If you’re searching for action manhwa with romance, you’re probably looking for a male MC who fights a lot and grows stronger over time. The issue is that many series in this genre end up being harems. If you don’t mind that, The Extra’s Academy Survival Guide, The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master, and Webtoon Character Na Kang Lim might still be enjoyable picks.
This list, however, is different. I only included action manhwa that have a genuine romantic subplot or where the romance is just as important as the action.
Action Manhwa with a well-written Romance – but action is still the main focus
Solo Leveling isn’t on here because the romance plays such a tiny, almost irrelevant role. If you want something like Solo Leveling but with an actual romance, you should check out my dedicated list for that.
I Stole the First Ranker’s Soul (Completed)
Summary: Moa Son is an ordinary office worker until she suddenly wakes up inside a deadly dungeon and awakens as a collector-type hunter. After Jihan Seo, the world’s top-ranked hunter, sacrifices himself to save her, she unexpectedly ends up collecting his soul… and can still talk to him. With Jihan now at her side in spirit, he promises to train her so she can grow strong enough to take down every dungeon boss out there.
You should read if you:
- Love reading a dungeon Manhwa with a female protagonist
- Like it when the FL and ML are constantly together. So when they have their first romantic moments, it feels believable
- Like a golden retriever ML. He is an absolute green flag
SSS-Class Revival Hunter
Summary: Kim Gong-ja – or Confucius (yes, seriously…) in the English version – starts out ability-less and painfully jealous of the top hunter, the Flame Emperor. Then one day, while watching him on TV, he suddenly gains a power fueled by envy: he can copy the abilities of anyone who kills him. Small spoiler but important: the first skill he earns is time travel. The downside? It only lasts 24 hours and he has to kill himself to activate it.
The romance comes into play when one of the tower floors takes on an unexpected isekai-style romance setup. It’s fun, unique, and breaks the tone nicely, though the ML falls for the FL almost immediately, which makes it feel a bit rushed.
You should read if you:
- Love reading a well written action Manhwa that will make you feel empathy even for newly introduced characters (the children…god..)
- Don’t mind when each floor of the tower brings a completely new story and setup
- Are willing to give the protagonist a chance, because he seems awful at first
Purple Hyacinth
Summary: Our female lead, Lauren, has a rare ability: she can detect lies, which makes her an exceptional police officer. Driven by the need to uncover the truth behind a tragedy that claimed the lives of those dearest to her, she crosses paths with Kieran, a skilled assassin with his own secrets. When their worlds collide, Lauren is forced to make a difficult choice. Purple Hyacinth has been on Hiatus for a long time, but is bound to come back with season 3.
Purple Hyacinth has many action scenes but is a thriller, not a typical action Manhwa. So keep that in mind.
You should read if you:
- Are not looking only for Romance. There is good tension and an established second couple, but this is a mystery Drama first and foremost
- Love some incredibly written plot twists
- Like the enemies-to-lovers trope
The Hunter is Gonna Lay Low (BL)
Summary: The premise is extremely interesting: S-Rank Hunter Uijae – also known as J – saved the world when an especially difficult dungeon appeared. But when he finally emerged from the rift, all his comrades were dead and eight years had passed. In the meantime, he’d been declared dead, so he decides to seize the opportunity and keep his survival a secret.
There’s a romance that slowly develops between Uijae and the number one hunter, Sayoung. According to novel spoilers, it’s meant to be a very slow burn. But even without much romantic tension at the start, the dynamic between the main characters in season 1 is already excellent.
You should read if you:
- Love when the mystery keeps you on your toes and fully engaged
- Like it when the main characters bicker constantly – it almost counts as an enemies-to-lovers dynamic
- Love when the protagonist is deeply caring toward a select few but guarded with everyone else
Ending Maker
Summary: When veteran gamer outboxer009 wakes up, he’s no longer himself, he’s Yuder Bayel, the hero of Legend of Heroes 2. His rival sandstorm is there too, now living as Cordelia Chace. Once leaderboard enemies, they now have to survive using instinct rather than a mouse and keyboard.
