Best Idol Manhwa

Vibrant and upbeat, the idol genre is one of the most popular genres in anime and manga culture to the point of becoming a staple of the community. The colorful visuals and iconic songs and dances associated with idols are sure to leave a lasting impression on any fan dabbling in the genre.

While idols are prominent in anime and manga, they are also popular in manhwa. Though their place of origin may differ, titles that include idol culture offer a window into the industry, which – along with its vibrancy – hides a dark side. These manhwa often tackle issues such as abuse, depression, stalking, and much more.

Updated on September 3, 2024, by Beatrice Bogiatto: Some extra picks for this famous genre and updates on the ongoing series have been added in. The idol manhwa genre showcases the importance of idol culture in Korea: as K-pop keeps diffusing around the world, these series gain popularity: take a look at I Married The Anti-Fan, for example, which recently got a K-Drama adaptation. As the more common tropes start to fill up the genre, fans are also now witnessing some “reverse” idol tropes, like No Longer A Heroine. Also, fans may want to check out the K-Drama “Heavenly Idol” – the manhwa does not have an official English translation, but the K-Drama can be watched in English or with English subtitles from Korean.

10 I Became The Youngest Member Of Top Idol

Awakening At 17 For A Second Chance At Fame

• Written by: Kang Seoul
• Illustrated by: Mattgom
• Genres: Drama, Reincarnation
• Completed: No
• Where To Read: VyManga

In any medium, be it manga or manhwa, idols are usually presented with a great amount of positivity and vitality that convinces people that they have the best lives ever. However, as I Became the Youngest Member of Top Idol demonstrates, the idol industry can be extremely harsh, especially when the idols themselves fall from grace due to their age.

In I Became the Youngest Member of Top Idol, Do Saehon, an aspiring idol, is ousted from an idol competition due to being 25 years old, which is considered past an idol’s prime. But amid his depression, Saehon suddenly finds himself transported into the past, where he reawakens as his 17-year-old self just before the idol competition first began.

9 My Bias Is Showing?!

From High School Teacher To Filming With Their Favorite Idol

• Written by: Nabit
• Illustrated by: Cereal
• Genres: Boys Love, Romance, Workplace
• Completed: Yes (46 Episodes, including extras)
• Where To Read: Tappytoon

With the popularity of idols just as prominent in manhwa as it is in real life, to meet an idol in the flesh would surely be someone’s dream come true. Such is the case in My Bias is Showing, where a high school teacher gets the shock of his life upon a chance meeting with his favorite singer at his workplace.

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In this manhwa, Na Aejoon learns that the school in which he teaches will be used as a filming ground for a TV program featuring his favorite singer Choi Siyeol. But when Siyeol asks Aejoon to star in the new program with him, Aejoon must put his acting skills to the test while also grappling with his newfound romantic feelings towards Siyeol.

8 Secret Playlist

Two Idols, One Secret, And A Music Career

• Written by: Eiff
• Illustrated by: Eiff
• Genres: Drama, Romance
• Completed: Yes (107 Episodes)
• Where To Read: Webtoon

When it comes to romance, the story about a relationship between a famous idol and a regular civilian is a timeless story that has been used in many manhwa series. However, in Secret Playlist, the main relationship happens to be between two idols, both of whom specialize in completely different ways of making music.

While Hanju, Secret Playlist‘s main heroine, seems to live a life typical of any college student, she doubles as a cover artist who goes by the name PLII. Though Hanju keeps her college life nicely separated from her cover artist persona, this task becomes far more difficult when Levi, a member of a prominent boy band, discovers her and asks to make music with her.

7 Second Life Millionaire

One More Shot At Making It Big

• Written by: Linehere
• Illustrated by: Meka
• Genres: Drama, Slice of Life
• Completed: No
• Where To Read: Tappytoon

Similar to I Became the Youngest Member of Top Idol, Second Life Millionaire has its main character, Do Shiyoon, travel back to the past before he became an idol. But unlike Do Saehon, who never had a chance to become an idol due to his age, Shiyoon is far more experienced and even has a boy band to his name.

Unfortunately, despite Shiyoon being the star of his boy band, his group has failed to make themselves popular, which is made worse when Shiyoon is supposedly killed in a traffic accident. Upon waking up as a 17-year-old, however, Shiyoon takes it upon himself to rebuild his idol career and avoid making the same mistakes that doomed his group into obscurity.

6 The Path Of A Star

Fame, Success, And The Issues That Come With It

• Written by: Kim Aso
• Illustrated by: Yeon Og
• Genres: Boys Love
• Completed:
• Where To Read: Tappytoon

While the turmoil from being kicked out of the idol scene has been explored in I Became the Youngest Top Idol, the pressures certainly do not loosen once an idol becomes popular. As the title suggests, The Path of a Star shows that an idol’s worst enemy can be themselves, narrated through the main character’s constant struggles.

