Top 10 Lighthearted Manhwa [Best Recommendations]

INTRODUCTION

Action and adventure are all good genres but sometimes you need something else to read in the manhwa world. Instead of fighting demons or ascending a giant tower, maybe just a nice story about friendship or even romance will do. As is apparent now, today we here at Honey’s Anime are going to focus on a simpler set of stories in the manhwa world. Today we look at the Top 10 Lighthearted Manhwa. A nice change of pace don’t you agree?

Now you may be asking, what constitutes a lighthearted manhwa? If you look up genres, you won’t find lighthearted as an option on any search for various sites. Instead what we constitute as lighthearted manhwa are stories of a mellow pacing. Stories that focus on less graphical concepts and more cute, comedic or even romantic themes. Martial arts manhwa or horror are great genres, but even we realize you need some calm among the chaos occasionally. Now then we’re done rambling on, why not start this list of lighthearted manhwa right now?


10. K2: Kill Me Kiss Me

  • Manhwaga: Lee, Young-You
  • Genre: Comedy, Romance, School, Shoujo, Gender Bender
  • Volumes: 5
  • Published Date: 2000-2002

Tae Yeon has been in love with her idol for as long as she can remember. However, Tae is ecstatic when she learns that her idol is about to join her identical cousin’s school. Devising a plan to get close to her love, Tae decides to switch places with her cousin all while he switches with her. Poor Jung-Woo—Tae’s cousin—is about to learn being a girl isn’t that fun. Can Tae get her love and can Jung-Woo survive being a girl?

K2: Kill Me Kiss Me is ridiculous but we have to admit it’s just a fun read. This 5 volume work by Lee Young-You has some hilarious moments and a nice romance story that doesn’t try too hard to be overly complicated. As far as lighthearted manhwa go, you can’t do wrong with K2: Kill Me Kiss Me. We have to wonder, who would really go as far as Tae Yeon in real life for an idol’s love?


9. Smile Brush

  • Manhwaga: Waru
  • Genre: Comedy, Slice of Life
  • Volumes: 1
  • Published Date: 2010

Smile Brush by manhwaga Waru is a simple tale shown from the eyes of a young boy. See how this long haired boy interacts in his daily life with random instance we all forget about ourselves at time. Times of seeing a baby cry and how the parent reacts or how a lack of sports can lead to some comedic moments. Waru isn’t trying to make a deep story but one that is just cute and clever. Smile Brush is a short read but one that feels ever so pleasant.

Smile Brush is the exact thing this lighthearted manhwa list needs. While Smile Brush only equates to one volume,—35 volumes—the simplicity of it is refreshing in a world of complex manhwa. If we didn’t include Smile Brush on our lighthearted manhwa list, we would be insane. If you’re looking for a short read as well as a nice tale of random events, you will really enjoy Smile Brush.


8. Pink Lady

  • Manhwaga: Woo, Yeong-Wook- Suna
  • Genre: Romance, School, Slice of Life
  • Volumes: 6
  • Published Date: May, 2007- Feb, 2009

Artists know the feeling of having issues finding creativity at time. Like moments where no matter what you draw, it just doesn’t come out right. That issue is befalling Han Gyeo-Wul currently. When it seems she’s at her wits end, Han Gyeo-Wul accidentally bumps into Yun Hyeon-Seok and picks up his notebook. When Han opens it, she notices a unique art style. Now Han wishes to use his style to make her work even better but it seems that Yun knows all about Han.

Ah the classic bump into someone and a romance starts scenario—It never gets old. Pink Lady may seem generic and cliché but in this lighthearted romance tale, Woo Yeong-Wook made sure to keep the story cute as well as simple. We loved the banter and the inner mind of Han Gyeon-Wul as it was realistic and fitting for her character as the plot goes forward. Pink Lady can easily be on a romance manhwa list but we feel the embodiment Woo Yeong-Wook was looking for in his manhwa was a cutesy and lighthearted romance. Also we wish to praise illustrator Suna who did an impressive job making Pink Lady even better.


7. The Color of Earth

  • Manhwaga: Kim, Dong Hwa
  • Genre: Shoujo
  • Volumes: 3
  • Published Date: 1996

Some stories don’t need to be epic or outlandish. In The Color of Earth, our tale takes us to the quiet village known as Namwon. Here, two young girls are growing up together. Time flows and these women begin to experience life as it progresses naturally. What will they discover? Find out in The Color of Earth.

