- Status: Ongoing
- Platform: Webtoon
- Chapters: 72+
- Genre: Modern Romance Manhwa, College Romance Manhwa
- Creators: Eunhi
- Release year: 2024
- tropes: childhood friends-to-lovers, a non-communication-arc, “she’s too good for me”-ML, bickering MCs
Ha-neul and Mincheol have been childhood friends for all of their lives, but their relationship takes on a whole new dynamic when they undergo a series of unexpected events. Although they vowed that they’d never be romantically attracted to each other, they just might be proven wrong… especially when things start to escalate and neither can predict where they’ll end up.
Childhood Friend Complex is still worth it – trust me
I know Season 2 is frustrating right now. Mincheol went from a sweet green flag ML to a guy who ghosts the love of his life for three months. But Childhood Friend Complex is still such a fun read. If you don’t grin from ear to ear while reading it, I honestly don’t know what you’re doing.
It’s also extremely freaky. I mean, the Webtoon starts with “a series of unexpected events,” as the summary puts it. And by that, they mean Mincheol touching himself while a photo of Haneul is on his desktop. That’s how the whole shift in their relationship begins.
Their relationship feels believable and fun, even during the intimate scenes. I haven’t read many mature Webtoons that deliver tension in such a playful, but still somewhat realistic way. So if you don’t mind spicy content, although Webtoon is censoring it anyway, and you’re in the mood for the childhood friend trope, definitely go for it.
Season 1 is extremely fun from start to finish. Season 2, on the other hand, falls into the typical “we need a random reason why we can’t be together” arc. And by “we,” I definitely mean Mincheol.
Childhood Friend Complex: When do they get together?
After 72+ chapters, they still aren’t officially together. They have been intimate, and both have confessed their feelings, but Mincheol is beating himself up over an accident from the past. He is extremely afraid that he will lose Haneul forever.
But one thing feels certain: they will end up together in the end. I haven’t read any spoilers, and this is not official, but I have read enough romance to know that Eunhi probably won’t pull a complete 180 and suddenly have Haneul choose Jaehui.
Childhood Friend Complex: What is happening in Season 2?
Season 2 is basically the “Mincheol is tortured and keeps his distance” arc. Eunhi manages to write it in a way that doesn’t feel too frustrating if you can binge it. To be honest, I let Season 2 marinate for exactly that reason.
If you liked Haneul in Season 1, you will love her in Season 2. She is strong, speaks her mind, and actively tries to get what she wants.
And now, 32 chapters in, we finally know why Mincheol feels like he isn’t allowed to date Haneul, even though they both love each other.
Show Spoiler
After Mincheol suffered several injuries and could no longer pursue his sports career, he was devastated and took it out on Haneul. One day, when she ran after him, she had an accident and broke her hand, which could also have been a career-ending injury for an artist. In front of Mincheol, she put on a brave face. But when her mother was alone with her in the room, Haneul cried and told her how scared she was and how much it hurt. Her last sentence was: “What if I actually start to hate him?” Mincheol was standing by the door and heard her. And it seems like that moment was engraved in his heart.
The key takeaways for Season 2:
- Mincheol ghosts Haneul for three months
- They sleep together, although none of the misunderstandings are cleared up
- Haneul is getting closer to Jaehui, but not in a flirty way
- Haneul is the one who keeps showing up for their relationship and Mincheol is just a mess
Art Style
The art by Eunhi is absolutely gorgeous. The expressions are drawn perfectly, and the body proportions and perspectives are always on point. The art really is exceptional
Romance
This heading probably shouldn’t be called “romance,” but “intimacy,” because Mincheol and Haneul get handsy very fast. The open communication part is very slow, though.
We are currently 73 chapters in, and they still aren’t together. They also haven’t been able to have an open conversation about how they feel. At least Mincheol hasn’t.
Still, I think their dynamic is really wholesome and fun to read. The way Eunhi handles their intimate scenes feels like a natural part of the story while still keeping their relationship wholesome.
Characters
Childhood Friend Complex doesn’t only have one couple. There is another couple to root for, and the other characters, like Mincheol’s brothers, who kind of came out of nowhere, and Haneul’s best friend, are great too.
There is no stupidly evil antagonist, and everyone feels a bit ambivalent, which I really like. Season 2 shows that to an extreme with Mincheol’s inner turmoil and his constant hot-and-cold behavior.
Protagonists
Although Childhood Friend Complex could be seen as a love triangle, it really isn’t. This is a love story about Mincheol and Haneul. And although Jaehui is interested in Haneul, she makes it very clear that she only sees him as a friend. She even professes her feelings for Mincheol in front of him.
Haneul is strong, open-minded, and really friendly. Even when people don’t treat her well, like Mihui, for example, she stays friendly and open. She is also kind of chaotic. But I love her as an FL because she speaks her mind.
Mincheol was one of my favorite green flag MLs until Season 2 came around. Don’t get me wrong, I still think he is a good ML. But there is literally no reason not to talk to Haneul after she repeatedly reached out to him.
I mean, with his behavior, the probability of her leaving him is even higher than if they were actually in a relationship. So I wish he had been written a bit differently. He is still a very supportive ML.
Read if you…
- are in the mood for a spicy manhwa that still has an actual story.
- love when the MCs are extremely close. Mincheol and Haneul basically grew up together: they spend every family gathering together because their mothers are best friends, they know the passcodes to each other’s apartments, and so on.
- like reading a Webtoon where intimacy feels somewhat healthy and somewhat realistic. It is not just there for shock value, but woven into the story.
- like when the FL is the assertive one, while the ML blushes a lot and even cries. We love to see that.
Skip if you…
- don’t like it when the ML comments on the FL’s weight, even if it is supposed to be funny. Apparently, this is more normalized in Korea, but I could really do without it. Haneul is extremely skinny and still gets called out for her nonexistent belly fat.
- can’t stand miscommunication arcs. Season 2 is basically one long miscommunication arc because Mincheol refuses to talk to her. It’s frustrating.
- want a clean and wholesome romance. Childhood Friend Complex gets pretty freaky. Blood and feet… I won’t say more.
- don’t like the trope where two of the hottest guys in school fall for the FL because she is quirky and different.
