Are you a fan of What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim because of the office romance vibes? I get it—and I’ve got some fresh picks for you. While that classic isn’t on this list, you’ll discover newer gems that might surprise you.
Office romances often come with messy power dynamics (seriously, who decided it was romantic for the CEO to overwork the female lead just because he’s jealous?). But when done right, the workplace setting can be a lot of fun.
In this list, you’ll find my personal favorites—plus a few titles that didn’t quite live up to the hype.
Office Romance Manhwa where they work together
Business Proposal – classic workplace Manhwa with a twist
Summary: Ha-ri agrees to go on a blind date in place of her best friend, who’s fed up with the constant marriage arrangements set up by her father. To scare off the suitor, Ha-ri pretends to be an over-the-top seductress with no intention of making a good impression. But things don’t go as planned. Her date turns out to be none other than CEO Taemu, who’s determined to marry just to stop his family’s constant nagging—he doesn’t even care who the bride is. The real complication? Ha-ri works at his company and is desperate to keep her identity a secret.
You should read if you:
- enjoy hilarious moments at the start and a truly satisfying ending, but don’t mind unnecessary drama along the way
- love it when the male lead is the classic CEO type: handsome, capable, and seemingly good at everything
- love having more than one couple in a story
For the third time
Summary: The summary on Webtoons contains a spoiler, so I’d recommend skipping it. This story is much more enjoyable if you go in blind. Here’s all you need to know: Dohee is fiercely career-focused and incredibly successful. But this office romance comes with a fantasy twist: she can time loop. Her unique ability keeps her ahead at work, but also leads her to isolate herself from others. At its core, this is a story about loss, resilience, and loneliness.
You should read if you:
- love a very strong FL that stands up for herself in many ways
- don’t mind a hot-and-cold ML and plenty of angst
- are ready for a heavy backstory that adds depth and complexity to the characters
No Office Romance – Workplace Webtoon with many characters and lots of humor
Summary: Yunji and Saebom were each other’s first love—until life pulled them apart for ten years. Now reunited as coworkers, they agree to keep things friendly and professional. But old feelings don’t fade that easily, and something unspoken still lingers between them. Watching them fumble to keep even their friendship under wraps at the office makes it all the more entertaining.
You should read this modern Romance Manhwa if you:
- don’t mind a love triangle and occasional flashbacks of side characters that might interrupt the flow — the storytelling takes some getting used to
- enjoy the childhood friends to lovers trope.
- love reading a story with very good humor and genuinely funny moments (it’s the same author as Romance 101)
See you in my 19th life
Summary: Buckle up because with this story you’re in for a ride. Jieum Ban has a rare ability—she remembers all of her past lives. In her 18th, she formed a close bond with Seoha, a quiet boy who slowly opened up to her. But her life ended suddenly, leaving things unfinished. Now in her 19th life, she’s determined to find him again and continue where they left off. But Seoha has changed, and reconnecting brings up more than just memories. This is a story about love, loss, and healing across lifetimes.
You should check it out if you:
- like reading a story with good flow and drama that doesn’t feel out of place
- love feeling all the feels
- like it when the female lead is assertive, and the male lead is on the receiving end
Sixth Sense Kiss
Summary: When our female lead Yesul kisses someone, she sees a glimpse of their future. One day, she accidentally kisses her strict and mysterious boss Minhu—and the vision she gets leaves her completely shaken. No spoilers here, but it sets the stage for a wild turn of events. While the story leans into some unrealistic drama, it’s still an enjoyable and engaging read.
You should check it out if you:
- like it when the main couple seems fated to be together
- love a story with many chapters where they are just lovey dovey
- like reading a modern Romance story with a supernatural touch and especially enjoy the “hiding the relationship at the office”- trope
Touch your heart
Summary: Yoon-Seo is a popular actress but suddenly finds herself without any job offers. She’s not exactly known for her acting talent. One day, she gets the chance to play the lead in an upcoming film—but there’s one condition: she has to work as a secretary to prepare for the role. That’s where she meets Kwon, the male lead. This is a cute read, that also has a K-Drama.
You should read this Modern Romance Manhwa if you:
- like reading a Manhwa with no relevant love triangles
- don’t mind when the male lead is pretty judgmental at first
- love reading a Manhwa with a headstrong and funny female lead – and communication
An Hour of Romance
Summary: Jooahn and Dojin work at the same company but couldn’t be more different. Jooahn is detail-oriented, holds a leadership position, and has a strict, no-nonsense reputation. Dojin, on the other hand, is a rookie marketer who constantly makes mistakes—but is loved by everyone in the office. During a company trip to a monastery, a mischievous little monk tampers with their fate, and suddenly they start switching bodies for one hour each day.
