K-dramas have taken over the world by storm. This is the era where everyone is hooked on watching them. Along with K-dramas, Korean webtoons have also gained quite a lot of popularity among fans for their immersive art style, plot, and attractive characters. Which is why t’s not surprising that many TV producers and directors have adapted webtoons into dramas. From cute romances to bone-chilling horrors, there’s quite a lot of variety when it comes to highly acclaimed webtoon to K-drama adaptations. Here is a list of some K-dramas that are based on some popular webtoons.
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6 Extraordinary You
MBC TV
While most K-dramas often keep the same title as the webtoon to create hype, some give it a new same name, and Extraordinary You is an example of such K-dramas. It is based on a highly popular webtoon titled ‘July Found By Chance,’ which was created by Moo Ryoo. One of the biggest reasons behind its immense popularity has to do with just how fresh off-the-mill its storyline was. The story revolves around the lead character Eun Dan Oh, who learns that not only is she a character in a comic called ‘Secret,’ but also that she is just an extra in the plot. The cartoonist of Secret assigns Dan Oh a mediocre fate in which she becomes engaged to someone she despises and will pass away soon. Thus, she decides to write her story on her own fate by finding true love. It is a fresh and rejuvenating drama that can help watchers escape their slump and feel wholesome again.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
5 True Beauty
tvN
True Beauty became a smashing hit when it first appeared on streaming services in 2020. Based on a Webtoon of the same name, the drama revolves around a young teenager, Joo Gyeong, who was frequently bullied because of her appearance. When she’s given the opportunity to switch schools, she takes matters into her own hands by giving herself a makeover. Not only is she able to gain more confidence, but she also becomes one of the most attractive girls in school.
Interestingly, the webtoon is still ongoing while the drama ended in 2020. It’s been praised by fans for tackling various issues regarding self-image and the idea of living oneself. The scene where Joo Gyung stands up to herself against her bullies is quite empowering. In addition, one of the major debates between fans was caused by the love triangle in the show. Both male leads had such amazing chemistry with the female lead, that it led to the fandom being split in half. Fans were particularly fond of the scenes between heartthrob, Hwang In-yeop and Cha Eunwoo. One can’t help but gush over the bromance between the two.
4 Strangers from Hell
OCN
Strangers from Hell is an excellent show for anyone who is tired of romantic k-dramas and wants something that offers thrilling moments and is packed with jump scares. Kim Yong-Ki is the creator behind the original webtoon. It is not easy to make readers feel uneasy while reading a webtoon, but Yong-Ki, with his talent, made it possible. This psychological thriller revolves around a young adult in his early 20s who decides to move to Seoul after landing a new job. Since he is trying to make ends meet, he resides in a low-end flat where all tenants share the kitchen and bathroom. As time passes, strange incidents make him suspicious and wary of his neighbors. He eventually starts fearing for his life. This is one of the dramas that follows its original source significantly, but with creative camera angles and outstanding acting makes the storyline seem even better than before.
3 Sweet Home
KBS
In 2020, when Sweet Home came on Netflix, it became a must-watch series. It has everything one might seek, a gripping thriller about the catastrophic end of the planet. The drama also features a storyline with terrifying monsters and different ways to survive their attacks. First published by Kim Kan-Bi and Hwang Young-Chan, this Naver webtoon has fans hooked from the first chapter. The story mainly centers around how the building’s occupants get confined inside the apartments. Although they are oblivious to what is happening outside, they eventually come to understand that people are evolving into hideous, ravaging monsters. Now the tenants must try to survive not only from the monster outside, but from the one inside them as well.
Even though it follows the basic premise of the webtoon, there are various changes in the characters and in the storyline. One of the biggest reasons is that the webtoon author actually requested that the director doesn’t follow its story entirely as he wanted to see other different perspectives. The directors respected his request, and turned up the notch on the thriller which will have the audience hooked to the screen till the very last episode.
2 What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim?
What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim? is a perfect drama for anyone who is searching for romance, comedy, and attractive main leads. Based on a webtoon by Kim Myeong-Mi, the drama remained true to its source with little variation in the narrative. Fans of the comic were delighted to see that the K-drama manages to capture the essence including the plot and the characterization. The story revolves around an arrogant billionaire, Lee Young-Joon, portrayed by Park Seo-Joon, who falls deeply in love with his loyal yet extremely overworked secretary of nine consecutive years, Park Min-so, portrayed by Park Min-young. The sparks of chemistry between the two leads had the audience melting in their seats. The first date between the two is just swoon-worthy! Who doesn’t want a rich CEO to rent out an amusement park for them!
1 Itaewon Class
JTBCNetflix
Considering the series’ premise, many thought Itaweon Class was a Netflix original. However, it shocked many fans as it was based on this highly popular webtoon of the same name, which Kwang Jin created. While it changed some minor plots, the general storyline stayed the same. The main plot revolves around Park Sae Ro Yi, who gets imprisoned for attempted murder and pledges revenge on the successful businessman who robbed him of a future. The K-drama became a fan favorite and was able to create a lot of buzz. It also featured Korea’s beloved Park Seo-Joon, which was another big reason why many viewers tuned in. The directors tried their best to keep characters true to the webtoon. For example, in terms of hairdo, Park Seo-Joon and the main character of the webtoon are remarkably similar.
