Webtoon-based K-Dramas are more popular now than ever before. We're only halfway through the year, and some of the most popular K-Dramas so far have been based on webtoons. As we step into the 2nd half of the year, there is an even more exciting roster of webtoon-based K-Dramas waiting for us. From romance to thriller, slice of life, and more, there's something for everyone on this list!
Here are some webtoon-based K-Dramas coming in the 2nd half of 2023!
Note: This list is not exhaustive.
1. "Moving"
When & Where: August 9 on Disney+
Cast: Ryu SeungRyong, Han HyoJoo, Zo InSung, Cha TaeHyun, Ryu SeungBum, Kim SungKyun, Lee JungHa, Go YounJung, Kim DoHoon, Park HeeSoon
Summary: Kim BongSeok, Jang HeeSoo, and Lee GangHoon are students at Jeong Won High School. However, they are no ordinary students. They possess superhuman abilities like flying, regeneration and rapid healing, and super strength, respectively. They inherited these abilities from their parents, who now try to protect them from falling into the wrong hands and being abused.
Read the webtoon here: Korean / English
2. "Mask Girl"
When & Where: Third quarter of 2023 on Netflix.
Cast: Go HyunJung, NaNa, Ahn JaeHong
Summary: Kim MoMi has a glamorous physique but considers herself unsightly and plain-looking. She is an ordinary office worker by day and an internet broadcasting jockey (BJ) by night. What makes her special, however, is that she never takes her mask off during broadcast, true to her online persona 'Mask Girl'. However, when her sense of reality becomes misplaced by fame, her world comes crashing down.
Read the webtoon here: Korean
3. "Doona!"
When & Where: Fourth quarter of 2023 on Netflix
Cast: Suzy, Yang SeJeong
Summary: "Doona!" is a light-hearted yet meaningful webtoon about two young people who cross paths and change each other's lives forever. Suzy will be playing the role of Lee DooNa, an idol superstar and main vocalist of the fictional girl group SWEET DREAM, who abruptly decides to retire and moves into the same student housing as Lee Joon (Yang SeJong), a freshman at Minsong University who studies nano-engineering. What follows is, in the main character's own words, an "exciting", "heart-aching" and "heart-throbbing" story.
Read the webtoon here: Korean / English
4. "Daily Dose of Sunshine"
Netflix
When & Where: Fourth quarter of 2023 on Netflix
Cast: Park BoYoung, Lee JungEun, Jang DongYoon, Yeon WooJin
Summary: Jeong DaEun is a young nurse in the psychiatric ward of a hospital. She is rather timid when it comes to standing up for herself but tries to please everyone, including her patients. However, it quickly becomes clear to her that being a pushover is not conducive to her own mental health. The story then charts her personal growth as a person and as a nurse as she learns to read between the lines and navigate her own attachments and emotions regarding her patients and coworkers.
Read the webtoon here: Korean
5. "Sweet Home - Season 2"
Netflix
When & Where: Fourth quarter of 2023 on Netflix
Cast: Song Kang, Lee JinWook, Lee SiYoung, Go MinSi, Park GyuYoung, Yu OhSeong, Oh JungSe, Kim MuYeol, JinYoung
Summary: As monsters born of human emotions take over the Earth, life becomes a constant battle not very different from the conflicts of normal life. The second season of "Sweet Home", one of the most successful and beloved Netflix shows in recent times, will deal with fiercer monsters, unlikely heroes, and thrilling action. The original cast is joined by new stars, who will play interesting new characters and amplify the impact of the story.
Read the webtoon here: Korean / English
6. "Vigilante"
Disney+
When & Where: November on Disney+
Cast: Nam JooHyuk, Yoo JiTae, Lee JunHyuk, Kim SoJin
Summary: Vigilante" tells the story of an avenger who takes the enactment of justice into his own hands after the law fails him. Kim JiYong is a model police university student who appears to have it all: good looks, social skills, brains, and brawn. However, he harbors deep resentment towards the judicial system, which continues to favor the powerful and punish the disadvantaged. To fill this gap in judgment, Kim JiYong turns to vigilantism, spurred on by the fire of the anger he holds within.
Read the webtoon here: Korean
7. "The Killing Vote"
SBS
When & Where: August 10 on SBS
Cast: Park HaeJin, Lim JiYeon, Park SungWoong
Summary: When evil criminals evade the clutches of the law, a poll is sent out to all citizens above the age of 18, asking them to vote for or against the death penalty. If more than 50% of voters are in favor of the punishment, a mysterious figure called "Dog Mask" carries it out on behalf of the people. The rise of such a vigilante alerts the police, who set out to bring him down.
Read the webtoon here: Korean
8. "A Good Day To Be A Dog"
"A Good Day To Be A Dog" by Lee Hey on Naver Webtoon / Cha EunWoo's Instagram / Park GyuYoung's Instagram
When & Where: Second half of 2023, N/A
Cast: ASTRO's Cha EunWoo, Park GyuYoung, Lee HyunWoo
Summary: "A Good Day To Be A Dog" tells the story of a young girl who is plagued by an unavoidable family curse that turns her into a dog every day at the stroke of midnight. This curse can only be lifted by a second kiss from the same person with whom she had her first kiss. However, this becomes virtually impossible, considering that the boy who was her first kiss is deathly afraid of dogs for an inexplicable reason.