You should read if you:
- enjoy the enemies-to-lovers trope
- love seeing strong character development from the main leads
- like reading a manhwa with many hilarious moments (as expected from a body-switch plot, but the toilet scene was still unexpectedly awesome)
It’s just business
Summary: Eunho has zero interest in love—she’s all about her career. Sharp, confident, and socially skilled, she’s well-liked by both clients and higher-ups. Romance isn’t part of the plan—until a new colleague joins the team and an old flame reappears, stirring up feelings she thought she’d long left behind.
You should read if you:
- like when a young chaebol is getting put to work instead of getting everything handed to him
- don’t mind the good old love triangle
- like it when the ML has a lot of character development and the FL is competent and strong
Office Romance Webtoons that are quite popular but have some issues
Marry my Husband
Summary: At 37, Jiwon is battling cancer when she discovers her husband is having an affair with her best friend. Everything she believed in collapses, and her life ends in betrayal and murder. But fate gives her another chance as she wakes up in her younger body, long before it all happened. This time, she is determined to take control of her life and find happiness. Her first goal is revenge—she plans to pair up her cheating ex with the friend who betrayed her.
My issue: If you enjoy revenge stories, you’ll probably like this one—so go ahead and have fun with it. Just a heads-up: the villains are very one-dimensional and often act pretty foolishly. After a while, outsmarting them becomes so easy that it takes away some of the enjoyment.
Can’t Get Enough of You
Summary: After losing his parents in a car accident at a young age, Taejun Kim grows up with one goal—to never forgive the people responsible. Years later, he meets So-eun Han, the daughter of the man behind the wheel. Rich, confident, and out for revenge, Taejun makes her life difficult just to ease his anger. But as they spend more time together, something shifts.
My issue: While the art is absolutely gorgeous and well above average, the story unfortunately isn’t. If you’re in the mood for a “questionably pushy, teasing CEO and timid female lead” dynamic, this might scratch that itch. Just don’t expect a heroine who stands up for herself in any meaningful way—and be prepared for antagonists who are bad simply for the sake of being bad.
Iseop’s Romance
Mingyeong Kang, with her remarkable business savvy, quickly rose to become a senior manager at Korea’s top conglomerate, TK Group. Now, after 10 years, she faces a new challenge as the secretary to Iseop Tae, the company’s heir. Their history goes back to their first days at the company, where Mingyeong outshone Iseop, sparking a rivalry. Despite her overshadowing him professionally and hurting his pride, Iseop finds himself inexplicably drawn to Mingyeong.
My issue: I’m genuinely disappointed with how this story turned out. I loved it at first—the art is beautiful, Iseop is a fun twist on the typical CEO, childish and often far from competent, and Minngyeong is portrayed as a strong, capable female lead who keeps him grounded. Their dynamic worked well in the beginning. But things started to go downhill once they openly acknowledged their feelings. Iseop had always been pushy, but once they grew more physically intimate, it crossed a line. There are panels where she’s clearly hesitant, yet he keeps pushing. So before reading, just know: the power dynamic is sometimes poorly handled and might feel uncomfortable.
Workplace Romance Manhwa you need to read
If you don’t mind that the story doesn’t take place in an office or that the leads aren’t coworkers, I’ve got a few more romance recommendations for you:
Selfish Romance – my current obsession
Summary: Hyeondo and Yumin are both in their 30s and freshly heartbroken—still in love with their exes but left behind for different reasons. In a moment of shared desperation, they come up with a plan: they’ll pretend to date, hoping to make their former partners jealous. It’s selfish, a little immature, and probably doomed from the start. But as the act goes on, lines begin to blur. I love this story so much. He’s a chef, she runs her own company—so technically, it might count as an office romance… if you squint hard enough.
You should read if you:
- don’t mind when the main characters start off with different love interests (we still don’t know the ending, but I’ll just take a wild guess))
- enjoy romance with complex characters, different love languages, and drama that actually feels realistic
- love some juicy tension between the leads
The Perfect Contract
Summary: Junwon, a Ceo, has it all—looks, charm, and a successful career. Ju-I, a pharmacist, knows her worth and isn’t easily impressed. Together, they agree to a no-strings-attached relationship with one clear rule: no falling in love. What starts off as a calculated arrangement to get Junwons mother off his back slowly turns complicated as real feelings begin to surface.
- enjoy the classic setup of a contract relationship with a CEO—but done surprisingly well and refreshing
- like unexpected plot twists and lovable side characters
- love a strong female lead who’s capable on her own but isn’t afraid to accept help from the male lead
Comment if you want me to add more workplace Romance!
