12 Best Webtoon-Based K-Dramas That Exceed Readers' Expectations

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Korean webtoon industry has become a goldmine for drama production houses, and more than a few have successfully attracted new audiences separate from the readers.

From romance melodrama to tension-filled thrillers, the following lineup of K-dramas adapted from webtoons proves that stories born from the digital platform can compete with original scripts. If you're looking for popular webtoon adaptations for a weekend marathon, the following list can be the best reference.

1. Lovely Runner (2024)

Original Webtoon: The Best of Tomorrow - Kim Bbang, illustrated by Doong Doong
Genre: Romance, Fantasy, Time Travel
Streaming Platforms: Viu, Vidio

It's no exaggeration to call Lovely Runner one of the biggest cultural phenomena in 2024. The story follows Im Sol, who miraculously goes back in time after witnessing the tragic death of her idol, Ryu Sun-jae.

What makes this drama so beloved is the balance between romance, comedy, and the mystery surrounding time travel. Between the show's main stars Kim Hye-yoon and Byeon Woo-seok's chemistry and avid readers of the original web novel—and later a webtoon—Lovely Runner has a sizeable global fan base.

Is it a successful adaptation? Signs point to "highly successful," as viewers deem the K-drama more emotional than the original material.  

2. Moving (2023)

Original Webtoon: Moving - Kang Full
Genre: Superhero, Action, Drama
Streaming Platform: Disney+ Hotstar

Amid the boom of Western superhero films, Moving offers a much more emotional approach. The story revolves around teenagers inheriting superpowers from their parents and trying to live a normal life amidst the threat of a secret organization.

This drama doesn't just rely on visual effects but also touches on familial ties. Many critics have labeled it as one of the best webtoon adaptations ever made because it manages to maintain the original story's essence while expanding the worldbuilding. 

Is it a successful adaptation? Extremely successful.

3. Daily Dose of Sunshine (2023)

Original Webtoon: Morning Comes to Psychiatric Wards Too - Lee Ra-ha
Genre: Medical, Healing
Streaming Platform: Netflix

Different from most medical dramas, this series focuses on life in psychiatric wards. Jung Da-eun, a young nurse, learns to understand various mental health conditions of the patients she encounters every day.

The warm and humane approach creates a lived-in atmosphere within the story, and viewers appreciate how the series tackles mental health issues without excessive stigma.

Is it a successful adaptation? Successful and relevant to current issues.

4. Doona! (2023)

Original Webtoon: The Girl Downstairs - Min Song-ah
Genre: Romance
Streaming Platform: Netflix

When an ordinary student meets a mysterious ex-K-pop idol, their lives change forever. Their relationship develops slowly amidst past wounds and the pressures of the entertainment world.

Starring Bae Suzy, this drama presents a more mature romance than most campus dramas. The adaptation also opts to focus on the emotional relationships of the characters rather than following every detail of the webtoon.

Is it a successful adaptation? Successful, although quite different from the original version.

5. Weak Hero Class 1 (2022)

Original Webtoon: Weak Hero - SEOPASS and Kim Jin-seok (RAZEN)
Genre: Action, School, Coming of Age
Streaming Platform: Netflix

When it comes to the Weak Hero webtoon drama, it almost always tops the list. The story follows Yeon Si-eun, a high-achieving student who appears physically weak but has extraordinary intelligence in facing bullies. With strategy, courage, and strong determination, he fights against the culture of violence dominating her school.

Unlike typical school dramas, Weak Hero Class 1 doesn't just showcase brutal fight scenes. The drama also explores friendship, betrayal, trauma, and the social pressures experienced by teenagers. The emotional core of Si-eun, Su-ho, and Beom-seok's relationship makes viewers feel the ups and downs of their journey.

Despite making several changes from the webtoon version, this adaptation has received much praise for strengthening the main characters' backgrounds and bringing deeper emotions. The popularity of the series even caused the original webtoon to skyrocket globally.

Is it a successful adaptation? Highly successful and considered one of the best webtoon adaptations in the school action genre.

