed Divine Bells (신령), Reckoning (레코닝), and A Good Day to be a Dog (오늘도 사랑스럽개). This is a very consistent and prolific release schedule with little downtime. Her new ongoing Webtoon is See you in My 19th Life.

Lee Hey is also known as “the legend of seven heads (7통수의 전설)”. Korean fans thought the Webtoonist “hit the backs of their heads” (as in we thought the story was going this way, but there was a big twist) for 7 consecutive weeks during Season 2 of Divine Bells.

I love the fantasy elements in this romance Webtoon. Also, the protagonist is so cool, proactive, and never gives up.

Synopsis

Jieum Ban (반지음) can remember all her past lives. She was too mature even as a kid and found life boring until she meets a boy, Seoha Moon (문서하). They get into a car accident and she dies while saving the boy. She was reborn soon after and is trying to find him again in her 19th life.

Score

Read it on Naver

Secret Playlist (플레이, 플리 | Play, PLII)

by 2F

The new kid on the block! As soon as I saw the first thumbnail photo in September, 2020, I knew I would immediately love this Webtoon. Not only do the illustrations look beautiful, but also the story is interesting.

Not many episodes are out yet, but I have a good feeling about this Webtoon! Now, the English version is available, so check it out!

Synopsis

Hanju Song (송한주) is an ordinary (but super pretty, of course) university student who uploads cover songs on MeTube without showing her face. She does this as a hobby and her MeTube artist name is “PLII”.

Doguk Lee (이도국) is a famous K-pop idol group member, “Levi”, who’s also actively working as a soloist. He goes to the same uni as Hanju in the same major. He follows PLII on social media, hoping to collaborate with her.

They become closer while working on a team project.

Score

Read it on Naver

Ghost Wife (귀각시)

by Saejung

Ghost Wife may look like a tale of horror, but it’s not that scary. Surprisingly, it’s a romance Webtoon.

Ghost Wife has a lot of creepy characters, but you’ll find them cute or charming once you get to know them.

Synopsis

Liz is a teenage girl, but she can see monsters and ghosts. For some reason, these monsters want to eat her. One day, a demon with an eerie smile shows up and becomes her fiancé. He enrolls in her school to protect Liz, and she names him Damon. Liz even befriends a crocodile demon, which looked terrifying at first, but becomes super adorable like a pet.

Score

Read it on Naver

A Good Day to be a Dog (오늘도 사랑스럽개)

by Lee Hey

Another Webtoon by Lee Hey. This is a completed series in Korea with a solid finale.

Synopsis

Hana is a teacher with a secret. Her family is cursed to turn into dogs at midnight after a first kiss. They can only break the curse by getting a second kiss. Hana gets wasted after drinking and tries to kiss a guy she likes, who apparently loves dogs. But she ends up kissing another guy by accident, who is afraid of dogs.

Score

Read it on Naver