What a webtoon actually is
Webtoons are a distinctly Korean digital comics format, designed to be read by scrolling vertically on a phone rather than turning pages — a format born directly from mobile reading habits rather than adapted from print comics. Major Korean platforms host thousands of ongoing series across every genre, updated on regular episodic schedules much like a TV show.
The connection to K-dramas
A significant and growing share of recent Korean dramas are direct adaptations of popular webtoons, a pipeline that's become one of the industry's most reliable sources of hit source material — see our Korean cinema and drama guide for the wider industry context. If a drama's visual style or pacing feels unusually panel-driven, there's a decent chance it started as a webtoon.
Where to actually read them
Major platforms offer large libraries with official English translations, making this one of the more accessible ways to engage with contemporary Korean pop culture before or during your trip — genuinely worth browsing if you want context for shows you've already watched, or want to discover what might get adapted next.