The term Manhwa basically means “comic” in Korea, which is why definitions are often mixed up. Online, Manhwa, Manga, and Manhua are frequently used as if they were the same thing. Among fans, however, the distinctions matter more than ever. And if you look closely, the differences are actually quite easy to spot. This article explains what Manhwa is and how you can tell whether you’re reading a Manhwa, a Manga, or a Manhua.
What Does Manhwa Mean? The Official Definition (and How It Differs from Manga and Manhua)
Manhwa (만화) is the commonly used term for comics from South Korea in the Western world. In Korea itself, however, manhwa is a much broader term and simply means “comic.” It can therefore also refer to Japanese or Chinese comics. To clearly distinguish Korean works, the term Hanguk Manhwa (한국 만화) is used, which specifically describes comics created by Korean authors.
For comparison:
- Manga (漫画) refers to comics from Japan and is the dominant term used for Japanese works both inside and outside Japan.
- Manhua (漫画) is the Chinese term for comics and is mainly used for works from China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.
Although the words look and sound similar, they describe comics from different countries and cultural backgrounds. Outside East Asia, these terms are often mixed up, but within fan communities the distinctions are taken very seriously.
In Korea, manhwa has long played an important cultural role. Historical data from 2001 shows that comics accounted for around 36% of all printed materials at the time, illustrating how deeply comics were embedded in everyday media consumption.
Today, the economic significance of manhwa is most visible in the digital sector. According to a market analysis, the South Korean webtoon market was valued at approximately USD 1.09 billion in 2023.
| Feature | Manhwa | Manga | Manhua |
|---|---|---|---|
| Country of origin | South Korea | Japan | China, Taiwan, Hong Kong |
| Meaning of the term | “Comic” (general term in Korea) | “Comic” (Japan) | “Comic” (China) |
| Typical format today | Digital-first (webtoons) | Print-first (magazines & volumes) | Mixed (print & digital) |
| Reading direction | Left to right, top to bottom | Right to left | Left to right or right to left (varies by region) |
| Colour | Mostly full colour (digital) | Mostly black and white | Mostly full colour, but often more muted or individual colour palettes |
| Layout | Vertical scroll | Page-based panels | Mixed layouts |
| Easy visual clue | Hangul, vertical scroll | B/W pages, right-to-left reading | Hanzi character |
Why Manhwa and Manhua Are Often Confused
Manhwa and manhua are often confused because they can look very similar at first glance. Both are frequently published in full colour and read digitally, especially on webcomic platforms. Without looking at the language, names, or writing system, it can be difficult to tell them apart visually.
Why Manga Is Easier to Identify
Manga is usually easier to identify than manhwa or manhua. The black-and-white artwork, page-based layout, and right-to-left reading direction make manga visually distinct, even without understanding the language.
Manhwa vs. Manhua vs. Manga: Popular Titles by Genre
The following examples give a quick overview of well-known titles from each category. They are meant as points of reference to show how similar genres exist across manhwa, manhua, and manga, even though the reading experience and format differ.
Popular Manhwa Titles
- Romance: “What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim?” by Kim Myeongmi and Jeong Gyeong-yun – check out my list for other Office Romance Manhwa recommendations.
- Action: “Solo Leveling“ by Chugong and Jang Sung-rak
- Fantasy: “Noblesse” by Son Jeho and Lee Kwangsu
- Horror: “Bastard” by Carnby Kim and Youngchan Hwang
- Slice of Life: “Yumi’s Cells” by Donggeon Lee
Popular Manhua Titles
- Romance: “Here U Are” by Djun
- Action: “The Ravages of Time” by Chan Mou
- Fantasy: “Feng Shen Ji” by Zheng Jianhe and Deng Zhihui
- Horror: “Lanxi Town” by Xu Xianzhe
- Slice of Life: “19 Days” by Old Xian
Popular Manga Titles
- Romance: “Fruits Basket” by Natsuki Takaya
- Action: “Naruto” by Masashi Kishimoto
- Fantasy: “Fullmetal Alchemist” by Hiromu Arakawa
- Horror: “Uzumaki” by Junji Ito
- Slice of Life: “March Comes in Like a Lion” by Chica Umino
Manhwa vs. Manhua: How you can spot the difference
If you want to make sure you are reading a manhwa before you even start, there are a few easy things you can look for. If the title is published on platforms like Tappytoon, Webtoon, or Tapas, checking the author’s name is often a good first step. For example, Hongseul is a Korean name, and Hong is a common Korean surname.