Ending Maker is one of the best action-romance manhwa out there. The leads fight side by side, the romantic tension starts early, and the relationship grows naturally – not as an afterthought, but as part of the journey.
You should read if you:
- Love the rivals-to-lovers dynamic, it’s *chef’s kiss*
- Like the forced marriage trope. They’re engaged in the in-game world and use it to their advantage
- Enjoy a refreshing story: it’s rare enough for two people to be reincarnated into the same game, and even rarer for a leveling/action manhwa to have such a cute and well-written romance plot
Honorable mentions: Action Manhwa with a slow-burn Romance
The beginning after the End
I haven’t read this one but in my research for action romance Manhwa I came across this one many times. The romance is supposed to be well written and gradual. It apparently also isn’t a harem, but apparently he does have more than one love interest. I can’t give you a proper review but here is the official summary on Tapas: “King Grey has unrivaled strength, wealth, and prestige in a world governed by martial ability. However, solitude lingers closely behind those with great power. Beneath the glamorous exterior of a powerful king lurks the shell of man, devoid of purpose and will.
Reincarnated into a new world filled with magic and monsters, the king has a second chance to relive his life. Correcting the mistakes of his past will not be his only challenge, however. Underneath the peace and prosperity of the new world is an undercurrent threatening to destroy everything he has worked for, questioning his role and reason for being born again.”
Doom Breaker
Doom Breaker is another action manhwa that has a believable romance subplot that isn’t just an afterthought. It is on hiatus right now, but I am sure the author will come back. Here is the official summary on Webtoons:
“Zephyr is the last human fighting evil in a world abandoned by the gods. When he is killed in battle by Tartarus, the god of destruction, all hope for humanity seems lost. But Zephyr’s fate is not sealed — the gods who find his battles entertaining have gifted him a second chance at life, as he is sent ten years into the past, back to when he was a slave instead of the most powerful human alive. Can Zephyr get his revenge against Tartarus and save the woman he loves, or is he doomed to repeat the past?”
Romance Manhwa with a decent amount of action
For those who enjoy action but don’t necessarily need it to be the main focus and prefer a more balanced blend of genres, here are some extra recommendations. The list is arranged from most to least action.
Unholy Blood (Completed)
Summary: Unholy Blood is an action manhwa that blends action and romance right from the beginning. The relationship between the leads develops naturally and at a steady pace. Hayan hides the fact that she’s a vampire, yet still teams up with a police officer determined to take justice into his own hands.
You should read if you:
- Love a shounen-like flow of the story: there is always a new bad guy, they deal with him and then there’s a new bad guy
- Like when a story throws in a few plot twists, whether you see them coming or not
- Love reading a Manhwa with absolutely gorgeous art
The Perks of Being an S-Class Heroine
Summary: Our FL is transmigrated into a doomed world as Ailette, equipped with a secret “perk system” no one knows about. She trains hard to survive against dungeons and demons. Meanwhile, the ML Thesilid is stuck in a time loop trying to save it all. Their paths cross repeatedly – and of course romance grows slowly but surely. Season 4 is now ongoing.
You should read if you:
- Love reading an action Manhwa with a badass female character.
- Like reading a good Romance Comedy Manhwa that also has dramatic moments.
- Don’t mind when the system plays a major role in the story. The voice of XY is always chiming in and reacting to her actions – entertaining, but occasionally a bit distracting for the pacing.
Villain with a crush (Completed)
Summary: When Rosa Park is saved from a collapsing building by Doryeong Han, the nation’s superpowered police hero, she falls for him instantly. Two years later, she reappears in disguise, determined to get closer to him. The problem? Her clumsiness and uncontrollable strength create mayhem wherever she goes – earning her the unexpected title of new villain, Blackdog. Now Doryeong is tasked with catching her. The setup sounds chaotic, but at its heart this is one of the most wholesome romance manhwas out there.