6. All of Us Are Dead (2022)

Original Webtoon: Now at Our School - Joo Dong-geun
Genre: Zombie, Thriller, Survival
Streaming Platform: Netflix

When a scientific experiment turns into a deadly outbreak, a high school suddenly becomes the starting point of a zombie apocalypse. A group of students trapped inside the building must survive without the help of adults.

The drama's main strength lies in its consistent tension. It not only presents terrifying zombies, but also shows how humans change when faced with extreme situations.

Thanks to its global success, many viewers then sought out the All of Us Are Dead webtoon to learn the differences between the original version and the Netflix adaptation.

Is it a successful adaptation? Highly successful and one of the most popular Korean Netflix webtoons of all time.

7. A Business Proposal (2022)

Original Webtoon: The Office Blind Date - HaeHwa and Narak
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Streaming Platform: Netflix

Not many romantic dramas can create waves as big as A Business Proposal. The story starts when Shin Ha-ri (played by Kim Se-jeong) replaces her friend to attend a blind date with a man named Kang Tae-mu (played by Ahn Hyo-seop). Her simple plan to make the man lose interest backfired when Kang Tae-mu turned out to be the CEO of her workplace.

As an adaptation, this series successfully maintains the distinctive humor of the webtoon while making the characters feel more alive. It's no wonder that the A Business Proposal webtoon has become increasingly popular after its drama version aired.

Is it a successful adaptation? Highly successful and one of the best modern Korean romcoms.

8. True Beauty (2020)

When it comes to K-dramas adapted from popular webtoons, True Beauty is almost always on the list of recommendations. This drama follows Lim Ju-gyeong (played by Moon Ga-young), a teenager who is often bullied because of her appearance and finds confidence through her makeup skills.

Despite several changes from the webtoon, many fans believe the adaptation successfully maintains the story's core message. Even today, the webtoon drama, True Beauty, remains one of the most popular romantic titles among K-drama fans.

Is it a successful adaptation? Commercially and emotionally successful.

9. Sweet Home (2020)

After losing his family, Cha Hyun-su (played by Song Kang) moves into an old apartment. His bleak life turns into a nightmare when people begin to transform into monsters based on their deepest desires.

Rather than simply showing horror scenes, this drama explores human nature at its worst. Each apartment resident has their own backstory and struggles, making the story even more emotional.

Is it a successful adaptation? Very successful and one of the most influential Korean monster series.

10. What's Wrong with Secretary Kim (2018)

Lee Young-joon is a handsome, successful, and highly narcissistic CEO. His life is going perfectly until his trusted secretary, Kim Mi-so, suddenly decides to resign after nine years.

This simple conflict develops into a romantic story filled with humor, strong chemistry, and a slow reveal of past secrecies. The performances of Park Seo-joon and Park Min-young are one of the main reasons for this drama's success.

Is it a successful adaptation? Highly successful and still one of the best Korean rom-coms to date.

11. My ID is Gangnam Beauty (2018)

This drama follows Kang Mi-rae, a college student who undergoes plastic surgery after years of being bullied because of her appearance. Through Mi-rae's journey, the drama explores beauty standards, self-confidence, and social pressures that are still relevant today. 

Is it a successful adaptation? Successfully maintains the strong social message of the original webtoon.

12. Cheese in the Trap (2016)

As one of the pioneers of Korean webtoon-based dramas, Cheese in the Trap holds a special place in the hearts of K-drama fans. The story follows Hong Seol, an ordinary college student who gets into a complicated relationship with Yoo Jung, a seemingly perfect senior who has a mysterious side.

Instead of a sweet romance, this drama explores the complex dynamics of relationships and the psychology of relationships. The characters feel realistic, with strengths and weaknesses that keep viewers debating their motivations.

Is it a successful adaptation? Quite successful, although the ending remains a topic of discussion among fans to this day.

If you're just starting to explore the world of Korean dramas from webtoons, this list can be a great guide to finding works that suit your tastes. Have you bookmarked any titles to watch in your spare time?

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