Top 5 Addictive Webtoons About K-Pop Idols Every K-Pop Fan Will Love

You've seen K-Dramas about K-Pop idols like "Dream High" and "Let Me Be Your Knight", K-Dramas based on webtoons about K-Pop idols, such as "True Beauty" and "Imitation" and even webtoons based on real K-Pop idols and their worldview, like "7FATES: CHAKHO" and "NCT: Dream Contact"! In this article, we're diving into webtoons or manhwa about K-Pop idols that can be an excellent introduction to webtoons for K-Pop fans or a refreshing new read for webtoon connoisseurs. We have something for everyone here! These webtoons revolve around idol life, diving deep into the complexities of the same while also showing readers the human side of showbiz. So, if you're a fan of K-Pop and are looking for a webtoon about K-Pop idols, you've come to the right place! Here are five amazing webtoons about K-Pop idols that we highly recommend! Note: This list is not a ranking. 1. "Debut Or Die!" By SOHEUN, jangjin, Original novel by DS.Back "Debut Or Die!" by jangjin, SOHEUN, DS.Back | KWBOOKS X DAON WEBTOON Trigger Warning: Suicide "Debut Or Die!" is a modern fantasy webtoon about an aspiring civil servant named Ryu GunWoo, who is retaking his Civil Service Examination for the fourth time. Unfortunately, when he finds out that he hasn't passed this time around either, he spends the night drinking himself to oblivion. The next morning, he wakes up in an unfamiliar time and place and soon realizes that he is not in his own body. Rather, he has woken up after going back three years into the past as Park MoonDae, a young man who is faced with a daunting challenge. He must debut as an idol within the span of one year or face certain death. Without a choice, GunWoo must take on the task at hand, and his first chance at real survival is an idol survival show. Ironic, isn't it? "Debut Or Die!" by jangjin, SOHEUN, DS.Back on Tapas "Debut Or Die!" is incredibly well-received in the webtoon community for its realistic portrayal of the idol industry - the good, the bad, and the ugly. It is so nuanced and well-developed that both K-Pop fans and non-fans can enjoy the story with full immersion. The stakes are high, and the tension is tight, but there are also slice-of-life elements that add levity to the story. The use of game-like features to level up is rather interesting, and charting our MC's change in perspective makes you root for him. There will be several moments where you can relate to the story as an idol fan and others where you get to see the industry in a new light. The mystery behind GunWoo's transmigration into MoonDae's body is also an intriguing plotline, adding to the strength of the narrative. The storytelling is fast-paced, keeping us on our toes, but the webtoon makes for an easy read overall. Read in Korean / English. 2. "My Uncle Is a Superstar" By Nopni, Original by Huh WonJin "My Uncle Is A Superstar" by Nopni, Huh WonJin on Kakao Page When it comes to K-Pop idols, we cannot forget about soloists! Rocking the stage solo and making the world move to their beat, soloists have a unique charm of their own. "My Uncle Is A Superstar" is a fantasy, slice-of-life, K-Pop-themed webtoon that tells the story of a soloist! However, as with all fantasy webtoons, there is a refreshing twist that will hook you in right away. Our protagonist is Lee WooJin, a 27-year-old carpenter who once dreamed of becoming an idol. However, life had other plans. After the tragic passing of his brother and his wife, followed unfortunately by his father, who succumbed to shock, leaving behind WooJin's sick mother and young niece, he had no option but to get a job that would provide for them. Stuck in a rut, WooJin slowly loses hope of ever realizing his dreams until, one day, a mysterious AI "helper" arrives to make his dream come true. "My Uncle Is A Superstar" by Nopni, Huh WonJin on Kakao Page "My Uncle Is A Superstar" is quite possibly one of the most entertaining, endearing, and wholesome webtoons about K-Pop idols. With a colorful cast of characters, including our quirky MC, WooJin, his adorable niece DaSom, and his sassy AI sidekick, this webtoon will draw you into its world in no time. The art style is clean, and the writing is witty, so before you know it, you'll find yourself getting through the chapters in a jiffy. You might even think to yourself that this webtoon would make for an amazing K-Drama (I know I did!). The concept of the "debut project" offers keen insights into the K-Pop industry but maintains a light-hearted tone. So, if you're looking for something to brighten up your day but also leave a deep impression, check out "My Uncle Is A Superstar". Read in Korean / English. 