Read the webtoon here: Korean / English
9. "Spirit Fingers"
Park JiHu's Instagram / SM Entertainment / Woollim Entertainment / Park YooNa's Instagram
When & Where: Second half of 2023, N/A
Cast: Park JiHu, Cho JunYoung, Golden Child's Choi BoMin, Park YooNa
Summary: "Spirit Fingers" tells the story of a young girl named Song WooYeon, who joins an art club to make an attempt at coming out of her shell and expressing herself. Navigating love and friendships, WooYeon explores her own colorful, multidimensional identity as she steps into the wondrous age of 18.
Read the webtoon here: Korean / English
10. "D.P. - Season 2"
Netflix
When & Where: July 28 on Netflix
Cast: Jung HaeIn, Koo KyoHwan, Kim SungKyun, Son SukKu, Choi HyunWook, Ji JinHee, Kim JiHyun
Summary: The D.P. unit returns for more compelling stories of the military police as they continue their mission of bringing back deserters safely. The first season of the show was hugely successful, and fans have been waiting for the sequel ever since. If there's anything we can tell from the trailers and teasers released so far, it is that "D.P. - Season 2" is going to be even bigger with touching new stories, heartening characters, and more.
Read the webtoon here: Korean
11. "The Moon That Rises In The Day"
ENA
When & Where: October 25 on GenieTV, Netflix
Cast: Kim YoungDae, Pyo YeJin, On JooWan, Jung WoongIn
Summary: "The Moon That Rises In The Day" tells the story of love that spans over a thousand years across multiple reincarnations. It revolves around a Hwarang warrior named DoHa and his wife, Han RiTa, who was a prisoner of war. Han RiTa eventually ends up killing Doha, causing him to be stuck in time while she reincarnates over and over again. Kang YoungHwa is the 19th reincarnation of Han RiTa. DoHa's resentment towards Han RiTa causes his spirit to linger around YoungHwa so that he can kill her and release his grudge.
Read the webtoon here: Korean
12. "The Story of Park's Marriage Contract"
Lee SeYoung's Instagram / Bae InHyuk's Instagram
When & Where: Second half of 2023 on MBC
Cast: Lee SeYoung, Bae InHyuk
Summary: The story follows Park YeonWoo, a woman in Joseon, who is married off to Kang TaeHa against her will. However, her groom, who is called a "demon" by others, is actually a kind and handsome young man. Unfortunately, on their wedding night, he breaks up with her because of his heart disease and soon passes away. However, before she can process this, she is taken away by an unknown man and thrown into a well, where she drowns, only to come back up having time-traveled to modern-day Seoul, where she meets her husband's lookalike, CEO Kang TaeHa, who urgently requires a contract wife.
Read the webtoon here: Korean
13. "Death's Game"
TVING
When & Where: Second half of 2023 on TVING
Cast: Seo InGuk, Park SoDam
Summary: (T/W: Suicide) "Death's Game" tells the story of Choi YiJae, a young man beaten down by society, who takes the drastic decision of ending his own life. However, Death, personified as a woman, decides to punish him for his disrespect towards death. For the sin of belittling Death, Choi YiJae must face death 13 times, and every time, he will be reborn as someone else who is also on the verge of imminent death. The nature of these deaths will be unavoidable, but if YiJae is able to avert it, he may live out that life. The drama will feature multiple celebrity cameos, such as Lee JaeWook, Jang SeungJo, Sung Hoon, Super Junior's Choi SiWon, Lee DoHyun, Kim JaeUck, and more. As such, it is highly anticipated among webtoon-based K-Dramas.
Read the webtoon here: Korean / English
14. "History Of Nerds"
When & Where: Second half of 2023, N/A
Cast: Cho ByeongKyu, Song HaYoon
Summary: A slice of life/romantic comedy that tells the story of how love can turn perfectly sane and capable individuals into pitiful losers. It follows Seo MinKi, an ordinary college freshman who goes through several ups and downs in the romance department. He suffers from complexes from his previous relationships, but he learns through his experiences and grows as a person in the course of the narrative.
Read the webtoon here: Korean
15. "Money Game"
Ryu JunYeol's Instagram / Chun WooHee's Instagram
When & Where: Second half of 2023, N/A
Cast: Ryu JunYeol, Chun WooHee, Park JeongMin, Park HaeJoon, Bae SungWoo
Summary: Drawing from two of author Bae JinSoo's webtoons, "Money Game" and "Pie Game" (the sequel to "Money Game"), "Money Game" the drama will tell the story of 8 people who participate in the eponymous money game for 44.8 billion KRW over 100 days, with the game being televised and formatted like a reality show.
Read "Money Game" here: Korean / English
Read "Pie Game" here: Korean
Which of these webtoon-based K-Dramas are you looking forward to the most? Tell us in the comments section down below!
