Summary
Romance is a divisive topic that has challenged audiences the world over on the basis of its specific subtypes and niche branches. Whether it’s newer tropes like enemies-to-lovers, or classics such as star-crossed lovers, there’s plenty of variety found within the romance genre for readers looking for something new.
Romance manhwa have their own stylethat differentiates them from other forms of media within the genre of romance. The romance manhwa that debuted in 2024 are inspired by other works in the medium, showing tropes of regression, coincidental occurrences, VR games, and time loops, though there are definitely plenty of classical romance manhwa that came out in 2024 as well.
8Perhaps Invincible
Misunderstandings Within The Murim
Judged as an evil person because of a series of misunderstandings and a generally menacing appearance, the main character ofPerhaps Invinciblecan’t catch a break, as events keep onpushing his public image further down the drain, getting him labeled as the Star of the “Dark Sect.”
His childhood friend and romantic interest finds him at a dire moment and joins him, giving the impression that he brainwashed her to become his minion. The romance between the two is quite straightforward, with both of them being smitten with one another. It’s a casual read that is filled with circumstantial happenings that make the story move forward.
7I Turned Off The Pain Perception Setting!
Terminal Illness? Maybe
Set in the far future where deep dive VR becomes a reality and advanced AI assistants are a part of daily life,I Turned Off the Pain Perception Setting!follows Irina, a woman living alone in her apartment who spends most of her time playing a VR game to unlock all its endings.
6The S-Class Lady
From Tower Climber To Villainess
InThe S-Class Lady,a victim of the isekai truck-kun, Kim Yi-Young gets reincarnated into a Tower Climbing novel that she used to read. There, she becomes a regressor with the sole goal of returning home after clearing the tower. However, when she finally clears everything, she gets reincarnated into an otome game as the villain instead.
The presence of a 500-year-old regressor in an otome game makes it a very interesting setting. The obscene power she holds makes the game a breeze, but increasing the favorability of characters that hate her can be quite a challenge — even for someone with the talents to clear a 100-foot tower.
5The Princess Maid
Opportunities Come for Those Who Don’t Want Them
The Princess Maidexplores the improbable romance betweena disgraced princess of the old regime and the young prince of the new one. Cianna, a princess in the royal palace, gets spared by the usurpers of the throne and gets instated as the maid of the palace, something that ends up being much better than the life she was living under her abusive stepmother and dismissive father.
The personality of the female lead and her interactions with the other characters in the manhwa are the biggest strength of this manhwa. It isn’t afraid to tackle topics of trauma, and the side characters in the story are quite compelling in their own right. The romance aspect is quite endearing as well, though it isn’t as prominent at the start.
4We Are Not Dating!!
The Hand Hold Is Just Friendly
Cursed with being incredibly sweaty, the male lead ofWe Are Not Dating!!encounters a young Saeyan who isn’t grossed out by his condition and befriends him. Aftershe goes through a traumatic experienceand becomes anxious about going outside, it is Chan Min’s turn to help her overcome her trauma and be her support. The manhwa is an exploration of a beautiful friendship with romantic undertones.
The male lead is very understanding and doesn’t pressure the Saeyan whatsoever, regardless of societal expectations, giving the female lead the space and time to process her emotions properly. It also has two side characters that appear every so often and bring another flavor of romance to the board.
3A Sharp-Eyed Classmate
Low Stakes Slice Of Life Romance
The premise ofSharp-Eyed Classmateis quite simple, but it isno less charming and endearing for that simplicity. The female lead of the manhwa acts like a hardened gangster, has piercings, keeps her hair cut short, and acts brashly in front of everyone. However, the male lead doesn’t really care about her impolite exterior persona and instead falls in love with her personality.
The female lead gets flustered and ends up giving him a chance because of how unexpected she feels this to be — and how sincere the male lead is in pursuing her. The dynamic between the two characters is cute and wholesome without any misunderstandings for the sake of stretching the story. It’s a classic romance with a good cast of characters who show a lot of personality and interesting backstories.
2Baby Prisoner Of The Winter Castle
The Blessing Of A Late Execution
The audience of romance manhwa have gotten very well-acquainted withthe trope of a male dukewho doesn’t seem to have a heart and a genuine female lead from a common background — and the slow but eventual love that blossoms between them.Baby Prisoner of the Winter Castletakes that premise and adds the cutest possible kid into the mix.
The story is as focused on the cute kid than it is on the romance of the duke and his wife, though they are certainly central characters within the story. This manhwa has some incredibly stunning art and boasts a lot of heartwarming or otherwise cute moments that are sure to charm readers.
1The Wicked Ladies In Waiting
Revenge Centric Time Loop Story
One of the more interesting manhwa, plot-wise, to have debuted in 2024,Wicked Ladies in Waitingtells the story of a commoner girl whogets stuck in a time loopwhere she is stuck dying over and over again, with her only hope being an ice-cold duke with a heart of gold. The story starts relatively early in the main character’s time loop journey. She is an innocent girl at first but starts developing some devious tendencies as a result of her extenuating circumstances.
The story acts as a mix betweenRe:ZeroandRemarried Empress, combining the genres of excruciating time loops and vicious revenge romances into one delicious package. The start of the main character’s romance with the main male lead is tumultuous, but it is cute and heartwarming nonetheless.
