There are thousands of romance manhwa out there, but very few “typical” romance stories are told from a male perspective. Sure, there are plenty of webtoons with male protagonists, but most don’t focus on romantic relationships. So here are eleven examples where the main character (MC) is male. This list doesn’t include BL or shounen ai, since those are always told from a male perspective.
Oh! Holy – Male MC galore
- Where to read: Webtoon
- Status: Completed
Summary: Jamie Oh, a reserved and quiet high school student, is content with his unique ability to communicate with ghosts, his only friends. However, his life, which is far from ordinary due to his paranormal connections, takes a surprising twist when he catches the attention of the school’s most popular girl.
Check it out if you:
- Love it when a romance manhwa actually makes you laugh – this one’s a great romantic comedy.
- Like reading a manhwa with a truly unique story.
- Don’t mind feeling like you’re in a fever dream every now and then – but only sometimes.
Observing Elena Evoy – Falling in love from a male’s perspective
- Status: Completed – If you like to read more completed Romance Manhwa, check out my 45+ recommendations.
- Where to read: Manta
Summary: Johann, renowned for his exceptional looks and intelligence, has always been the leading student at the Academy. However, his world is shaken when Elena Evoy arrives, effortlessly surpassing him and remaining indifferent to his allure, denting his confidence. Despite this, Johann finds himself unable to stop pondering about her.
Check it out if you:
- Like it when the protagonists have rare hair colors (the ML is blond, the FL has blue-violet hair).
- Like reading rivals to lovers. Did you read the manga Last Game? Then you’ll love this one – the plot is almost the same, just with a different setting.
- Love it when the guy falls first – I mean, sure, he’s the protagonist, but still. He blushes constantly while the FL stays completely unfazed.
You Think It’s Easy Rewriting a Story?
Summary: “No matter what I do, where I run, or who I romance, this novel is dead set on getting me hitched to the handsome duke destined to kill me!” – that line from the official Tapas summary sums up this manhwa perfectly. The FL actively tries to change her fate and isn’t particularly bothered by the original story. While most of the narrative is told from her perspective, several chapters focus on the ML’s point of view – and those flashbacks are very interesting to read.
You should read if you:
- Love when the FL is completely unhinged – she does whatever she wants and plays high society like a fiddle. She’s also strong and fiercely protective of the ML.
- Like when the protagonist FINALLY doesn’t treat her new world like a game or a novel, but actually acknowledges it as her new reality.
- Don’t mind when the only likable characters are the FL and ML.
Ending Maker
Summary: When the veteran gamer known as outboxer009 opens his eyes, he finds himself living as Yuder Bayel – the very hero from Legend of Heroes 2. But he’s not the only one trapped in this world. His longtime rival, sandstorm, has taken on the role of Cordelia Chace. Once the top players on the leaderboard, the two must now rely on instinct instead of a keyboard to survive. If you want to read a Manhwa like Solo Leveling but with Romance, this is your pick.
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.
Unlovable Replacement
- Where to read: Webtoon
- Status: Ongoing
Summary: After his relationship ends, Chiko Dryer falls into a slump. One day, he orders pizza and somehow drags the delivery girl into a little scheme to keep his friend away. That’s how their relationship begins – but oh boy, November is stubborn. And before you start reading: Unlovable Replacement is one of those stories that starts off great but loses quality over time. Still, it’s a good read.
Check this Romance Manhwa with a male MC out if you:
- Love it when the MC is understanding, supportive, and patient, at least at the beginning of the story. He becomes insufferable later.
- Like it when the leads argue a lot but still have great chemistry, and don’t shy away from physical contact.
- Don’t mind when the female lead is in debt and gets caught up in some shady business because of it.
The Emperor Reverses Time – A Historical Romance with a male MC
- Status: Completed
- Where to read the novel: Tapas, the Webtoon is official only in Indonesian
Summary: Only after Empress Lizzie’s death does Emperor Leon realize how badly he messed up. Stricken with regret, he turns to the Clock Tower Witch, who agrees to rewind time – all the way back to the moment they first met. This time, Leon swears he’ll make Lizzie happy, no matter what. But changing the past comes with consequences he never saw coming.
Check it out if you:
- Don’t mind when the manhwa diverges heavily from the novel – at least according to spoilers. The official version on Tapas has also been on hiatus for quite a while, so maybe don’t even start reading if you want to spare yourself the frustration. Still, if you’re looking for a historical romance told from a male POV, there aren’t many alternatives.
- Love having a heart-wrenching confession in a story.
- Like it when the main character starts out terrible but gets a real chance at redemption.
The Spark In Your Eyes – Switching perspectives
- Status: Completed
- Where to read: Webtoon
Summary: Erkin, a young pharmacist from the north, lost his parents in the war against Mormeratta. When he’s sent to treat a mysterious and reclusive castle master, he secretly hopes to find clues about the Witch of the Sun – the one responsible for his parents’ deaths. What he doesn’t realize is that his search for revenge might be more connected to his journey than he thinks. The story shifts between perspectives, so it’s not told solely from the male lead’s point of view.
Check this Romance Manhwa with a male MC out if you:
- 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.
Doridosim – A classic from a male’s perspective
- Where to read: Lezhin
- Status: Completed
Summary: As Kang Dol’s affection for Yang Yang intensifies, he resolves to reveal his emotions. Facing away from her, he bravely declares his love. However, upon turning around, he’s surprised to see not Yang Yang, but Min Dosim, the most admired girl at school. Caught in an unexpected twist, Dosim, misunderstanding the situation, agrees to date him. Now, Kang Dol faces a dilemma on how to untangle this complicated turn of events.
Check it out if you:
- Don’t mind when the whole premise starts with a misunderstanding that takes quite a while to get resolved.
- Like it when the story features more than one couple.
- Don’t mind when the art takes some getting used to and the panels feel a bit all over the place.
Iseop’s Romance
- Status: Ongoing
- Where to read: Webtoon
Summary: 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. Check out my list for more modern manhwa recommendations.
You should read if you:
- Don’t mind when the Manhwa is not only from a male leads perspective, they switch with the FL sometimes.
- like a secretary – boss relationship. But be warned: Their dynamic when it comes to their physcial relationship is not great. ML is way too pushy.
- Love reading a Romance Manhwa with good art.
The Nuna At Our Office
- Status: Completed
- Where to read: Webtoon
Summary: When Manager Son transfers to a different department, his routine office life suddenly takes an interesting turn. There, he meets Manager Ahn – an experienced colleague whose confidence and charm instantly draw him in. But as he gets to know her better, he starts to see beyond her composed exterior. And soon, he learns firsthand why workplace romances can get complicated. Check out my list for more office manhwa recommendations.
Check it out if you:
- Like when a story feels realistic – apparently, this one is based on the author’s real experiences.
- Don’t mind when the protagonists struggle to communicate their true feelings.
- Don’t mind a sad ending.
The Girl Downstairs – Male MC but open end
- Status: Completed
- Where to read: Webtoon
Summary: As Joon moves into his new apartment on his first day of college, he discovers that the beautiful former celebrity Doona (or Duna) lives right below him. At first, he tries to keep his distance, but he soon finds himself drawn to her mysterious and unpredictable lifestyle.
You should read if you:
- Like it when the story also has a K-drama adaptation.
- Don’t mind when the protagonists barely communicate with each other.
- Don’t mind a relatively open ending – even if it’s pretty frustrating.