3. "Idol House" By JARADOG, Handul "Idol House" by JARADOG, Handul on Kakao Page This is one of those webtoons where you can't help but wish that you were the MC. "Idol House" is a wonderfully and irresistibly heart-fluttering romance webtoon about a young woman named Seo Irei, who wants nothing to do with men, especially hot ones at that, and NiER, a K-Pop group that comes to live in her house. Now, let's backtrack a little bit to understand how we got here. As it turns out, Irei's mother is a die-hard fangirl. After she wins a contest, her favorite K-Pop group NiER is set to live in her house for two months and film a reality show! Could this dream scenario get any dreamier? Apparently, it could because as much as Irei hates it, love is in the air, and there's no fighting it. JARADOG on X From cohabitation to enemies to lovers, "Idol House" is filled to the brim with all the rom-com tropes we love and adore. Still, it manages to be fresh, exciting, and even unpredictable at times! The writing is just as character-focused as it is plot-driven, striking a fine balance that keeps the reader invested in the story. Our resident idols (quite literally) - Leader SeiHyun, Dancer and Rapper HyunHa, Dancer and Lyricist MinHoo, and Supporting Vocalist and Composer JoonHee, will make you fall in love with them in no time, even though it takes Irei a little longer to get used to their antics. So, if you're a fan of classic romantic comedy, give "Idol House" a try! Read in Korean / English. 4. "Second Try Idol" a.k.a "Once Again Idol" By MAY STUDIO, HaeRyang, Lee YeRin, Tinta "Once Again Idol" by MAY STUDIO, HaeRyang, Lee YeRin, Tinta on Tapas Trigger Warning: Body shaming "Second Try Idol" is one of the most popular webtoons about K-Pop idols. Renowned for its vivid and gorgeous art style, paired with the feel-good storyline, this webtoon is simply a great time. At its core, it is a regression fantasy webtoon that gives our protagonist a second chance at his dream life by turning back time. This protagonist is Suh HyunWoo, an experienced idol trainee of ten years who is on the verge of debuting. However, before the big day, he gets terribly injured on set, which leaves a burn scar across half of his face. Unable to continue on his path to idol stardom, HyunWoo gives up on his dream and becomes an idol trainer instead. "Second Try Idol" by MAY STUDIO, HaeRyang, Lee YeRin, Tinta on Tapas Despite being successful in this new job, HyunWoo falls in despair because he cannot help but imagine how his life would have turned out if not for the accident. What he didn't expect was to be kicked while he was down because the plane he was on suddenly seemed to be crashing. Moments later, he wakes up in his old team's car, back to nineteen, two months before the accident. Soon, he realizes that he has been given a second chance to make things right. This time around, with invaluable experience under his belt and newfound ambition, HyunWoo soars towards his dream without ever looking back. "Second Try Idol" is a pleasant, stress-free, positive read that any K-Pop fan will enjoy simply because it has it all. Dazzling visuals? Check. The power of friendship? Check. A loveable boy group to root for? Double check! It's a treat to watch things go right for HyunWoo after all that he has been through and join him on his journey of healing his inner wounds. To top it all off, it's incredibly inspiring too! The popularity of "Second Try Idol" speaks for itself. Read in Korean / English. 5. "Your Smile Is A Trap" By AENGO "Your Smile Is A Trap" by AENGO on Naver Webtoon Closing this list out with the sweetest dessert, we have "Your Smile Is A Trap" by AENGO, an uber-cute romance webtoon that will have you giggling at your screen at 4 AM before you even realize that you spent the entire night binging this lovely work of art. Featuring two of the most delightful protagonists ever, this webtoon delivers a charming, pure, and enduring slow-burn romance that will give you all the butterflies, especially when you least expect it. The story follows KiYu, an ex-idol trainee, who realizes that he isn't cut out for all the glitz and glamor that comes with being an idol. Instead, he wants to experience an ordinary high school life, free from the pressures of fame. So, he pulls a Clark Kent and starts going to school with glasses on, which, in classic manhwa logic, makes him unrecognizable! At school, he meets Lily, his intimidating classmate who also happens to be his new neighbor! As the two unwittingly grow closer and open up to each other, they go from friends to lovers, leaving us swooning at our screens. "Your Smile Is A Trap" by AENGO on Naver Webtoon If you're a fan of "True Beauty", "Your Smile Is A Trap" will be right up your alley. The characters are beautifully fleshed-out and show significant growth throughout the story, and the honey-sweet romance is perfectly convincing. Themes like lookism serve as the backdrop while our main couple subverts stereotypes, but there are also prominent plot points that address the shortcomings of idol life, such as sasaengs, lack of privacy, and so on. However, the hardest thing about this webtoon for a reader will most definitely be deciding who to love more - KiYu or Lily. P.S - He falls first, but she falls harder. Read in Korean / English. Bonus: "Lost In Translation" is an English-language webtoon about K-Pop idols by Jjolee. It is incredibly popular in both the K-Pop and the webtoon fandom. "Lost In Translation" tells the story of Ahn JaeWon, a member of the fictional boy group Mayhem. He is forced to put on a controversial persona by his agency to boost the popularity of his group. However, the burden of a fake personality leads to deep inner conflict as JaeWon tries to hold on to his real self. Read here. How many of these webtoons about K-Pop idols have you read? Tell us in the comments section down below!