Six Upcoming Webtoon-based K-Dramas to Watch
An upsurge in annual releases suggests that Korea will zealously release more such dramas in the future
Photo: Courtesy of Webtoon; HanCinema
K-dramas adapted from acclaimed comic strips, aka “webtoons,” have been rising in popularity around the world. As a corollary, writers have delivered more intriguing content, laying the groundwork for makers to engage audiences with drama adaptations of their works.
“Creator-owned webtoons are great, but webtoons inspired by dramas guarantee a certain level of readership among drama fans. Making relevant use of already existing content can also lead to the increase of IP-based earnings,” shared a representative from Jaedam Media (a webtoon and web novel production studio) in The Korea Times.
A surge of annual releases indicates that Korea is actively releasing more webtoon-based dramas, which in itself is a smart move to retell an already-popular narrative in a more visually appealing format. Amid a plethora of webtoon-based K-dramas set to debut shortly, the six listed below may be the most exciting ones.
Sweet Home Season 2& 3
When inhabitants in the Green Home residential complex begin to mutate into monsters and the creatures soon want to exterminate humans, the residents become aware that the monsters lurk outside and band together to resist the demons. Sweet Home’s (modelled on the webtoon with the same name by Carnby Kim and Youngchan Hwang) unprecedented success has undoubtedly set the stage for a renewal, not just for another season, but for a third one as well. With a slew of mysteries yet unsolved, the next two series could be teeming with fear. But irrespective of how nasty and gory the visuals are, viewers are anticipating what will transpire next inside the Green Home complex.
Main Cast: Song Kang, Lee Jin-wook, Lee Si-young, Park Gyu-young, and more.
Release Date: TBA
Check out the first season of the webtoon here
All of Us Are Dead Season 2
The first season of Joo Dong-geun’s webtoon-based K-zombie series chronicles students besieged inside their school when a bungled research experiment jeopardizes their existence, culminating in a bloody zombie apocalypse. The season concludes with additional riddles and unresolved questions. According to The Korea Herald, director Lee Jae-kyoo earlier noted in an online interview that if the first season emphasizes humanity’s survival, the second season will concentrate on zombie survival. It’s only a matter of time before secrets unfold.
Main cast: Park Ji-hoo, Yoon Chan-young, Cho Yi-hyun and Lomon have been declared to be starring in the second season. The remaining cast is yet to be confirmed.
Release Date: TBA
Check out the first installment of the webtoon here
The Girl Downstairs
This webtoon follows Joon, who moves into his new apartment on the first day of college, only to discover the beautiful ex-celebrity Doona residing downstairs. Joon initially attempts to elude her, but he feels himself growing increasingly intrigued by her enigmatic life.
Main cast: Bae Suzy and Yang Se-jong
Release date: TBA
Check out the webtoon here
Morning Comes to the Mental Ward
Morning Comes to the Mental Ward is a rehabilitative K-drama centered on the life of nurse Jung Da-eun (Park Bo-young), who encounters hardships after transitioning from the internal medicine division to the neuropsychiatric unit. Nonetheless, Jung provides the best care she can to the patients, and with the support of Chief Nurse Song Hyo-jin (Lee Jung-eun), she triumphs as a nurse.
Main Cast: Park Bo-young, Yeon Woo-jin, Jang Dong-yoon, and Lee Jung-eun
Release date: TBA
Check out the webtoon here
A Good Day to be a Dog
Hana leaves no stone unturned to avert the inescapable family curse of turning into a dog following her first kiss. Sadly, the only option for her to break the jinx is a second kiss. Ironically, Hana’s first kiss is with a guy who is dog-phobic. That is the crux of A Good Day to be a Dog, drawn from Lee Hey’s webtoon of the same name.
Main Cast: Cha Eun-woo (ASTRO), Park Gyu-young, and Lee Hyun-woo.
Release Date: TBA
Check out the webtoon here
Black Knight
This story’s premise is set in the future and depicts a time when overwhelming air pollution has forced people to live entirely indoors, and life has become totally reliant on delivery services. Black Knight is an adaptation of Lee Yungyun’s webtoon Delivery Knight that states, “While most people avoid the suffocating pollution covering the world… Deliverymen press on, so the citizens can get the packages they desperately need. They are known… as the Delivery Knights!”
Main Cast: Kim Woo-bin, Esom, and Kang Yoo-seok.
Release Date: TBA
Check out the webtoon here
