It is more likely than not that at some point you’ve heard the term “webtoon” on the internet. Maybe you learned that one of your favorite K-dramas was originally a webtoon, or you stumbled upon webtoons in one of our lists and want to learn more about them. Either way, I took quite a deep dive into this format so I can share with you all that you need to know before you start reading it. Treat this as a Webtoons 101 primer, if you will, complete with specific recommendations!

What are Webtoons?

First things first, what exactly are webtoons? They are a type of webcomic that is designed to be read on a digital device. Webtoons are divided by episodes, and each episode is like one long vertical panel you can scroll through. This is because they’re designed to follow mobile reading behavior. It also gives the reading experience a more cinematic feel, especially since you can’t read ahead (no spoilers!) unless you scroll down. Because of that, I’d really recommend you read them on your phone or on a tablet, although if you prefer to use your computer, it’ll be just fine.

A Brief History of Webtoons

Webtoons have been around for quite some time! They originated in South Korea in the late ’90s as more independent publications. A few years later, Lycos Korea (a search engine) launched “Comic Bang”, a section on their portal dedicated entirely to the format. Yahoo! Korea and the web portal Daum followed suit with their own webtoon services.

Then in 2004, the digital comic platform Naver launched their own site, Naver Webtoon. That particular platform grew so much that in 2014, they launched a global site. Today, they describe themselves as the world’s largest web comic platform, with around 170 million monthly users.

You actually might be familiar with some of their webtoons. Popular stories like True Beauty, Heartstopper and Lore Olympus originated on this platform.

The Webtoon Platform

Webtoon (the online platform) is not the only one that publishes this type of story. Nowadays, you can also read these comics on sites like Lezhin, Tapas, Tappytoon, and Manta. But because of the sheer size of Naver’s platform, I’m going to focus a bit more on it in this piece. I’ll explain how the platform works, and then we can move on to some recommendations.

So, there are two kinds of webcomics you can read on Webtoon: originals or canvas. Webtoon originals are stories that have exclusive contracts with the platform, so you can expect regular scheduled updates. It also has features like fast pass, coins, and daily passes, which are all different ways of unlocking episodes. Fast passes allow you to read episodes earlier than their release date. Coins are the currency of the app, which can help you unlock certain episodes. And daily passes are mostly used with completed series, so that you can only read one or two episodes a day.

Webtoon Canvas on the other hand, is a self-publishing platform, so anyone can upload their own story! It is less curated than the originals section, but it also features an impressive catalog to explore.

There’s another detail I quite like about Webtoon: it has a lot of collaborations on-site. So you can find stories like Batman: Wayne Family Adventures, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and even 7Fates: Chakho, a fantasy story inspired by BTS.

Plus, you’ll also find some of your favorite YA novels have been adapted into webtoons! They include The Wrath & the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh, The Weight of Our Sky by Hanna Alkaf, and The Fever King by Victoria Lee. Even Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman has its own webtoon now!

Where To Start?

So, with so many webtoons out there, where do you even start? Fret not, for I chose six stories in some of the most popular genres. They’re all from the Webtoon platform specifically because I think it’s a good place to begin reading this format. Then you can check out the other platforms too as they also feature great stories.

Lost in Translation by Jjolee

Genre: Drama

Let’s kick things off with a very dramatic story. Lost in Translation follows a young K-pop star known as Wyld, who’s part of the up-and-coming boy group Mayhem. He’s got this bad boy persona, but not because he wants it. The group’s boss is forcing him to put on this mask in order to boost their popularity, which begs the question: is fame worth losing yourself in the process? You’ll have to read it to find out!

Hooky by Míriam Bonastre Tur 

Genre: SFF

Next, let me introduce you to this magical fantasy novel. Hooky tells the story of twins Dani and Dorian, two young witches who have missed their bus to magic school. In order to fix it without their parents finding out, they set out in search of a new mentor. The path ahead is not as easy as they thought it would be, though, for they eventually get wrapped up in a prophesied conflict between witches and non-magical people.

Daybreak by Moosopp

Genre: Slice-of-life

This is a sweet and romantic story in which you get to see the lives of our two main characters, Marcus and Cog. These high school students harbor a crush on each other, even if they’re both oblivious to it. But as they navigate this mutual cluelessness, they grow closer— making their days a little brighter. The whole thing is a super sweet and cozy slow burn that you won’t be able to put down!

The Kiss Bet by Ingrid Ochoa

Genre: Romance

There are plenty of romantic stories on Webtoon, but I wanted to pick one that is fun and easy to read. It’s also just a romance, so we’re not diving into any magical genres here. The Kiss Bet tells the story of Sara Lin, a senior student who is pretty happy with her life. She’s not really thinking about her first kiss, at least until her friend Patrick makes a bet with her. Now with a deadline, Sara is searching for her special moment, which will lead to three very different love interests.

Purple Hyacinth by Ephemerys and Sophism

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Moving on to this exciting crime story! Purple Hyacinth follows a police officer named Lauren Sinclair, who has the uncanny ability to detect when people are lying to her. Because of her past, she also has a mission to protect those who can’t protect themselves. So when a violent terrorist organization surfaces, Lauren is forced to team up with Kieran White, the city’s most notorious assassin, in order to stop them.

Tales of the Unusual by Seongdae Oh

Genre: Horror

Last but certainly not least, let me introduce you to this anthology webtoon. Tales of the Unusual follows several self-contained horror stories about ordinary people who encounter the supernatural or the uncanny. Most arcs span a few episodes, which means you get a wide variety of horrific and twisty stories that start with something normal but eventually turn macabre. Overall, it’s a particularly easy read that you’ll want to devour!

The world of webtoons is so big, it can’t possibly all fit here. But if you want to read more SFF webtoons, we’ve got you covered with extra recs! We also made a list with a couple more beginner-friendly recommendations for you.