Top 10 Romance Manhwas
It's no surprise that romance is one of the most popular genres in the world of manhwa (Korean comics). Let's be real—there's nothing quite as lovely as seeing a captivating romance unfold in full, vibrant color. The use of color brings the characters and the story to life, making every emotional moment hit harder. Plus, all those gorgeous dresses, detailed historical outfits, and modern fashions the female leads get to wear? That's definitely part of the fun!
But with so many incredible titles available, which romance manhwas are the absolute most popular and beloved right now? We've compiled a list of the top contenders so you can jump right into the most exciting and talked-about love stories. Get ready to enjoy!
True Beauty
Sipnosis: Ju-kyung Lim is a high school student who was harshly judged and bullied for her bare face. By obsessively watching online tutorials, she masters the art of makeup, transforming herself into a stunning "goddess" at her new school. She struggles to keep her natural face a secret from everyone, especially the two most popular, handsome boys at school: the stoic, intelligent Lee Su-ho, who is the first to see her without makeup, and the charming "bad boy" Han Seo-jun. The story follows her journey through love triangles, self-esteem struggles, and finding her true worth in a society obsessed with looks.
Status: Completed
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Drama, School Life, Slice of Life
Tropes: Makeup as a Disguise; Ugly Duckling (internalized); Love Triangle; Second Male Lead Syndrome.
Reason why others like it: The K-Drama helped with success.
R19 Adaptation? No
A Business Proposal
Sipnosis: Shin Ha-ri, a smart and hardworking food researcher, reluctantly agrees to take her chaebol (rich heir) best friend's place on a blind date. Her mission is to act as obnoxiously as possible to scare the suitor away. However, her date turns out to be her new, intensely handsome, and workaholic CEO, Kang Tae-moo. Tired of endless blind dates, Tae-moo decides to propose marriage to Ha-ri, still believing she is her friend. When her real identity is nearly exposed, Ha-ri is forced into a fake fiancée contract with her boss to save her job and earn money, leading to hilariously chaotic and increasingly romantic situations.
Status: Completed
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Workplace, Slice of Life
Tropes: Fake dating/marriage); Workplace Romance (CEO/Employee); Mistaken Identity; Wacky Misunderstandings; Rich Male Lead (Chaebol).
Reason why others like it: The K-Drama adaptation was a global hit.
R19 Adaptation? Webnovel
See you in my 19th Life
Sipnosis: Ban Ji-eum possesses an extraordinary ability: she can remember every detail of her past lives, enduring nearly a thousand years of reincarnation. After her 18th life ends prematurely in a tragic accident, she is determined to use her 19th life to reconnect with Moon Seo-ha, the boy she fell in love with in her previous life. Now a young woman, Ji-eum boldly pursues the older and emotionally closed-off Seo-ha, using the cumulative knowledge and wisdom of her many past lives to try and melt his heart and heal the trauma they both share.
Status: Completed
Genre: Romance, Drama, Reincarnation, Supernatural, Office
Tropes: Soulmates; Amnesia/Trauma; Unconventional Female
Reason why others like it: Story became popular.
R19 Adaptation? No
The Remarried Empress
Sipnosis: Empress Navier Trovi was the perfect empress: intelligent, capable, and a devoted political partner to her husband, Emperor Sovieshu of the Eastern Empire. Their perfect marriage shatters when Sovieshu brings home a runaway slave, Rashta, as his mistress and begins to openly mistreat Navier. When the Emperor attempts to divorce Navier to make Rashta the new Empress, Navier does not beg or despair. Instead, she shocks the entire continent by demanding not just the divorce, but the immediate approval of her remarriage to King Heinrey of the Western Kingdom, turning her revenge into a power move.
Status: Completed
Genre: Romance, Historical, Fantasy, Political Drama, Revenge
Tropes: Divorce (FL demands separation from cheating ML); Revenge Marriage; Regretful ML trope; Political Power Couple.
Reason why others like it: This is known as one of the early works in the historical fantasy/revenge subgenres, gaining a lot of popularity.
R19 Adaptation? No
The Villainess is a Marionette
Sipnosis: Kayena Hill, the beautiful but foolish villainess of a novel, is destined to be a pawn in her tyrannical brother Regef’s schemes, eventually leading to a miserable death. After a terrible accident, a modern woman wakes up in Kayena's body with full knowledge of the novel's plot. Determined to survive, Kayena uses her knowledge, political acumen, and seductive charm to escape her brother’s control. She forms a powerful, calculating alliance with the stoic, handsome Duke Raffaello Kidrey (the main story's male lead) under the pretense of a political alliance, but their planned partnership quickly evolves into a real power struggle and romance.
