Purple Hyacinth went on hiatus after its mid-season finale on February 28, 2023 – not with a big cliffhanger, but with a stronger emotional connection between Kieran and Lauren after a series of unfortunate events brought them closer. Purple Hyacinth is not a romance manhwa, but an exceptionally written mystery drama. But ig you enjoy a slow burn where the romantic tension simmers beneath the surface without taking over the plot, this one’s for you.
The series built a huge and devoted fanbase, and readers are still eagerly waiting for its return. Now, almost two years later, there’s still no official release date. But through a series of behind-the-scenes updates and heartfelt messages from creators Sophism and Ephemerys, one thing is clear: Purple Hyacinth is far from over. The creators are still working on it, just at a slower and more sustainable pace.
Here’s everything we know so far about the Purple Hyacinth hiatus and a possible return date.
Purple Hyacinth Hiatus: Everything you need to know at a glance
- Purple Hyacinth went on hiatus after Episode 158 on February 28, 2023.
- The break was caused by Sophism’s chronic health issues (scoliosis, severe back pain) – not creative burnout.
- Ephemerys, now a medical resident, has already written around 40–50% of the upcoming season.
- Both creators confirmed in October 2025 that they’re still actively working on the series.
- The next arc has grown bigger than planned – a full, emotionally intense continuation of Season 3.
- They’re building a large buffer of finished episodes before resuming publication to ensure a sustainable pace.
- No exact return date yet, but all signs point to a carefully prepared comeback in progress.
When will Purple Hyacinth return: The Timeline So Far
February 28, 2023 – The last episode (Ep. 158) airs on WEBTOON. It was labeled as a mid-season finale rather than the end of the series.
March 17, 2023 – Sophism posts on Instagram:
“When I say undetermined amount of time, that means several months. Don’t know how long it will take to find the right treatment and for the treatment to make a difference. Don’t worry, I’m not dying. (…) Taking such a long break after a midseason finale is really not ideal… It’ll likely be detrimental to the series’ future performance.”
This post was the first confirmation that the hiatus was caused by serious health issues rather than creative burnout.
May 6, 2023 – Ephemerys follows up with a reassuring message, but also the last post on Instagram:
“We may be on hiatus, but I’m still out there torturing the poor souls in Purple Hyacinth. Currently writing the second part to Season 3, so consider this a little sneak peek.”
2023–2024 – Sophism continues to post health updates on Instagram and community boards. Across multiple posts, she explains how chronic pain and scoliosis have limited her ability to draw and sit for long periods. She documents extensive treatments – from hospitals in China to medical consultations in New Jersey, New York, Ottawa, and Toronto.
I find it astonishing how openly Sophism keeps her fans updated – sharing intimate details of her health journey so they don’t have to wonder or lose hope. That level of honesty can’t be easy, and it deserves respect.
October 2025 (Recent Update) – In a new joint update, Sophism and Ephemerys confirm that they’re still developing the story and restructuring the production process to be more sustainable. They plan to have season 3 almost entirely written out, to build “a large buffer” as they call it.
Purple Hyacinth: Why the Hiatus Became So Long
From the start, Sophism was transparent about her condition. In one of her earlier Instagram stories (July 2023), she explained that she suffers from chronic pain linked to scoliosis, describing “nerve-like shocks” and intense back pain that worsened while working. Later updates showed photos from hospitals and treatments abroad – a deeply personal glimpse into her journey that few creators choose to share.
She wrote about the difficulty of managing daily life, saying she couldn’t sit or stand for long without pain and that it affected her ability to draw consistently. Over time, she sought various medical opinions and physiotherapy programs, noting both improvements and setbacks.
In June 2024, Sophism shared a deeply personal post where she turned her frustration into art. One line in particular hit hard: “Maybe it’s not working because you haven’t tried hard enough.” It’s a quiet, painful truth that anyone living with a chronic condition will recognize – myself included. I felt that in my bones. Take the time to click through; it’s worth it.
In September 2024, she said that she was considering long-term treatment plans in North America, hoping for “something sustainable.” Even then, she made it clear that drawing full-time wasn’t possible yet.
In her words:
“I don’t want to rush back and end up hurting myself again. I need time to find what really works for me.”
Ephemerys also has demanding commitments outside of the series. As she explained in the current update, she was still in her pre-med year when she began writing Purple Hyacinth. She has since completed medical school, but the workload certainly hasn’t become any lighter.
“I (…) am now a second year ophthalmology resident (intern). Between working 50-60hrs/wk, call shifts, studying, research, and generally trying to stay sane, I’ve managed to write about 40-50 % of the season so far.”
These updates show a clear pattern: Purple Hyacinth’s hiatus isn’t about lost motivation but about healing and self-preservation.
The Creators’ Current Plan for the return of Season 3
The latest joint statement from Sophism and Ephemerys (shared October 25th on Instagram) offers cautious optimism. Both confirmed that the series will continue, but they’re now focusing on creating a sustainable workflow.
Here’s what their message implies:
- They’re still actively working on it.
Season 3 is being re-outlined and refined. They’re aiming to complete a large buffer of episodes before resuming publication. - The upcoming arc will be longer and deeper.
The second half of Season 3 will be much larger and more complex than originally anticipated – an entire new season with emotional depth and drama. In their own words: “It’s packed with drama, action, love, comedy and a truckload of SPICE – and I don’t mean that as bait.” I’m excited to see what’s next, especially since the tension between the main characters has already been written so exceptionally well. - Health remains the top priority.
Sophism’s recovery is ongoing, and the team clearly refuses to return to the “unsustainable” schedule that caused the hiatus in the first place. “We cannot return to the absurd production pace we had before, which pushed her to physical and mental exhaustion. Health is and will remain a priority.”
How Fans Are Responding
Even after such a long wait, the Purple Hyacinth fandom remains incredibly supportive. Many long-time readers worry about Sophism and understand that the hiatus comes from genuine necessity, not neglect. Fans continue to share art, theories, and reread old episodes, keeping the series very much alive in the community.
In their recent update Sophism and Ephemerys wrote:
"Over the last months (and years!), we’ve been extremely thankful and touched to see that people are still awaiting the next update and that the fandom lives on. As creators, we feel so lucky to have such passionate and loyal readers, and we won’t let you down!”
What to Expect When Purple Hyacinth Returns
When Purple Hyacinth finally comes back, expect a more mature and emotionally charged season. If more emotionally charged is even possible. Because they’re building a backlog before releasing, season 3 will likely have no more interruptions.
No release window has been confirmed yet – not on Instagram, not on WEBTOON – so I cannot even give a “at the end of 2025” or “early next year”, but given the steady communication and planning, the project is clearly still alive and I believe season 3 of Purple Hyacinth will return very soon.