Manhwaga Kim Dong Hwa got it right. Not every manhwa needs a million genres or themes. The Color of Earth is just simply a shoujo story of girls growing and maturing in a simple village far removed from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It’s a nice change of pace because most stories nowadays feature metropolis kids or teens but forgets that there are countryside cities where maturity happens differently. Thanks to the artistic look. The Color of Earth story hooks those who want a simple read with easily some of the most impressive art we’ve seen in a manhwa.


6. Salty Studio

  • Manhwaga: Omyo
  • Genre: Comedy, Romance, Slice of Life
  • Volumes: 4
  • Published Date: Oct, 2013- Mar, 2015

Togeun has had enough of his current life. Working at his dad’s job, Togeun feels his life waste away. Thus Togeun makes a bold move; he quits and moves out of his home. Togeun wants to pursue his true passion and that is drawing, but even he knows it won’t be easy. That’s why Togeun seeks out an illustrator named Sonagi who can teach him how to improve as an illustrator. Can Togeun fulfill his dream?

If you have held a job that you have absolutely hated, Salty Studio will appeal to you. Omyo—the manhwaga of this work—captures the heart of the real life concept of moving on in life. Told through a beautiful and colorful art style, Salty Studio fits the molding of what we looked for in a lighthearted manhwa. We here at Honey’s Anime know you will love this story; That’s why we feel you should check out this impressive story of a young man’s passion driving him to take the ultimate risk as well as some romance sprinkled in.



5. The Stories of Those Around Me

  • Manhwaga: Omyo
  • Genre: Comedy, Romance, Slice of Life
  • Volumes: 4
  • Published Date: Apr, 2012- Jun, 2013

The Stories of Those Around me focuses on not one character but several. Each of these characters are young women dealing with the world in the various ways. One has worked most of her life and it’s beginning to ebb on her a bit. Another story aims to describe a relationship that seems to be fizzling out. Then our last main girl is just overly happy and seems to be the most positive of the three. These girls all are going in different paths in life but their stories will shift and change in ways even they wouldn’t believe.

It’s always a risk to have any story focus on several characters. There’s always this concept that one will outshine the others, or the manhwaga won’t give enough time to a specific character. Well, we are very pleased to report manhwaga Omyo—who created the work above as well—didn’t falter. The Stories of Those Around Me is captivating and realistic. The lives of these girls feel like people you would meet in the course of maybe your own life and seeing their individual stories unfold is just such a treat. Omyo also infuses cute and colorful styles into the art making this visually appealing all at the same time, truly a great lighthearted manhwa for this list.


4. My Young Cat and My Old Dog

  • Manhwaga: Cho
  • Genre: Comedy, Drama, Slice of Life, Seinen
  • Volumes: 3
  • Published Date: Apr, 2011- Jan, 2013

Ever wonder what your animals do in their spare time? Manhwaga Cho answers this in My Young Car and My Old Dog. The story of some of the author’s own pets and how they live. Mixing together cute and heartwarming imagery, this slice of life work will capture the mindset of what owners occasionally think of their own pets. If you love animals, you’ll fall in love with My Young Cat and My Old Dog.

Who doesn’t love cute pets? An even better question: who doesn’t love cute pet stories? My Young Cat and My Old Dog may not be about people but that doesn’t mean this story doesn’t have impact or emotion. Focusing on pets, we see a silly take on how an animal lives and that just makes our hearts melt. Add to the fact that manhwaga Cho created some seriously cute art for this manhwa that our eyes could just focus on the images all day. If we didn’t include My Young Cat and My Old Dog on our Top 10 Lighthearted Manhwa list, we’d be out of our minds.


3. Nineteen, Twenty-One

  • Manhwaga: Kim, Hye-Jin- Yohan
  • Genre: Romance, Shoujo, Slice of Life
  • Volumes: 2
  • Published Date: Aug, 2010- Dec, 2010

What would you do if you had years of your life taken? How would you try to regain those lost possibilities? Yun has been asking these questions every day for the last few years. When Yun was nineteen years old, she was involved in a horrible accident that left her in a coma. When she had awoken, Yun was twenty one years old. Yun will now need to find some means of getting back her lost time and maybe a man named Dong-hwi Ju can help her accomplish this feat.