You should read if you:
- Love seeing strong women who actually look strong. That’s very, very rare
- Don’t mind that the whole premise would disappear with just a little communication and they did the second ML dirty. He really didn’t have to have feelings for Rosa for the story to turn out exactly the same
- Enjoy reading a story that feels truly unique. It’s such a breath of fresh air
Beware the Villainess (Completed)
Summary: This one is a nice read if you mainly care about a badass female lead, fun expressions, dorky characters, and an interesting fantasy world. This one is a great pick if you are in the mood for a Romance Manhwa with a strong female lead, but the Romance isn’t done very well to be honest.
You should read if you:
- Are here for fresh meme-worthy panels to add to your collection
- Don’t mind secretly wishing the story leaned toward Yuri
- Love reading a Romance Comedy Manhwa where the women save themselves and don’t rely on any ML
Frozen Hearts
Summary: This manhwa is stunning, and it deserves way more readers. Seola, a snow maiden demon, lives in hiding because humans hunt and kill demons. Her quiet life changes when she catches the attention of the ML – a northern prince notorious for hunting demons – who becomes obsessed with making her his bride.
You should read if you:
- Like reading a Prince of the North story you haven’t already read 100 times
- Love when people in the north finally dress for the cold
- Love reading a Romance Manhwa with a strong FL
Mafia Nanny
Summary: Davina is an elite nanny who lost her parents at a very young age. She’s determined to find out who was behind their murder – that’s why she chose this job. Fortunately, Gabriel Angelini is in need of a nanny. He seems like a ruthless underboss, but that’s not his true goal.
Mafia Nanny is one of the most popular romance series on Webtoon right now, and for good reason. The art is stunning, the mystery subplot unfolds slowly but effectively, and the child character adds a heartwarming touch. It’s a slow burn where the leads have to overcome quite a few obstacles, since they’re in an employer-employee relationship and their circumstances don’t allow them to be together easily.
You should read if you:
- Love reading an Action Romance Manhwa with great art
- Don’t mind reading a slow burn, where they don’t have that many genuine moments full of tension together, before the romance starts
- Love the childcare trope – even with all the action and mystery, the childcare aspect still plays an important and consistent role in the story
Master Villainess the Invincible (Completed)
Summary: After our female lead is reincarnated into a martial arts novel as the villainess Haewon Tang, she has no choice but to train hard and learn how to fight if she wants to survive. For a romance-fantasy manhwa, this one has surprisingly many action scenes – and our FL doesn’t let anyone walk all over her.
You should read if you:
- Don’t mind some lazy writing in the beginning. The author really went the “I am walking into the forest, find a random root vegetable and eat it, only to find out it was the ultimate chi awakening tool” – route
- Love when the ML is obsessed with the FL and a little shy
- Like reading and action Manhwa that also has humor and romance
A Martial Master Wakes Up as a Concubine
Summary: After being poisoned to death, our FL – a previous martial arts master – gets reincarnated into the body of a noble lady and has to live as a concubine in the imperial palace. As these stories go, she very quickly catches the eye of the emperor. This is a truly underrated and fun Romance Manhwa with action sprinkled throughout.
You should read if you:
- Like when the FL hides her identity at first and it’s a stark contrast between her personality and how she is supposed to behave
- Love when the dynamic between the ML and FL is hilarious, they bicker and have great chemistry
- Like when the FL is absolutely badass and completely random
Until the Tragic Male Lead Walks Again
Summary: Our FL Lamille tries to prevent Roel from becoming the story’s villain by marrying him – although he rejects her countless times. He sits in a wheelchair and doesn’t want to burden anyone. It is a short but wholesome Romance Manhwa.