Names like Ko Eun-chae or Eongsseu (I Married the Male Lead’s Dad) are also a strong indicator that you are dealing with a manhwa. Elements such as Eun, Eon, Jae, Jung, Woo, or Won frequently appear in Korean given names:
In Japanese manga, character names often use kanji and kana syllables typical in Japanese, such as –ko (子) at the end of female names (e.g., Sakura, Yuko) or consonant-vowel patterns common in Japanese phonetics.
In Chinese manhua, names are typically written in Chinese characters (hanzi) and often reflect Chinese phonetics and surnames. For example, in the manhua 19 Days, main characters include Jian Yi (见一), Zhan Zheng Xi (展正希), He Tian (賀天) and Mo Guan Shan (莫关山).
Manhwa vs. Manhua vs. Manga: How do they address each other?
- Manhwa: Another strong clue is the way characters address each other. If they use terms like Noona (누나) or Oppa (오빠) – meaning older sister or older brother – you are very likely reading a manhwa. These terms are commonly used outside of family settings as well and usually indicate familiarity or closeness.
- Manga: In Japanese manga, characters often address each other using honorifics such as –san, –kun, –chan, or –senpai, which signal social distance, hierarchy, or affection. These suffixes are a clear indicator of a Japanese setting and language.
- Manhua: In Chinese manhua, forms of address like Ge (哥) for older brother, Jie (姐) for older sister, or Laoshi (老师) for teacher are commonly used. In practice, however, these forms of address are less consistently visible than Korean honorifics in manhwa and may not always be immediately noticeable to readers.
Manhwa vs. Manhua vs. Manga: Check the titles to know
If a series isn’t licensed yet, the title page can be especially helpful. Korean titles look very different from Chinese or Japanese ones. For example:
남주의 엄마가 되어버렸다 (I Married the Male Lead’s Dad) vs. 厨厨动人 (Kitchen Goddess and the Assassin).
Hangul, the Korean writing system, is made up of straight lines and circles. In contrast, Chinese characters and Japanese kanji do not use circles at all. This visual difference is often the quickest and easiest way to tell them apart.
Identify cultural references
By now, you have several ways to identify a manhwa. But even if none of these clues are obvious, there is still one thing worth paying attention to: food.
If characters are eating tteokbokki, spicy stir-fried rice cakes, chances are very high that you are reading a manhwa. Tteokbokki is a popular Korean street food, commonly sold at street stalls and small restaurants, and it appears frequently in Korean comics.
Check out my list of platforms, where you can read Manhwa, Manhua and Manga legally. If you need some good recommendations, check out my dedicated lists: Action Manhwa that have actually good romance, High School Romance Manhwa,
The main difference lies in their country of origin and format. Manhwa comes from Korea and is often digital-first, manga comes from Japan and is traditionally print-based, and manhua originates from China, Taiwan, or Hong Kong and can follow mixed formats.
Both are often published digitally and in full colour, which can make them look similar at first glance. The language, writing system, and names are usually the easiest way to tell them apart.
You can check the platform, the author’s name, the writing system (Hangul), and cultural elements such as forms of address or food references.
Not exactly. Webtoons are a digital format, while manhwa refers to Korean comics in general. Many modern manhwa are published as webtoons, but not all webtoons are manhwa.
Most manga is traditionally published in black and white, although there are special colour editions and digital releases.
Yes. Modern manhwa is typically read left to right and from top to bottom, especially in webtoon format.