In many ways Nineteen, Twenty One seems like that type of story that will be sad or tragic. The theme of being lost time sounds like this shouldn’t be on a list for lighthearted and fluffy stories however, as Yun’s tale progresses, we see a romance story take route from tragic beginnings and it leaves a nice feeling in your heart. Kim Hye-Jin and Yohan work magic together to bring to their readers a colorful story in both its art and the tale as it unfolds. Nineteen, Twenty One is a short 2 volume work but you’ll wish it was longer once you complete it and that isn’t a bad thing at all.


2. Can’t See Can’t Hear But Love (See, Hear, Love)

  • Manhwaga: Go, Yeong-Hun
  • Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance, Slice of Life, Seinen
  • Volumes: 6
  • Published Date: Oct, 2010- Aug, 2011

Min Geun Soo was going places. Finally Min’s comics were becoming more and more recognized and he was gaining popularity in the industry. However, then tragedy hit poor Min. Losing his eyesight, Min began to feel his life going completely out of his control and spiraling into an abyss of no return. Just Min’s about to kill himself a fellow fan of his comics saves his life, this young girl who can’t hear wishes to show Min how much his work really means to her. What happens is a love story that will be fraught with unknowns.

Can’t See Can’t Hear But Love may seem like a tragic story but we can ensure it’s anything but. Manhwaga Go Yeong-Hun really made a story that makes your heart soar and all your emotions hit all-time highs. We loved reading this amazing manhwa from beginning to end and we know you’ll agree it’s one of those stories you just want to talk to everyone about upon completion. Don’t miss out on one of the best romance and lighthearted manhwa ever. Alright now it’s time to see the final choice on our Top 10 lighthearted manhwa list.


1. Shall We Have Dinner Tonight?

  • Manhwaga: Park, See-In
  • Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance, Slice of Life
  • Volumes: 3
  • Published Date: Nov, 2013- Nov, 2014

Do-hee Woo and Hae-Gyung have gone through one of the hardest things ever: heartbreak. Both of these individuals have found their romances broken leaving their hearts in weakened states. However, when they both come across each other in a restaurant they frequent, they find healing thanks to a friendship forming between the two. Then as time begins to go its course, Do-hee and Hae begin to find their friendship shifting towards something else entirely. Will this be what these two need to finally become happy again?

Our list ends with easily one of the most heartwarming and cutest manhwa ever. Shall We Have Dinner Tonight is both a romance story as well as a slice of life work that hits all those right emotions for a truly gripping and lovely romance story. There are moments where the story spikes—romance isn’t easy—but they never take away from the lighthearted feeling. Park See-in, the manhwaga and illustrator, really did a phenomenal job in this manhwa and we felt it was perfect to end such an amazing list on such an amazing manhwa. Shall We Have Dinner Tonight will be a story you want to experience, especially if you may have gone through a similar pain in your life. Seriously, cute art and a beautiful story what isn’t to love about that?


Final Thoughts

Ah that feeling of a nice calm story is truly a nice thing to behold at times. We hope you enjoyed this refreshing and calm lighthearted manhwa list that we have crafted here at Honey’s Anime. As always we do request you leave a comment down below. Tell us how we’re doing and what we can do to make even better top 10 lists. As always we’re not going anywhere so neither should you if you want more articles and recommendation lists like this one.

Kill-Me-Kiss-Me-manga-300x446 Top 10 Lighthearted Manhwa [Best Recommendations]

Writer

Author: Aaron

Hey everyone I’m Aaron Curbelo or Blade as I’m called by my YouTube Subscribers. I’ve been an anime/manga fan since I was a young kid. In terms of anime I have watched nearly a thousand shows and have read hundreds of manga series. I love writing and honestly was so happy to join Honey’s Anime to get a shot to write articles for such a wonderful site. I’m a firm believer in respect in the anime community being the most important embodiment we should all have. We all love anime and we have varying opinions of series but we should respect one another for those differences! Life is too precious to spend it making needless arguments in a community that should be the shining example of loving an amazing medium. I hope as a writer for Honey’s Anime I can bring you folks some amazing articles to read and enjoy!

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