It’s February again, the quintessential month of romance. It’s that time of the year when love is in the air — chocolates and flowers are sold everywhere. But love doesn’t always have to come from a significant other; you can feel it by watching movies, listening to romantic songs, or even reading manhwas. Manhwa is the general Korean term for comics and print cartoons, and you can easily read them by simply searching their titles on Google.
If you want to put yourself in a romantic mood, these manhwa recommendations will surely awe and give you kilig. Now, let’s dive right into them!
Here is a guide for the terms that you may be unfamiliar with:
Another Typical Fantasy Romance by Wolhet (12+)
Genre: Romance, Historical, Fantasy, Comedy, Time Travel, Shoujo, Isekai
A seemingly cliché historical romance featuring a female protagonist who gets to redeem her previous life by reliving it again. Contrary to its title, the manhwa uncommonly centers on both the typical and not-so-typical past of the female lead and the visual of the male lead.
Lithera was quick to realize that happily-ever-afters were never easy to get after the gods dropped her from the world of her favorite fantasy romance novel. Given another shot at happiness, she is now determined to avoid the mistakes of her previous life, starting by meeting the sweet and caring Grand Duke she spent years exchanging letters with. Another typical female lead, with another typical Duke, promised to wed. Will this story go the typical path we’d all expect?
I’m a Martial Art Villainess but I’m the Strongest! / Master Villainess the Invincible! by Wilbrite and Yu Ahni (12+)
Genre: Action, Romance, Fantasy, Historical, Isekai, Villainess, Martial Arts
Out of all the 100+ manhwas I’ve read, this was one that stood out to me. It's a slow burn martial arts romance that incorporates the classic isekai and villainess trope. Not to mention, its art style is captivating.
An unsuccessful romance fantasy novelist gets into a hit-and-run and wakes up as the villainess in a best-selling martial arts novel. She uses her pre-read knowledge of that novel from her original life in order to avoid her death and find the truth behind what had really happened to her.
Operation: True Love by kkokkalee and Dledumb (12+)
Genre: Romance, Drama, School Life, Shoujo, Supernatural
Operation: True Love is a satisfying, yet frustrating read (It’s still worth your time though!). It’s a manhwa that piqued my interest due to its distinctive plot and art style. While it has the cliché “my boyfriend cheated on me with my best friend, and a new guy comes into the fray and treats me better” trope, the intriguing part of this story lies within the phone that protagonist Su-ae Shim will find.
It’s hard dating someone who won’t give you the time of day. Su-ae knows that better than anyone, having dated her indifferent boyfriend, Minu Kang, for years. She sometimes wishes she could be more like her charismatic stepsister, Ra-im, who seems to have it all. But life takes a turn for the weird when Su-ae discovers Jellypop, a sentient flip phone, in her locker. Jellypop has a lot to say about her love life, especially as Su-ae drifts further away from Minu and runs into her friend, Eunhyeok. Add to the mix a growing suspicion that Minu and Ra-im might be more than friends, and Su-ae might need a miracle to navigate the ups and downs of high school romance!
NG Impossible / No Outtakes by Go Sun-Young (12+)
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Fantasy, Drama, Slice of life
Despite having a cliché isekai concept, NG Impossible stands apart from other stereotypical historical romance manhwas. Rather than the often-repeated “I got inserted into a European game or historical novel I was into before I died,” spill, the main characters were transported into a Korean historical drama they were acting in.
Drama fanatic Ryu Jaerin enters the world of her favorite drama along with the actor who played her most beloved character, Ian. To survive here, she has to play the role of the heroine and play her part as the hero's love interest. This is a survival romance between a popular actor and a hardcore drama fan!
Another Love by I SOON KI and DDOGAK (16+)
Genre: Romance, Josei, Drama
The classic one-bed trope, except… it's with a room. A strong independent female lead and your not-so-average CEO male lead (he’s understanding and non-possessive, wow exciting). If you want to read a manhwa that focuses on more mature themes, then this read is for you.
When architect Jae embarks on a solo vacation to Spain, it may seem that she’s running from her past, away from her abusive ex-boyfriend who sought to control her life. For Jae, however, the trip represents a new chapter as she learns to stand on her own again. Her vacation takes an interesting turn when she’s mistakenly assigned to the same hotel room as Joff, a handsome and successful businessman who is intrigued by Jae’s kind and independent nature. Meanwhile, a sinister figure from Jae’s past begins to haunt her once again…
That concludes my manhwa recommendations for this year, as I focused on highlighting the titles that inverted classic tropes with unique concepts. If you want more manhwa recommendations, be sure to check out the first list, ‘5 Romance Manhwas To Read This Love Month!,' and stay tuned for part 3! Happy Romancing!
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