You should read if you:
- Love when the Female lead is completely unhinged
- Don’t mind when the story basically ends, just when they kiss for the first time
- Like when the male lead is the shy and timid one for a change
The Spark In Your Eyes
Summary: Erkin, a young pharmacist from the north, lost his parents in the war against Mormeratta. When he’s assigned to treat a mysterious, reclusive castle master, he quietly hopes it will lead him to the Witch of the Sun – the one responsible for his parents’ deaths. What he doesn’t yet realize is that his search for revenge is more deeply tied to his own path than he expected. The story also switches between points of view, making it one of the few romance manhwa that actually lets us follow large parts from a male perspective.
- Don’t mind reading a story with lots of flashbacks
- Don’t mind a very slow – and I mean very slow – romance. It’s more about the characters’ daily lives and struggles
- Like having complex characters whose backgrounds remain shrouded in mystery for most of the story so far
Antistalker
Summary: “She is a hunter, he is a target. He is her stalker, she is his target” – don’t ask me why but the summary on WEBTOONS is pretty… unusual. Let me tell you: Antistalker is a fun comic with a strong female lead and a very understanding and nice male lead. Although they could solve many issues by talking it still has enjoyable moments with some unexpected plot twists. Although the second part of the story isn’t so great, it is still a fun Action Romance Manhwa.
You should read if you:
- Love it when the main characters fight and bicker a lot
- Don’t mind an unnecessary love triangle. It’s not done very well – if you want to read a Romance Manhwa with no love triangle, check out my list
- Love a fierce female lead who can be violent and badass
From a Knight to a Lady
Summary: This one was a very positive surprise. It’s a reincarnation story but not an Isekai because our FL Estelle, former knight of the Kindgom Ersha gets reincarnated into the body of a noble lady from her enemy Kingdom. And if that wouldn’t have been enough, she has to interact with her killer and is engaged to her former archnemesis. There are action scenes but this is definitely not the focus of this story.
You should read if you:
- Love when a story has much character development. Her situation is not black and white and the more she knows the more she questions her actions. Unfortunately this also leads to her forgiving her killer/abuser.
- Like when traumatic situations don’t just get brushed off. The FL has many breakdowns and we as readers get to hear her desperate thoughts which I find refreshing. It feels like a believable story like that.
- Don’t mind a very rough start. If you’re sensitive to violence against women, this can be a difficult read. The FL is sexually assaulted twice, and early on there’s a deeply unsettling serial-killer subplot that targets women – and the author lingers on it more than necessary.
I Will Become the Villain’s Poison Taster
Summary: After dying in a car accident, an office worker is reborn as Giselle Rozevin, a notorious villainess destined to die by poison while on death row. But to everyone’s shock, every attempt to kill her fails – and even stranger, she finds the poisons delicious. Using this bizarre gift to her advantage, Giselle decides to help the male lead. It’s a slow burn overall, even though the couple gets together before Season 3, and the story still has a long way to go. The way the ML constantly teases her makes it an especially fun read.
Check it out if you:
- Don’t mind when the Female Lead is extremely clumsy and helpless sometimes – but still kind and hilarious
- Love it when the main couple tease each other constantly – their dynamic feels natural and is fun to read
- Love when the ML is very overpowered
I don’t want to play Matchmaker
Summary: I know I promised that this list wouldn’t include any harems, but this one is just too good to skip – even if it is a reverse harem. In the original novel, Shuryna is supposed to live in her best friend Hestia’s shadow while dealing with four walking red flags who all fall for her. But as the title suggests, she refuses to play matchmaker and instead focuses on her own ambitions. Naturally, that doesn’t stop every single one of them from falling for her anyway, which only makes it more entertaining. Read on: Tapas.
You should read if you:
- Love reading a romance manhwa with a strong FL – not just physically strong, but someone whose presence gives strength to everyone around her. It’s beautiful to read
- Love stories that take you on an emotional roller coaster – the first seasons are laugh-out-loud funny, while season 3 will leave you in tears
- Love reading a highschool Romance Manhwa with action, even though the action scenes are pretty rare
