Lately, I've indulged in reading various Korean webtoons, which are regularly-updated comics posted on specific website portals. These quick reads have become incredibly popular within the last decade. Many are actively being translated into various languages but, in some cases, the original Korean copies have been locked for paying members only. There are many stories of many genres, but these are the ones that have caught my (or the public's) eye and are currently on-going.
1. Jong-Beom Lee's "Dr. Frost"
Updates every Saturday
Rating: 9.48 / 10
Nam-Bong Baek, more well-known as Dr. Frost, is a genius psychologist with very little emotion. Due to a childhood accident to his frontal lobe, he has difficulty sympathizing with people and is as cold as ice can come (hence, his moniker). Bright and enthusiastic Sung-Ah Yoon becomes his T.A. at his counseling center in Yonggang University. Though their approaches are vastly different, the two work together to help their patients as much as possible. A 10-episode drama adaptation of the same name aired in late 2014, but I definitely prefer the webtoon.
2. Yong-Jae Park's "The God of High School"
Updates every Friday
Rating: 9.49 / 10
I haven't caught up on this one for a while now, but I'm still under the impression that its running streak is going strong. From what I can recall, the premise of this webtoon is that a mysterious organization sends out invitations for all capable Korean high school students to take part in a fighting tournament. Readers follow the journey of the main character, Mori Jin, a Taekwondo specialist who discovers the real reason for this country-wide brawl.
3. Shen's "Bluechair"
Updates every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday
Rating: 9.50 / 10
There isn't a clear-cut summary of this particular webtoon; it's more of a comedy and slice-of-life series with short, witty and simply funny episodes that happen in our everyday lives. Though we see them through the artist's perspective, all of it is pretty spot-on.
4. Je-Ho Son and Kwang-Soo Lee's "Noblesse"
Updates every Tuesday
Rating: 9.50 / 10
Because no one can get enough of a good vampire story, right? Rai has been asleep for 820 years and wakes up in our time, only to struggle to adjust. With the help of his servant, Frankenstein (original, isn't it?), the ancient noble enrolls into Ye Ran High School and befriends the students who end up becoming a part of his entourage. This is a warmly-received series amongst people ranging from millennials to our parents' age and the elderly.
5. soonkki's "Cheese in the Trap"
Updates every Sunday
Rating: 9.52 / 10
Seol Hong is a hardworking university student who unintentionally starts off on the wrong foot with the campus' Mr. Perfect, Jung Yoo. After taking a year-long break, she returns to her studies and, to her surprise, is fondly looked after by the very same upperclassman. Things get complicated when tensions rise between the model student and In-Ho Baek, a resident tough guy and Jung's ex-friend. Not to mention, Jung's true nature unveils itself in ways that only Seol can see and decipher. Add in a montage of unique characters and you have yourself a comic too popular for its own good. I've been on this bandwagon for who knows how long (the Korean original is on its fourth season!) and the drama adaptation that began just this month is reviving and hyping up this classic favorite. A forewarning, though, that the webtoon goes at a very slow pace while the drama hits the storyline at breakneck speed.
If any of these aren't your cup of tea, feel free to browse the LINE Webtoon website for ones that catch your attention!