After becoming the head of his boy band Pale Green, Gyeol-woo is more than willing to see his new career through, but he instead faces a wave of self-doubt and fear due to his lofty expectations. Fortunately, he manages to receive some help from Gyoura, a former idol and member of the group Kimberly. Plus, this Boy Love manhwa features beautiful illustrations.

5 The Glass

Fulfilling A Life’s Promise

• Written by: Chang Hoonik
• Illustrated by: Chang Hoonik
• Genres: Girls Love, Romance, Drama
• Completed: No
• Where To Read: VyManga, Pocket Comics

A big part of the idol industry is how they affect friendships, especially if the friends in question walk different paths in life. In other words, having an idol for a friend can give way to great changes in one’s life, as exemplified in the manhwa The Glass; the title is even based on the idol group of which one of the main characters is a member.

In The Glass, idol sensation Suni reunites with her childhood best friend Lara and manages to help her by appointing her as the manager of The Glass girl group. But amid The Glass’s newfound success, Suni wants to fulfill a long-lost promise to marry Lara, something the two girls had sworn to each other when they were little.

4 Monochrome Rumor

Waking Up In The Body Of An Infamous Idol

• Written by: Chiyul
• Illustrated by: Momoko
• Genres: Boys Love, Drama
• Completed: No
• Where To Read: Tappytoon

Monochrome Rumor is yet another manhwa in which the main protagonist awakens in a different state than their original. In this case, Hajin, the main protagonist, wakes up as his friend Shiyeon, an idol with a more unsavory reputation.

After being entrusted with Shiyeon’s sister, Hajin suddenly finds himself in Shiyeon’s body, resulting in him living his life after the real Shiyeon is killed in a car accident. Upon learning about Shiyeon’s infamy in the idol industry, ranging from deserting his boy band to his shady actions for money, Hajin resolves to improve Shiyeon’s circumstances with the help of his acquaintances in life.

3 Debut Or Die

Success Is A Matter Of Survival

• Written by: DS.Back
• Illustrated by: Soheun
• Genres: Drama, Fantasy
• Completed: No
• Where To Read: Tapas

A recurring story in the idol genre is the main character suddenly thrust into the idol industry, which is the main plot in the manhwa Debut or Die. But as the title of this manhwa implies, becoming an idol is the only chance for Ryu Gunwoo, the main protagonist, to avoid an untimely death in one year, which is even more difficult due to Gunwoo having no idol skills whatsoever.

After blacking out as a result of a night of heavy drinking, Ryu Gunwoo wakes up in the past with a new body and name: the blonde-haired Park Moondae, who must either debut as an idol or die. Fortunately, the newly-christened Moondae discovers Idol Inc., a reality survival TV program in which, after several challenges and evaluations, the winning contestants make their debut as a short-term idol group.

2 No Longer A Heroine

Being Framed And Losing Everything

• Written by: Maenggi Ki
• Illustrated by: Maenggi Ki
• Genres: Drama, Love Triangle, Coming-Of-Age, Redemption Arc
• Completed: Yes (111 Episodes)
• Where To Read: Webtoon

As the title foreshadows, this manhwa starts with the downfall of a character: Lisa Cheon goes from being nationally loved to being framed as a drug addict, losing her fame, her reputation and all that matters to her. Her one opportunity to turn it around is to star in a new TV show, but her love interest is her ex-boyfriend – her impulse is to drink to handle the discomfort, but she cannot risk damaging her reputation further.

This is a manhwa that tackles some difficult and mature themes, offering an interesting and realistic view of the dark side of fame and success. With complex characters (don’t expect likable, bubbly ones) and a strong character redemption arc, this story also features some important coming-of-age themes. Readers will appreciate this pick if looking for a manhwa that starts with the downfall of an idol – instead of the more usual “rising star” arc.

1 So I Married The Anti-Fan

Offering The Other Cheek To The Hater

• Written by: DS.Back
• Illustrated by: Soheun
• Genres: Drama, Fantasy
• Completed: Yes (88 Episodes)
• Where To Read: Webtoon

For all idol romance manhwa fans, this is an incredibly cute pick with also its own K-Drama adaptation. With a good balance between idol culture, pressure, the Korean representation of the industry, and the plot between the two characters, this story features Geunyeong Lee and Who Joon, both stubborn and destined to be.

Geunyeong is a woman in the middle of a life crisis willing to throw away the little she has left to ruin the nationally adored idol Who Joon. With a foxy and sly attitude, Who Joon is not willing to give up on his perfect image – and Geunyeong is equally not willing to back down. How will the two fare once they get to know each other better and find out there’s more than meets the eye?