Status: Completed
Genre: Romance, Historical, Fantasy, Political Intrigue, Reincarnation
Tropes: Reincarnated as the Villainess; Political Alliance/Contract; FML is a Master Manipulator.
Reason why others like it: Beautiful and detailed artwork.
R19 Adaptation? No
Villains are Destined to Die
Sipnosis: A university student is suddenly transported into a brutal "otome game" as the villainess, Penelope Eckhart. In the game's "Hard Mode," Penelope is doomed to die regardless of which romance path she takes, as all five male leads—including her family—start with extremely negative affection towards her. She must use the game's mechanics, including dialogue options and an affection meter, to raise their interest and affection from the negative zone to the positive, securing her survival and finding her path to freedom before the game's true heroine appears.
Status: Ongoing
Genre: Romance, Isekai, Thriller, Otome Game, Reverse Harem
Tropes: Isegye into an Otome Game; Survival Game/High; Reverse Harem; Affection Meter/Game Mechanics; Morally Gray FML.
Reason why others like it: ‘Death Game’ premise and complex characters.
Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion
Sipnosis: After a sudden and mysterious death, Eunha Park is reincarnated into the world of a novel she read. She wakes up as Raeliana McMillan, a side character whose predetermined fate is to be poisoned by her own fiancé. To survive, Raeliana uses her knowledge of the novel to intercept the powerful and dangerously handsome Duke Noah Wynknight, the story's male lead and a man with many secrets. She proposes a fake, six-month contract engagement to him, offering her knowledge of future events in exchange for his protection from her murderous fiancé, but she soon discovers the Duke is far more manipulative than the book ever suggested.
Status: Completed
Genre: Romance, Isekai, Fantasy, Mystery, Contract Marriage
Tropes: Reincarnated into a Novel; Contract Marriage/Engagement; Secretive/Manipulative Male Lead; Plot Divergence
Reason why others like it: ‘Contract Marriage’ trope done right.
R19 Adaptation? No
Operation: True Love
Sipnosis: Su-ae Shim is a high school student with low self-esteem, resigned to being a pushover in her toxic relationship. Her life is turned upside down when she finds a mysterious, sentient flip phone—the "Jellypop"—in her locker. The phone gives her a "Love Point" system, showing the affection levels of everyone around her, and warns her that her points are at zero. To survive, she must increase her love points. This forces her to abandon her toxic relationship and confront her true feelings, leading her into a tense love triangle involving the kind but guarded Eunhyeok and the popular, mysterious Dohwa Baek.
Status: Ongoing
Genre: Romance, School Life, Supernatural, Drama
Tropes: Supernatural Elements; High School Drama; Love Triangle; Self-Esteem/Confidence Arc.
Reason why others like it: Active updates!
R19 Adaptation? No
A Stepmother's Märchen
Sipnosis: Shuri von Neuschwanstein was widowed at a young age, leaving her as the unwanted stepmother to four children who resented her. Despite her efforts, she was rejected by the children and manipulated by the nobility, leading to a miserable, lonely life and an eventual tragic death. Miraculously, she wakes up in the past—on the day of her husband’s funeral. Armed with the knowledge of her past failures and future events, the "Iron Widow" decides to live differently. She focuses on genuinely mending her bond with her stepchildren and taking control of her own political standing, opening the door for a second chance at happiness and perhaps a new romance.
Status: Ongoing
Genre: Romance, Historical, Fantasy, Drama, Time Travel/Second Chance
Tropes: Second Chance; Time Reversal/Regression; Repairing Family Bonds; Misunderstood FMC.
Reason why others like it: Gorgeous artwork and mature storytelling.
R19 Adaptation? No
Your Eternal Lies
Sipnosis: Rosen Walker is a woman known as the infamous "Prisoner of Monte," convicted of murder and notorious for repeated jailbreaks. Her latest guard is the decorated war hero, Ian Connor, who is tasked with escorting her to the notorious maximum-security prison island. Ian is initially convinced of her guilt, but as they travel together, he begins to see the vulnerability beneath her lies and the deep pain in her past. The story is a mature, psychological drama focused on the growing, intense connection between the convicted "murderer" and the haunted "hero" as they struggle to understand each other and navigate a world of political corruption and secrets.
Status: Ongoing
Genre: Romance, Historical, Fantasy, Drama, Psychological.
Tropes: Forbidden Love; Traumatic Past; Misjudgment/Appearance vs. Reality; Slow Burn.
Reason why others like it: Complex story with drama. This one is recommended if you like slightly darker stories.
R19 Adaptation? Webtoon is M-Rated but there’s also an explicit version.
If you enjoy historical fantasy, a dash of school life, some workplace comedy, or even the high stakes of a survival game, this list offers a little bit of everything. No matter your preferred sub-genre, you’re sure to find a compelling story to fall in love with here!